Topic: mast lights don't work
I realize there's a recent post dealing with mast wiring...
My situation is a little different in that I would like to use the existing wiring if only I could understand it.
At the moment, the mast lights don't work.
What I find in my boat are 4 wires (white (grd), yellow, green, and blue) running from the panel to a female socket at the base of the mast. This socket tests fine with the voltmeter.
Coming down from the mast are only 3 wires that don't match the colors listed above. It seems the socket has one prong slightly larger than the others so that it will only fit together in one position. That larger prong seems to be for ground and in this case has no wire attached to it from the mast.
That leaves 3 possible reasons why the lights don't work -
1.The lights are grounded by the mast but coincidentally the anchor and steaming light bulbs need replacing (and maybe a third light)
2.One of the wires is ground but goes to the wrong prong.
3.I need a ground wire to the light fixtures.
If anyone has any enlightening (pun intended) input I would be grateful!
Any thoughts that might inform and/or enlighten the situation would be appreciated!
Meantime, I'll try to find out if one of those wires is actually for ground. That would be easier than going up the mast to check a light bulb...