T&T: electrical tripping

[Ken Bloomfield]

Jim,
If the lights stay on as long as 5 seconds, then I would say the likely 
faults in order of probability would be:
1. The breaker is simply weak.
2. The bulbs have too high wattage, thus drawing too much current.
3. There is a partial short somewhere along the wire run, with a low but not 
zero ohm reading to ground.

The quickest way to determine is to disconnect the wire from the breaker, 
put an ammeter in series, and measure the current.  If the current is 
greater than the breaker rating, then the breaker is for sure OK and it is 
either 2 or 3 above.  Take the bulbs out, and with the wire still 
disconnected from the breaker, measure the resistance to ground.  If all the 
bulbs are out of their sockets, then the reading should be infinity, if 
anything else, then either there is the partial short mentioned or there is 
something else somewhere tapped onto that run.

Cheers,
Ken.

Ken Bloomfield
MTOA# 2062
AGLCA# 3529
M/V Tellico Lady, 50' Marine Trader-Walkaround
Maryville, TN


> My nav lights will only stay on for about 5 seconds before they trip the
> breaker.
>
> I thought I had it found when I fixed two bare wires on the port side lamp 
> but
> now it still trips.  It seemed to be okay and stay on when I pulled one 
> bulb
> out of the port light...and so I swithched the port and starboard
> bulbs.....but now it's still tripping.
>
> Don't know if anyone has had a similar challenge.  Any suggestions? 
> Should I
> replace bulbs? swithc breaker? check wire?
>
> thanks
> Jim
> TWINS
> '91GB 46