wrote in message
...
On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:03:36 -0700, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:59:59 -0400, "Glenn Ashmore"
wrote:

"Bob Crantz" wrote

You could always replace the in cabin switches with manual/remote
circuit
breakers (RCCBs) and place the circuit breaker control switches out in
the
cockpit. That would keep the power circuit the same as you have it now
and
the controls in both places would be exact duplicates, no need for
three
way switches, etc. You would know if they were on or off too.

Amen!

Bob Crantz


Well, they already rejected a latching relay as "to complex" even though
they are readily available, cheaper, easier to install and more reliable
than a 3-way circuit. An RCCB costs 20 times as much and impossible to
find except from specialized aviation or industrial control sources.

Or, if remembering to turn them on or off is a problem, you could simply
get in
the habit of turning on the NAV lights when you get underway as part of
the same
ritual when you get other things ready, and turn them off when you
return
and
put things away. That means you can verify they are on by a physical
check, too,
when you go forward to untie the safety tie around your furled headsail.
No
modifications needed. It's perfectly acceptable to run the NAV lights
whenever
underway, even at high noon on a sunny day. These days, with LED NAV
lights, it
doesn't present much of a problem of running down the batteries.

Steaming light can be rigged to go on and off with the engine.




This is an interesting idea... I don't have LEDs, but still... I could
always switch over to LEDs, which I've been thinking about doing also.
Given
the conditions, it wouldn't be totally bizarre to have them on in
preparation for the summer fog we know we'll get at some point.

I figure that all the other plans I've heard involved spending money
and doing a fair amount of work. Seems like this plan would be less
money and work, and ultimately simpler and just as effective. You even
get the bonus of increased reliability, and much lower power
consumption. My running lights, which used to draw over 3 amps, now
draw .3 amps TOTAL for the three combined. Especially on a sailboat
with minimal ability to charge batteries, that's a big plus.




I'm going to check it out... the LEDs shouldn't be a problem, but I'm not
particularly gifted when it comes to electical stuff (like getting the stern
light to work with engine on... just as likely to get it right or fry
something and have to call the fire dept.) LOL


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com