wiring lights

[mokey]

Need help with lights wiring. For bow and stern lights I took the black wire from both lights to one side of the toggle switch, then from the other side of the switch ran black wire to the negative post on battery, ran red wires from both lights to the positive post. is this correct? I got this diagram off the web, so I'm not sure.

 

[haffiman37]

You should switch the B+ side, not the negative.
10A fuse would be to recommend as well.

 

[martino1]

Your other problem is the switch. You need a two position switch. Running lights should have the bow and stern light on. While at anchor, only the stern light should be on. You also should have a fuse or circuit breaker in the circuit.

 

[mokey]

Thanks guys. I now have lights although I still need to wire the stern light for when I'm at anchor. I'll just jump the stern light wire to the other pole in the switch. Then I'll have the bow and stern light on in one position, then off position, and then just the stern light in the other position. Make sense?

 

[martino1]

I tried to get you a link to a correct wiring diagram, can't figure out how to do it on this site. If you go to Google, and put in boat wiring diagram, and then click the link on Images, the first diagram shows you how to correctly wire both lights using s DPDT switch.