[C320-list] Electrical panel question

Sat Aug 25 15:22:18 PDT 2018

Couple of things. The best and easiest is to use a 12 volt circuit tester. (usually a probe with a light on it)  or a voltmeter and test the load side for voltage when the switch is flipped. One side of the breaker will always be hot and the other should only be hot when the switch is ON. If it doesn’t change the breaker is bad and needs to be replaced.

Breakers are not really switches. They are not designed to be ‘switched’ repeatedly and the little thingamajig inside wears out after some number of cycle.

If you have a ohm meter you can OPEN the breaker and read the load side to ground. If it’s 0 or very low ohms then there is a short circuit which will cause the breaker to open instantly when you try to switch it.

Now the advice I’m NOT giving you is to use a wire with gater clips on it to jumper over the breaker poles but clipping one side and just tapping the other. This will power up the circuit EVEN if the breaker is tripped for a valid reason. Which means that IF the load side is actually shorted out, you’ll see smoke AND the breaker is good. . IF the load side is fine the circuit will act like the breaker was set ON. Now, whatever you do don’t take this advice. The “Smoke Test” is a common tool we used on my Navy days.

Pat Tormey
Formally EM2 USN 

From: Jamie Pett
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2018 5:57 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical panel question

Troy- wasn’t working on the panel and the metal jumper seems tight as do all other connections. No click on the LP so definitely not powered.

Do the push button fuses go bad ? I guess it could be that but I don’t know how to check it 

Sent from my iPad

> On Aug 25, 2018, at 4:51 PM, Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Need more info.   Did you check the electrical connections on the back of
> the rockers?   There is usually a metal jumper for the feed side of these
> rockers, they can get bumped loose if you were working on other stuff back
> there.    I had a rocker go bad over this last winter, but the symptoms
> were somewhat intermittent and the rocker could be convinced to work with a
> little back and forth.  I replaced it with a new rocker eventually.  I
> guess it is possible that two rockers went bad at the same time.  Does the
> LP valve click even though the led doesnt light?  Maybe the LED went bad or
> got disconnected.
> 
> Troy Dunn
> Hull #514
> 
>> On Sat, Aug 25, 2018 at 4:32 PM Jamie Pett <JPett at jp2architects.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I am on Bella Luna - our 1999 c320 hull 614.  I am having an issue where
>> the top two left breakers - LP gas valve and the accessory below it
>> (stereo) are seemingly not working.
>> 
>> Everything else working fine and the ‘white button’ that these two rocker
>> switches share does not appear tripped or in any way ‘blown’.
>> 
>> The stereo doesn’t power up and the indicator light on the LP valve does
>> not come on.  Every other circuit working fine.
>> 
>> Anyone have any thoughts on what the cause might be ?
>> 
>> Thanks - Jamie
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>>> On Aug 24, 2018, at 1:45 PM, Gene Gammon <captaingene at msn.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> If surveyed today they would indicate it needs replaced if older than
>> 10-12 years.  That is the new way it is done as surveyors don't go up the
>> rig any more and offset their liability.  They used to go up and check
>> swedges with Emory cloth, magnifying glass, dyes, etc.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> If they say that in the survey report your insurance company will not
>> insure until replaced.
>>> 
>>> Surveyors now advise you to get a rigger to inspect.  Riggers sell
>> rigging for a living, not inspections 😊 Get it?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I've been in the sailboat business for over 40 years and have seen it
>> change.  Some of the new surveyor rules are backed by manufacture's of the
>> gear to offset their liability now.  And some are just stupid or industry
>> based for profit.
>>> 
>>> Good that I am able to retire 😎
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Gene Gammon, Capt.
>>> 
>>> 727-644-8009
>>> 
>>> www.gcyachts.com<http://www.gcyachts.com>
>>> 
>>> www.irwinyachts.com<http://www.irwinyachts.com>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of
>> Michael Ferguson <coralman at bellsouth.net>
>>> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2018 1:03 PM
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical panel question
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Thanks Gene my 95' rigging looks good but I'm getting nervous about it.
>> Michael
>>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>>> 
>>> On Fri, Aug 24, 2018 at 10:55 AM, Gene Gammon<captaingene at msn.com>
>> wrote:   No, but I had a rigging company go up and inspect.  I had some new
>> lifelines made locally and they also make standing rigging for most of the
>> builders at the lowest prices you will find.
>>> 
>>> Seco South www.secosouth.com<http://www.secosouth.com>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Gene Gammon, Capt.
>>> 
>>> 727-644-8009
>>> 
>>> www.gcyachts.com<http://www.gcyachts.com>
>>> 
>>> www.irwinyachts.com<http://www.irwinyachts.com>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of
>> Michael Ferguson <coralman at bellsouth.net>
>>> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2018 10:25 AM
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Electrical panel question
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Gene did you replace your standing rigging. Thanks Michael
>>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>>> 
>>> On Fri, Aug 24, 2018 at 10:14 AM, Gene Gammon<captaingene at msn.com>
>> wrote:  Jack,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> If I can help with any advise contact me.  I just totally refurbished my
>> '96 320 in the last 12 months and have repaired, fixed or replaced most all
>> of those things and more.  I can maybe advise best sources for parts,
>> switches, faucets, heads, pumps, sails, lifelines, cushions, blocks,
>> traveler ball bearings, lights, canvas, floors, windlass, etc.
>>> 
>>> A few things may have changed between '96
>>> 
>>> My boat is out of the water in Madeira Bch. getting a bottom job and
>> installing AC this week.  The last of everything possible.
>>> 
>>> I am in Treasure Island.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Gene Gammon, Capt.
>>> 
>>> 727-644-8009
>>> 
>>> www.gcyachts.com<http://www.gcyachts.com>
>>> 
>>> www.irwinyachts.com<http://www.irwinyachts.com>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of
>> Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net>
>>> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2018 6:53 PM
>>> To: C320-list at catalina320.com
>>> Subject: [C320-list] Electrical panel question
>>> 
>>> I posted this message last night. It appeared briefly in my phone’s
>> email, along with two responses, and they vanished before I could read
>> them. I also couldn’t find them on the web site. The mysteries of the
>> Internet.
>>> 
>>> So:
>>> 
>>> Well, the work continues on my new-to-me 320.
>>> 
>>> In regard to my previous post, there was no fuel tank leak. The previous
>>> owner apparently dumped or spilled diesel in the bilge (along with some
>>> other things) before the bank repoed the boat.
>>> 
>>> A new question: One of the rocker switches on the 12-volt side of the
>> panel
>>> is broken. Which rocker switch at Catalina Direct is the correct one? And
>>> are there any tips on replacing them before I go fumbling around?
>>> 
>>> It is an interesting archaeological quest to find all of the damage done
>> to
>>> the boat, apparently by the p.o. I spent part of today inside the
>> starboard
>>> cockpit locker (not an easy fit for a 210-pounder) replacing slashed
>> scupper
>>> hoses.
>>> 
>>> Someone also cut the wires to the fridge, disabled the water heater,
>>> disconnected the galley sink drain, broke the bilge pump switch, jammed
>> the
>>> macerator pump, wrapped the jib halyard, put the wrong oil in the
>>> transmission and probably more that I haven't found yet.
>>> 
>>> But tit will all be repaired soon, and I'll have a great boat.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Jack Brennan
>>> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320, No. 528
>>> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>>> Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ---
>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>> 