Remove electrical panel on 342 to replace lights

Liberty44140

how is this achieved? I have a lot of panel lights out and want to replace with led. I could only get the panel out an inch or two, nowhere near enough distance to replace any bulbs which I could see were out. Obviously there is a large main power line holding it. I pulled several times with no luck, stopped so that i don't break anything. Have read here that this is a common issue on the 342 but could not find a solution. Thanks 

Handymans342

I just did mine. I had it out all the way on top of the stove. Keep pulling. Lots of wires. 

Handymans342

Replace all bulbs! 17 total

Black_Diamond

I had to disconnect the main AC wire coming in and splice a piece in mine. Dang thing was too short to get the panel out. 

Liberty44140

Thanks guys, definitely planning to replace all of them. So I need to just keep pulling and milking it out? At this point with less than 2" I can not get my hand anywhere near something to disconnect, I can't even see what is holding it back. Happy to keep pulling but wanted to verify 

Handymans342

Unplug from any power source first

Liberty44140

Then it will be dark! will do 

reneechris14

Show some pic's live to see what's back there.

Black_Diamond

If yours is like mine was: same issue.  You should be able to weasel the left side out and slide back enough to disconnect the incoming main AC wire. Will be on the top right side of the panel. 

I added a foot to the wire with a crimp connector and then did a long piece of shrink tubing over the whole thing. No way it is coming undone. 

Stodge

I'd like to do this too.  What bulbs (LED I assume) are folks using?

Handymans342

B_D posted this on another thread. 

Stodge

I found a thread by B_D about it, but it only has 2 posts and nothing about the bulbs.

Handymans342

Stodge said:

I found a thread by B_D about it, but it only has 2 posts and nothing about the bulbs.

He posted the web site and the part number of the Bulb. Thats how I ordered my 17

Handymans342

342 Breaker Panel lights - LED Solution!

Handymans342

Search that thread Stodge

Stodge

Doh! I was on page 2.  

Stodge

Found these on superbrightleds for $1.39 each.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/ba9s-ba7s/ba9s-led-bulb-1-led-ba9s-retrofit-classic-car-bulb/4/

Handymans342

Thats the one Stooge I mean Stodge LOL

Handymans342

You will have to remove an aluminum cover over the 120V side to get to those bulbs.  

Liberty44140

I'll post pics when I get back to the boat in 2 weeks. 
BD- sounds like I need to keep working the panel out by carefully pullling and hopefully I can get to the point of being able to disconnect the main ac line if that will help.
Handy- do you mean an aluminum cover goes over the bulbs behind the main panel? I could kinda see that on both the 12v and 120v side when I had a peek, looked like inside behind the panel there were covers that needed to be removed to get to the bulbs.

I am no electrician so I am almost tempted to leave this alone but I have a lot of bulbs out so I'd love to replace with led. Terrified of creating a situation where I need to do more than extend the main ac, I can do that but boy there is a lot of other stuff back there! Thanks 

Handymans342

Yes. Remove an aluminum panel. It covers wiring connections and the bulbs

bigmike

  Guys, on my boat I pulled out the fridge, and secured to the the underside or back of the cupboards was about 4 feet of wire tied in a spool, once undone, the panel came out, there are also 2 disconnect plugs, and everything is very easy to work on, I installed another breaker for a wash down pump at the anchor.                           

Liberty44140

Thanks BigMike, I wondered about going in that way, wished I had looked up when I pulled the fridge out last summer to clean the fan and coils. It's easy to remove so I'm going to try that, wasn't sure if you could easily get to the back of the panel from the fridge area. Thanks!

Liberty44140

A huge thanks to bigmike, pulled the fridge and indeed all of the wires feeding the panel are zip tied. Cut all of the ties and the panel came out a little more. Than hand shoved wires up from underneath and within a few tries it came out and sat on the range like Handys did. Voila! Here are pics. No pic of the cables zip tied. Will re zip tie when the panel is done. I counted 19 bulbs including the 12v main and the 110v indicator. Has anyone used the bulbs that stodg. posted? Do they work? They are a good price. 

reneechris14

Can you access the microwave from there??

Liberty44140

The plug and outlet, yes

Cableguy Greg

Has anyone replaced the polarity lights yet? One of mine is failing and I would like to replace it.

Ian

The small window for the 12V has fallen out in mine and dropped to the depths of wherever. Any idea where to get this? 

Liberty44140

anither quest for handy and BD, do I have to take apart the stainless box covering the ac side to get to the bulbs? It is very in the way. 

Handymans342

Yes. About 6 screws

Liberty44140

Thanks, removed the screws from the panel face to separate the stainless box from the panel, do i also need to take out the screws holding the box together?