[Public-List] Cabin light overloading circuit

[Meinhold, Mike via Public-List]

Sounds like a short circuit and the breaker is doing its job in preventing a fire.
By "under load" I assume you mean the bulb is in, the light switch is on and the bulb is lighting up?

 In normal operation the high resistance of the bulb's filament prevents a large current in the wire.
If your switch breaks down, or your "hot" wire is in contact with the body of the fixture, it can create a direct closed or short circuit with very small resistance, and the high current you see.

Mike
Rinn Duin #272

-----Original Message-----
From: Public-List [mailto:public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org] On Behalf Of Brent Higgins via Public-List
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2015 2:44 PM
To: via Public-List
Subject: [Public-List] Cabin light overloading circuit

Question #2 for the day: I have old cabin lights that are mounted on the forward bulkheads above each settee (wooden base, a little swivel light with 2 metal connectors and the light shade is on a little wooden dowel). All lights are on one circuit, and all but one work fine. The starboard light fixture, when under load, surges from 10 amps to like 45 before the circuit trips. I am using the same bulb in each of these light fixtures, so I figure it is not the bulb. While I am trying learn as quickly as possible, I do not know really anything about the electric system on my boat. Any ideas? Is it as easy as just replacing the fixture or do you think it's a wiring issue? Thanks, Brent _______________________________________________
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