Mainship cabin lights

[Migor]

Hello, fellow Mainship owners!

I new owner of 2000 Mainship 390 and was very surprised to find out (after a months of scratching head) that boat has two sets of 12v cabin lights - DC and AC. So we only have less that a half lights that works when on anchorage and all lights working on dock when connected to shore power.

Question: Is there an easy way to switch/rewire those AC lights to work all the time from DC power?


Thank you!

 

[Pete Meisinger]

Of course the AC lights are better and brighter but DC is good also. Why would you want to limit yourself to just DC power. You expose yourself to dead batteries at anchorage.

pete

 

[Migor]

I have changed all light bulbs to LED. So power consumption is negligible. but have ability to use ALL lights when needed on anchorage i think is important.

 

[Jeff F]

Turn on the inverter?

Sent from my moto g play (2021) using Trawler Forum mobile app

 

[Migor]

That would be great option. But no inverter on my boat (yet). and i really don't want to start generator just to light up a few extra lights.
Just curious if someone done reconnecting ALL lights to DC power?

 

[Comodave]

Probably not an easy way but you would have to find the A/C wires and switch them over to DC. Not sure why they would do it that way, doesn’t make sense to me. Since at the dock or with genset the battery charger would keep the batteries topped off while using DC powered lights.

 

[Bacchus]

I have heard / read that MS did it that way for a period. I agree it doesn't make sense. How difficult to switch them will depend on whether you can locate the supply wiring near the ele ttical panel(s). There is likely a main A/C lighting breaker and a common transformer to reduce V. If you can locate main cir uit wires it shouldn't be too difficult to switch to DC. If you switch bulbs over to LED you could tie them into the existing DC breaker w/o overloading the circuit or if room add a 2nd DC lighting breaker.

 

[Cartouche]

Hello, fellow Mainship owners!

I new owner of 2000 Mainship 390 and was very surprised to find out (after a months of scratching head) that boat has two sets of 12v cabin lights - DC and AC. So we only have less that a half lights that works when on anchorage and all lights working on dock when connected to shore power.

Question: Is there an easy way to switch/rewire those AC lights to work all the time from DC power?


Thank you!

Firstly you would have to change them all from incandescent to LED then simply take out the 3 transformers, and tie them all into the DC String. Direct answer is that's how you do it, but not sure it is worth the work. For sure I would change the DC ones to LED

 

[ranger58sb]

We have both 24VDC and 120VAC interior lighting circuits. No clue why anyone thought that might be a good idea.

Our AC lights are on a transformer, though, so the same "bulbs" (10-30VDC LED replacements) work on all fixtures.

And our inverter installation solved the part about lights without shore power or with the generator running.

-Chris

 

[Migor]

Thank you for your help,
When open breaker panel, i saw a couple of transformers, wonder what they for. Now i know. I will remove them and reconnect wires to DC light switches.

 

[Delta Riverat]

I have a mix-mash too. Most lights are 12 VDC. Some are 12 VDC florescent. The reading lights in the master are 120 as are the "extra" lights in the engine room. I changed the reading light to led and someday I'll get to going on those engine room florescent fixtures after I'm done repairing the two 12 volt engine room lights that don't work.

Yup, always something to do eh?

 

[tiz]

I did same on my 2001 390. Transformers located behind main panel, under flip up dash lower helm, in guest cabin behind switch panel, in head behind switch panel and In master cabin on stbd behind fwd hanging locker. Finding a dc ground in all locations can be hard.

--Kevin'