Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Onboard Lighting and Electronics Systems Course

This course gives you the essential knowledge to maintain and optimize the lighting and electronic systems of a vessel. You will move from the fundamentals of marine electricity to the selection and installation of LED lighting and navigation lights, the integration of onboard electronics such as GPS, VHF, AIS and sensors, and the diagnosis of common faults, so that you can carry out repairs, improve energy efficiency and keep the boat safe and comfortable.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Onboard Lighting and Electronics Systems Course?

This short course prepares you to understand, install and look after the lighting and electronic equipment found on sailing yachts, motorboats, catamarans and small passenger craft. You will study the difference between functional, navigation, courtesy, emergency and ambient lighting; the main components of an onboard installation, from lights, switches and panels to batteries, fuses, displays and chargers; the particular demands of the marine environment, with humidity, salt, vibration and condensation; the choice of LED and other luminaires, navigation, anchor and deck lights and basic consumption calculations; common electronic equipment and sensors; and the cabling, protection and multimeter techniques needed to diagnose faults.

What sets this course apart: a practical, hands-on approach centered on the faults that actually occur on board, such as lights that will not switch on, flickering, phantom consumption, blown fuses and corrosion; clear criteria for choosing and placing luminaires for visibility, safety and energy efficiency; attention to the organization of electronic circuits to avoid interference and voltage drops; and an applied project in which you diagnose an existing installation and design its lighting and electronics scheme, installation plan and maintenance plan.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Fundamentals: functional, navigation, courtesy, emergency and ambient lighting in the marine environment.
  • Nautical lighting: LED luminaires, navigation and anchor lights, consumption and light distribution.
  • Onboard electronics: GPS, echo sounder, VHF, AIS, autopilot, sensors, alarms and multifunction displays.
  • Safe installation: marine cable, crimping, watertight connections, fuses, breakers and earthing.
  • Fault diagnosis with the multimeter: voltage, continuity, polarity, voltage drop and phantom loads.
  • Applied project: lighting and electronics scheme, installation and maintenance plan for a real vessel.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Onboard Lighting and Electronics Systems Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of lighting, onboard electronics and electrical safety on vessels

  • 1.1. The concept of onboard lighting and electronics systems and the differences between functional, navigation, comfort and signaling lighting and auxiliary electronic equipment
  • 1.2. Main components: lights, switches, panels, batteries, fuses, cabling, sensors, displays, chargers and control modules
  • 1.3. Types of lighting: interior, exterior, navigation lights, courtesy lights, technical, emergency and ambient lighting
  • 1.4. Particular features of the marine environment: humidity, salinity, vibration, corrosion, condensation, motion and sun exposure
  • 1.5. Common risks: short circuits, overloads, connection failures, interference, excessive consumption, fire and loss of visibility
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Nautical lighting, choice of luminaires, consumption and installation criteria

  • 2.1. LED, halogen, fluorescent, watertight, recessed, surface-mounted, adjustable and low-consumption luminaires
  • 2.2. Navigation, anchor, stern, sidelights, masthead, deck, cockpit, engine room and work area lights
  • 2.3. Basic calculation of consumption, power, autonomy, efficiency, color temperature, intensity and light distribution
  • 2.4. Positioning luminaires for visibility, glare control, safety, aesthetics, accessibility and protection against water
  • 2.5. Cabling, fuses, switches, regulators, dimmers, watertight connectors and protection against corrosion
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Basic onboard electronics, auxiliary equipment and control systems

  • 3.1. Common electronic equipment: GPS, echo sounder, VHF radio, AIS, autopilot, sensors, alarms, cameras and monitors
  • 3.2. Control panels, relays, switches, data buses, electronic modules, multifunction displays and distribution systems
  • 3.3. Level, temperature, smoke, gas, flooding, battery, pressure, motion and door or hatch sensors
  • 3.4. Integration of USB chargers, 12 V sockets, small inverters, battery monitors and communication devices
  • 3.5. Organizing electronic circuits to avoid interference, voltage drops, overloads and humidity-related failures
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Installation, cabling, electrical protection and fault diagnosis

