Aluminum john boat lights wiring?

Question

i have 4 lights on my boat.2 in the front of boat and 2 in the back.both front are connected to one wire.same with the back. so now theres one wire connecting all lights.im wonting to put a on/fss switch in.the switch has to connectors in the back of it.im guessing one positive one negative.but doesnt say postive are neg on it.i connected the light wire to one connector and ran a wire from there two the positive on battery.i took a wire for the ground are negative and connected one in to the boat and the other to the other connector on back of the on/off switch.then ran a wire from it to the negative on battery.when i touch the negative to battery i get a big spark.when i turn the switch off and connect it to the negative the lights come on.what am i doing wrong here.just trying to take the lights and connect them to a on off switch so i dont have to keep rigging the wires to the battery.i had it working when i had the switch in a diffent spot but dont remmber how it was set up.??

Answer 1

On Aluminum Boats some people will connect ground to the boat and run one Hot wire to lights. This may be what you have I not sure. The switch only need a Hot Wire. Depending how it switch, you can have all lights come on or just the Stern white light etc.

Answer 2

On a aluminum boats you need 2 wires lights do not use the boat as a ground or electrolyze will eat the boat up>Hot or pos= goes from the bat= threw the switch to the light>to ground> No Ground goes to the switch>or from the switch>

Answer 3

Aluminum boats are very sensitive to electrolysis and you should use the two wire system, in other words do not use the boat to carry ground.

Answer 4

Whoa!!!  Hold on a minute.  Running the negative via a ground to the boat is fast and easy - but the electrolytic action with dissolve your boat.

Use a 2-wire system running positive and negative to each fixture and mounting the lamp on a rubber pad (don't forget to insulate the screws).  Your aluminum oxide (the white powder all over the boat) level will drop and your boat will last much longer.

Answer 5

You do not connect a ground wire to the switch! Thats why you are getting a spark. All lights get a ground connection direct to the battery (you can tie them all to the same wire connection) not thru a switch. The switch gets a positive lead to it from the battery and then a wire is run from the switch to provide current to the lights. All 12 volt systems use at least 2 wires on a boat, one for positive and one for negative.