MacGregorSailors.com

One of my winter projects is to install anchor and steaming lights.

What are the best ways to make a wiring disconnect at the base of the mast? My current idea is to use a 4 wire trailer harness connector. I am not finding other connectors that are made to be repeatedly attached/detached.

--john

Blue water sells the deck plug that is used on my X. I went with two male plugs on the mast side, one for anchor light wiring, one for Steaming light. I just plug in the appropriate one. Others have used Diode arrangements or LED bulb and switch arrangements that take advantage of polarity...

trailers stuff is a bit agricultural and not water proof.

these are popular in the UK/Europe, worldwide dsitribution

http://www.bulgin.co.uk/Products/Buccan ... ndard.html

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... de-42.html

Sumner

================================================

1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

This is on the list for my this winter. I have one plug on the deck and two on the mast (one steaming & one masthead/anchor). The anchor light will work if I put dielectric grease on the plug and then wiggle it around. If I don't put on a fresh dab of grease, it won't work. Even though I have continuity through both leads on the steaming light, I've never been able to get it working. I plan to replace the deck fitting with a new one from BWY, put in LED bulbs and use their polarity with a switch. I'm hoping this will decrease the wear & tear on the connection and keep us off the deck in the dark changing plugs.

Maybe I should put in one of those 4 prong plugs that Sumner has. That cap looks a lot better then the old 2 prong I planned to replace.

Jeff

It's 2015, so you will want to use LED fixtures. They sip power and don't burn out or have filaments break from trailering vibration.

If you already have a set of wires going there, I would use the reverse polarity trick to toggle between Anchor and Steaming by reversing the polarity. You are not legally allowed to have both on simultaneously anyway. This allows for a 2 wire configuration. Otherwise you really only need 3 wires; ground, steaming, anchor where they share the ground.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=453

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... fgodhksEJQ

Or make your own from any DPDT switch like I did.



I'm using the cheap deck fitting Macgregor installed. Still works.
http://www.jmsonline.net/watertight-dec ... fgod9RkLLg

I used the Sea Dog Polarized Electrical Connector P/N 426234-1. Really like it and it was a perfect fit in the existing deck penetration.

I used a 4-flat connector for my Venture23

it works well, is cheap, and should I ever need a replacement due to oops or corrosion I can quickly get another at ANY wal-mart or auto store..

I plan to most likeloy use the same plug for the when I start working on the lights on her mast

The one i used had caps on it....

Use a good quality waterproof/resestant plug. Perferably gold contacts. I would put one in with extra connections for future expandability. I thought 9 pin would be plenty but have used up all the conections. I ended up using an Amphenol circular plastic conector and sealed the back side. Have not had any issues with it so far.

grady wrote: I thought 9 pin would be plenty but have used up all the conections.

What did you use 9 connectors for? Whatcha got up there?

RussMT wrote:

grady wrote: I thought 9 pin would be plenty but have used up all the conections.

What did you use 9 connectors for? Whatcha got up there?

Mast running lights
Anchor light
Mast head light
Spreader lights
Ground
Wind indicator takes up the last 4 pins.

grady wrote:

RussMT wrote:

grady wrote: I thought 9 pin would be plenty but have used up all the conections.

What did you use 9 connectors for? Whatcha got up there?

Mast running lights
Anchor light
Mast head light
Spreader lights
Ground
Wind indicator takes up the last 4 pins.

Cool. That sounds like something I would do. What, no light for the windex?
What kind of wind indicator did you use? The M's rotating mast becomes problematic here.

--Russ

RussMT wrote:

grady wrote:

RussMT wrote:
What did you use 9 connectors for? Whatcha got up there?

Mast running lights
Anchor light
Mast head light
Spreader lights
Ground
Wind indicator takes up the last 4 pins.

Cool. That sounds like something I would do. What, no light for the windex?
What kind of wind indicator did you use? The M's rotating mast becomes problematic here.

--Russ

The white nav doubles and shines on the windex.

I have the Garmin and they do make a mast compensating unit for it.

http://www.nexusmarine.se/products/mari ... s/mrc-box/

I used the Sea Dog Polarized Electrical Connector P/N 426234-1.

I had LED steaming and anchor lights installed professionally at my marina, and this is the plug they used with the installation. I have found it very serviceable, and the lights are very reliable.

grady wrote:

RussMT wrote:

grady wrote: I thought 9 pin would be plenty but have used up all the conections.

What did you use 9 connectors for? Whatcha got up there?

Mast running lights
Anchor light
Mast head light
Spreader lights
Ground
Wind indicator takes up the last 4 pins.

What are the 'mast running lights'? The masthead is the 'steaming' light, and the anchor light is self-explanatory. Are you using a tri-color at the top when sailing after sundown?