Don’t assume that just because you’ve got two conductors running up the inside of the mast that you’ve only got a two conductor plug on deck.  My boat came with only two conductors running up the mast, but the plug can handle up to four conductors.  

When I got my boat, the mast was wired for a steaming light.  I knew I was far more likely to be anchoring than motoring at night, so I rewired for a 360 degree masthead anchor light.  Maybe someday I’ll rewire in the cabin and up the mast to have a full set of proper lights, but until then if I ever find myself motoring at night my plan is to turn on the anchor light and cover the stern light.  I’d be showing port, starboard and 360 degrees of white.

Peter Nyberg
Coventry, CT
s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)

> On Feb 23, 2017, at 1:16 PM, Dennis <mcneelyd at site-solutions.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Rob,
> 
> Two possibilities come to mind. You're going to need to install a wire to the masthead regardless, but you can make two conductors work for both lights (and make the two conductor deck connector work for both as well).
> 
> The secret is knowing that LEDs are sensitive to polarity, so you can run the two conductor wire to a two pole double throw switch (DPDT) - one that has a middle "Off" position. When you want the steaming light on, flipping the switch in one direction will connect the positive terminal of the battery to one wire (call it white), and connect the negative terminal to the other wire. The LED in the steaming light is happy, as are the boaters in your vicinity (and the Coast Guard).
> 
> OTOH, the LED in the anchor light at the top of the mast won't light, since you've cleverly reversed the leads connected to it - and the LED won't light since it sees the wrong polarity. To anchor, flip the DPDT switch to the opposite side, connecting the battery's *negative* terminal to the white wire - and the anchor light will happily come on. The steaming light will refuse to do so, since it sees the wrong polarity now. The middle switch position kills both lights for day sailing.
> 
> The other possibility? Install another two conductor wire down the length of the mast, and install an new connector at the deck for the additional wire pair.
> 
> There's a relatively inexpensive tool you can use to pull wiring down the mast, but I used fiberglass rods to push a new wire in place, together with a piece of string to pull future wiring should the need arise. The rods can be anything flexible. I used some screw-together rods (normally for cleaning a chimney), some tent pole rods (and some duct tape), etc. It was ugly, but it worked.
> 
> A bit of a hassle, but an interesting project to play with while waiting for Spring to spring.
> 
> Dennis
> Magic Moments
> one eye on the thermometer & one eye on the water level
> 
> 
> On 2/23/2017 11:59 AM, Lowe, Rob wrote:
>> I've got the mast off my boat and was looking at the lighting on it.  I've got a light half way up my mast (streaming light?) but no lights at all at the top (all around light?).  I've got only one set of wires (plus and minus) going up the mast.  I'd like to either replace the mid mast light or move a new light to the top of the mast.  What do others have and what is recommended/required.  My desire is to be legal at night anchoring out.  West Marine provides this info. Thanks - rob
>> 
>> https://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Navigation-Light-Rules
>> 
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