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86' Hatteras electrical gremlins

Discussion in 'Hatteras Yacht' started by Mike McLeod, Feb 3, 2016.

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  1. Mike McLeod, Feb 3, 2016
    #1
    Mike McLeod

    Mike McLeod New Member

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    I just bought a 1995 Hatteras 86' sport fisher. Several lights are out and the bulbs are good. I know that all my low voltage is 24v and Hatteras used transformers to get the right voltage. My problem is I don't know where the transformers are to be able to change them out. I've pulled light fixtures to see if they were wired close to the fixture but so far no luck. Any ideas?
  2. chesapeake46, Feb 3, 2016
    #2
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Where did you test for voltage ? Are you sure there is no voltage at the sockets and that the sockets themselves are not just worn out ?
  3. SeaEric, Feb 3, 2016
    #3
    SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    Hatteras supplies very good owner's manuals and wiring diagrams with all of their boats. If that info is not on board, contact Hatteras with your hull # and they can provide the information.
  4. Mike McLeod, Feb 3, 2016
    #4
    Mike McLeod

    Mike McLeod New Member

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    I tested the individual bulb for continuity to prove the bulb was good, then tested the socket and found no power. I went to the switch and proved voltage both onto and out of the switch
  5. Mike McLeod, Feb 3, 2016
    #5
    Mike McLeod

    Mike McLeod New Member

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    thanks SeaEric, I've got inquiries into Hatteras but no response
  6. SeaEric, Feb 3, 2016
    #6
    SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    Put a call in to Steve McPherson at SAM's Marine in North Carolina. He is a wealth of information and a good source for Hatteras parts.
  7. Mike McLeod, Feb 3, 2016
    #7
    Mike McLeod

    Mike McLeod New Member

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    Found Bruce Morrison Marine. Bruce worked at Hatteras from 70's to 1995. Gave me all the info I needed. Thank you for the lead and response
  8. bliss, Feb 3, 2016
    #8
    bliss

    bliss Senior Member

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    Yes, and the problem is solved?? If so, how???
  9. Mike McLeod, Feb 3, 2016
    #9
    Mike McLeod

    Mike McLeod New Member

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    All of the low voltage lights run through a bus box with a fusable link. The box is generally located near the fixture in a closet and or access panel. I was told this should be my problem. Lights that are high voltage do indeed run through a transformer and the location is listed in the owners book. The 86's had many custom configurations so the locations varied, but are listed in the specific boat drawings. I haven't been back to the boat yet but I feel this should be the answer
  10. SeaEric, Feb 3, 2016
    #10
    SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    Bruce is certainly one of the guys in the know. Excellent.
  11. Capt J, Feb 3, 2016
    #11
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    They use DC to DC transformers either mounted in the brow of the FB on an enclosed bridge or in the attic typically. Where were yours located?
  12. Mike McLeod, Feb 3, 2016
    #12
    Mike McLeod

    Mike McLeod New Member

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    My boat is in Portland and I'm in San Diego so I won't be back aboard until the weekend. I have the enclosed bridge so I'll start looking under the helm
  13. Capt Ralph, Feb 3, 2016
    #13
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I am confused. Transformers have nothing to do with 24VDC.
    For the late guy to your post, are you referring to a DC to DC volt converter installation?
  14. Capt J, Feb 3, 2016
    #14
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yeah DC to DC converter
  15. Mike McLeod, Feb 4, 2016
    #15
    Mike McLeod

    Mike McLeod New Member

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    While there are DC to DC converters, Hatteras also used a true transformer converting AC to DC for a few lighting applications. I'm finding this out the hard way
  16. Capt Ralph, Feb 4, 2016
    #16
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I had an old Pequod that had a transformer for 120Vac to around 12Vac, (not DC) that powered half of the interior lights. Still used the auto 12v bayonet lamps. Seemed to work very well.
    No diodes (rectifiers) or regulators involved so there was no conversion to DCv.
  17. Capt J, Feb 4, 2016
    #17
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Check the attic at the front of the salon. I would also check in the front of the flybridge.

    Yeah the 120V AC converters to DC to keep the lights steady and they don't dim and oscillate when a heavy DC load is put on such as starting engines etc. A buddy converted a big Johnson to that because they had a lot of problems with that. Guess you could do 120 Vac to 12Vac as well since they sell G4 bulbs in 12VAC at home depot.
  18. WeBeBoatin, Jul 31, 2016
    #18
    WeBeBoatin

    WeBeBoatin New Member

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    Although I dont know your model hat uses ac to dc transformers for low voltage transformer application for lighting. They love to hide the transformer boxes which are each fused to boot. Look through your wiring diagrams and you will find reference to each transformer. Make yourself a chart and place them all over the boat for reference. An 80 hat that I run has multiple transformer s in bad locations that only had numbers on them referenced in the diagrams. They now have text labels on them for the next guy. Be nice to the next guy....you never know when its gonna be you!
  19. Capt Ralph, Aug 1, 2016
    #19
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    We just started working on a 2009, 72 Hat.
    120Vac to 24Vac transformers everywhere for the over head G4 lamps.
    Have learned a lot these last few weeks.
    We found the bad transformer easy enough, it was the only cold one of many hidden forward (oven up there).
    I have since found the schematics and found understanding in the labeling and wire run terminations.
    You really need those prints from Hatteras.

    Soon, will be experimenting with LED drivers replacing the transformers.
  20. Capt J, Aug 3, 2016
    #20
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Just put the LED bulbs in and be done with it. Transformers won't get hot with the little draw of the LED bulbs. I was just on a boat today (2006 64' MY) and every overhead light had the 10W replacements I think they were (about 10 LEDs, they were brighter than the 20w halogens and dimmers and everything else works fine with them. Won't dim quite as low as the halogens but they dimmed down plenty enough.
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