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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    south lake tahoe, ca
    Posts
    28

    Question Tower light bar doesn't work

    Ever since i first bought the boat (new in 07) and used the lights on the tower speaker bar they never operated for more than a minute before it would pop the circuit breaker. I would reset the circuit breaker and they would work for less than a min and pop again. I did this for a little while till they they stopped working all together. Two summers have passed and now i want to try to fix it.
    Do you think it's the circuit breaker (located under the switch)? Should i try replacing it? And where do i pick one of these bad boys up, i don't live near a dealership.
    Your suggestions/advice would be appreciated, thanks.
    Lake Tahoe slaysh / Shred Stixx flo team

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    south lake tahoe, ca
    Posts
    28

    Default

    i tried putting a new circuit breaker in and still didn't work....
    Lake Tahoe slaysh / Shred Stixx flo team

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    Posts
    1,582

    Default

    I also have tower lights on my boat. Now, there could be a couple of things wrong. First check to see if there is an inline fuse for the lights. Now you say, that it pops the circuit breaker. Is that the little button at the bottom of the switch? Did you install the lights after you bought the boat? Really doesn't matter if it came with or you installed after. Now the problem. The lights draw too much power for the switch to handle. For example, the switch may handle 2amps. The light might be drawing 5 amps. This causes the circuit breaker to trip.
    If there is no inline fuse, then I would check to see if the switch is working. Remove the wires and touch the hot wire(from battery) to the switch leg(going to the lights). If that works, then the switch is bad. Now for the fix. I installed a relay between the lights and the switch. The switch operates the relay witch operates the lights. The wiring is very easy. I have a drawing on how to wire the relay. The relay is rated for up to 30 amps. You can find these relays with a wire harness on ebay for cheep. Here is a link. Keep us posted and tells us what the outcome is.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/30-40...fAudioQ5fVideo
    Last edited by tazz3069; 09-02-2009 at 08:41 AM.
    Tazz 07' Moomba LSV --Kicker Marine Amps (MX700.5 & MX350.4) 6 polk DB651 speakers, 4 MB Quartz Marine Speakers, 10" Boston Acoustic Sub, Z-5 Cargo Rack, Custom Speaker/Light Bar, modified ballast system, Custom LED Rings
    Live life to the extreme and no less!!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    south lake tahoe, ca
    Posts
    28

    Default

    thanks for the reply tazz, i'll let you know if i can get it to work. Is your light setup factory or aftermarket?

    my light bar is stock and yes i was referring to the circuit breaker located below the switch. Makes sense that it draws too much power, but why then would they sell it from the factory like that?? strange
    not sure if there is an inline fuse, i'll take a look.
    Lake Tahoe slaysh / Shred Stixx flo team

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Chester, SC
    Posts
    169

    Default

    The relay is what you need, and maybe some heavier wiring between your lights and the relay. Here is a neat little chart that compares wire gauge to maximum amps that it is designed to carry. Even with a relay, if your wire is too small, then you will still pop a circuit.
    http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    Posts
    1,582

    Default

    Mine is an aftermarket.
    Tazz 07' Moomba LSV --Kicker Marine Amps (MX700.5 & MX350.4) 6 polk DB651 speakers, 4 MB Quartz Marine Speakers, 10" Boston Acoustic Sub, Z-5 Cargo Rack, Custom Speaker/Light Bar, modified ballast system, Custom LED Rings
    Live life to the extreme and no less!!

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