Compass light out

Rocky Lou

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Messages
424
Fluid Motion Model
C-302 C
Vessel Name
Sea Suite
The Dash compass light has operated by flipping the Nav/Anchor switch until recently. I checked all fuses, including the 30A block fuses but the light is till out. There may be another fuse that I'm not aware of? I doubt there is a wiring issue since all the Dash electronics have worked well since the boat was new in 2019. I poked my multimeter probes into the two black compass wires and ready no power when the Nav/Anchor light is switched on.
 
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Check the obvious, the bulb, first. If that is OK, then it is usually a problem with the ground wire. The gray wire with a red stripe is the power. Probe that with the positive of your multimeter, then touch the negative probe to a different ground. Here is a video on using a multimeter properly.
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Check the obvious, the bulb, first. If that is OK, then it is usually a problem with the ground wire. The gray wire with a red stripe is the power. Probe that with the positive of your multimeter, then touch the negative probe to a different ground. Here is a video on using a multimeter properly.
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" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Thanks for the comeback! I was thinking bulb, but, the put probes (piercing the insulation) into the 2 black wires directly connected to the unit and found it is not getting power, hence, I'll check the ground wire as suggested.

Also, I'm finding it less than obvious how you access the bulb or perhaps LED. I can remove the four screws that secure the unit, but, beyond that it says don't remove other screws and release fluid. I have a call into Ritchie, but, no reply so far.
 
From what I could measure, the gray wire with a red stripe has power when I touch another ground on the DASH panel. However, the wiring is such a hairball, I can't begin to follow it such that i could replace the ground wire.
 
All of the ground wires are yellow. So, instead of trying to follow the wire, look for a busbar with multiple yellow wires attached to it. Look for a 16-gauge wire that is corroded or loose.
 
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