Light switch’s for house lights

[ageless]

Light switch’s for house lights

I have replaced several of the light switch’s/outlets throughout but I’m wondering if a standard 120v switch will work with the 32v lights. One issue I’ve encountered, but can’t explain, is when I turn my lower cockpit lights (32v) on with a 120v switch it not only trips their breaker but it trips the breaker to the 12v battery charger. I can’t wait to hear some of these responses, weirdest electrical issue yet

 

[bigbill]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

a switch is a switch as long as it is rated for the proper amperage, all a switch does is make contact.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

a switch is a switch as long as it is rated for the proper amperage, all a switch does is make contact.

But those soft switches from the big box stores arc when used on DC loads. You need the DC rated switch like Hatteras used. You can hear the click when you switch it. That's how you know if its a DC or AC light you're turning on in a Hatteras.


https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-1202...ocphy=1019267&hvtargid=pla-318378262212&psc=1

 

[Pascal]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

It doesn’t make a difference. Sounds like you have a short somewhere and since the charger is probably nowhere near the cockpit lights, the short is likely at the panel. How many amps are the 32v lights ? Halogens? LEDs?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

It doesn’t make a difference. Sounds like you have a short somewhere and since the charger is probably nowhere near the cockpit lights, the short is likely at the panel. How many amps are the 32v lights ? Halogens? LEDs?

They are all connected to a common ground and that wall switch arcing is probably causing a disturbance that is tripping both breakers. Get the right wall switch that is DC rated and I'll bet all is well.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

IF you care to read it. Here is an article explaining the difference between an AC and a DC switch. Use the wrong one and it could lead to a fire.
There is a reason Hatteras engineers used the "snap" or "click" switch for DC.


https://www.mouser.com/blog/which-switch-who-cares-if-its-ac-or-dc

 

[Boatsb]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

Fuses and breakers have similar issues.

Higher voltage DC is a problem with fuses and breakers. They need to open enough to stop the arc.

Don't take advice from internet experts even if they profess to know what they're talking about

If you don't know what you need contact a competent electrician.

 

[sgharford]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

Thank you Sky for sharing info and article. I never would have guessed and always assumed amperage rating was all that matters whether AC or DC.

 

[Pascal]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

Interesting article. Well, on the early boats like mines Hatteras used the same exact switches for AC and DC circuits…. I remember checking them when I redid all the wiring and decided that at 50 years old, it was time to replace. Then of course back then Hatteras hid splices in ceilings and behind walls so…

Nowadays though, with LEDs drawing so little it s not going to matter. Even a dozen LED bulbs draw barely over 1 amp. Not going to get any significant arcing.

 

[JD5652]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

The main difference between AC and DC switch current ratings is based upon the relatively high inductive load of a DC circuit. Each time you "make or break" the circuit, the switch contacts errode a tiny bit on a high inductive load. That's the arc that you're hearing or seeing.

 

[Pascal]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

The main difference between AC and DC switch current ratings is based upon the relatively high inductive load of a DC circuit. Each time you "make or break" the circuit, the switch contacts errode a tiny bit on a high inductive load. That's the arc that you're hearing or seeing.

So it’s not a concern for resistive loads like lights.

 

[cww]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

I learned something today. I would have had no idea that there was any difference if I hadn’t read this thread.

 

[Boatsb]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

Remember when you start a fire it's usually with small things like kindling and fibers. Then the big stuff catches.

 

[bigbill]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

thanks sky, i never knew that about switches

 

[bostonhatteras]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

As an alternative you can check out Vimar switching at Imtra. Pretty nice stuff and entirely worthy of a Hatteras .

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

So it’s not a concern for resistive loads like lights.

Maybe not if the amp draw and voltage are low. But if its a 10 amp circuit with 32v lights, I would worry. Plus its difficult to find the residential style DC rated switches. Leviton makes a 3 amp DC switch which would probably be sufficient for that LED setup you're talking about.

But fires usually start small and I don't think I'd be willing to risk using an AC switch in a DC circuit. We all have seen these boat fires and wonder how they start. But we rarely hear of the cause mostly because they burn too hot to ever determine how they started.

Sams shows 3 of the old switches in inventory and I think those are 15 amp.

 

[Pascal]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

I agree it could be a concern with high amp circuits but as I said the highest Amp DC light circuit on my boat is about 1 to 1.5 amps, 8 or 10 LED per circuit

There are a number of higher risk things on these boats starting with these damn shotgun fuses. And of course the horrendous splices on the older boats.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

I agree it could be a concern with high amp circuits but as I said the highest Amp DC light circuit on my boat is about 1 to 1.5 amps, 8 or 10 LED per circuit

There are a number of higher risk things on these boats starting with these damn shotgun fuses. And of course the horrendous splices on the older boats.

The shotgun fuses are not a concern if maintained and not overloaded. The later boats had dual 50a inlets and, if both are used and properly distributed among the loads, rarely get up to full rated amp load.

 

[Pascal]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

I recall at least one instance of a forum members boat suffering a fire and multiple posts about failures

There are many marinas where you will not have twin 50s on pedestals especially in smaller sub 70 slips so when you re stuck with a single 50, you will be running at capacity.

 

[JD5652]

Re: Light switch’s for house lights

So it’s not a concern for resistive loads like lights.

DC circuits are inherently inductive loads.