  • 4.1. Choice of marine cables, cross-sections, colors, terminals, conduits, labels and safe routing criteria
  • 4.2. Connections, crimping, heat-shrink, watertight boxes, quick connectors, terminals, bus bars and earth connections
  • 4.3. Protection with fuses, circuit breakers, isolators, relays and protection against reverse polarity and overcurrent
  • 4.4. Basic use of the multimeter to measure voltage, continuity, polarity, current draw, voltage drop and circuit condition
  • 4.5. Fault diagnosis: lights that do not switch on, flickering, phantom consumption, blown fuses, corrosion and poor contacts
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Applied project in onboard lighting and electronics systems

  • 5.1. Definition of the case: sailing yacht, motorboat, small yacht, catamaran, passenger boat, cabin, deck or auxiliary electronic system
  • 5.2. Diagnosis of the existing system: lighting, consumption, cabling, batteries, protections, sensors, faults and user needs
  • 5.3. Design of the lighting and electronics scheme with luminaires, equipment, circuits, fuses, switches and control points
  • 5.4. Preparation of the installation plan with materials, cable routing, connections, tests, labeling and functional checks
  • 5.5. Development of the maintenance plan, energy efficiency measures, documentation, fault diagnosis and future improvements
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Onboard Lighting and Electronics Systems Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Onboard Lighting and Electronics Systems Course

01Diagnose and repair faults in the electrical systems of vessels using wiring diagrams and diagnostic tools, applying maritime safety rules to restore operation and prevent risks.
02Read drawings and schematics of onboard lighting and electronic systems, recognizing symbols, components and single-line diagrams so that faults can be located and repaired efficiently.
03Install and configure lighting and electronic equipment on board with safe, compliant cabling, protecting circuits against overload and short circuit through the right fuses, breakers and protective devices.
04Carry out preventive maintenance of lighting and electronic systems by inspecting and testing equipment, replacing worn components and recording every intervention as the manufacturer recommends.
05Improve the performance and energy efficiency of onboard lighting and electronics with control and monitoring strategies, adjusting light levels to real needs and cutting standby consumption.
06Check that navigation lights, communication equipment and detection systems are correctly installed and working, in line with SOLAS and the requirements of the local maritime administration.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Onboard Lighting and Electronics Systems Course

01Onboard lighting maintenance techniciandiagnosis, repair and optimization of lighting systems on vessels.
02Onboard electronics technicianmaintenance and repair of navigation, communication and control electronics.
03Marine lighting and electronics installernew installations on newbuilds and on refits and upgrades.
04Technical inspector of lighting and electronicschecking installations against applicable standards and safety rules.
05Marine lighting designerefficient and safe lighting schemes for different types of vessel.
06Specialist sales adviser for marine lighting and electronics equipment for boatyards, chandlers and operators
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Onboard Lighting and Electronics Systems Course

The lighting and electronic systems of small and medium-sized vessels: types of lighting and luminaires, navigation lights, common electronic equipment and sensors, marine cabling and protections, and the diagnosis of everyday faults, closing with an applied project on a real or realistic boat.

Basic notions of electricity help, but the course starts from the fundamentals of marine installations. Electricians and technicians will go deeper; owners and crew will gain enough grounding to understand and maintain their own systems.

Yes. You will study navigation, anchor, stern, sidelight and masthead lights, how they are positioned and wired, and how to check that they work correctly in line with the applicable rules.

GPS, echo sounder, VHF radio, AIS, autopilot, sensors, alarms, cameras and multifunction displays, together with panels, relays, data buses, battery monitors, chargers and small inverters.

Yes. A whole module is devoted to installation and diagnosis: using the multimeter to measure voltage, continuity, polarity and voltage drop, and tracing typical problems such as flickering lights, phantom consumption, blown fuses and corrosion.

Online, with materials available at any time, discussion forums and tutor support, so you can follow it at your own pace alongside work.

Through practical exercises across the modules and a final applied project in which you diagnose an installation and design its lighting and electronics scheme, installation plan and maintenance plan.

No. This course focuses on the electrical lighting and electronic equipment of the vessel itself: navigation lights, interior and deck lighting, instruments, sensors, cabling and protections.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: vocational training in electricity, electronics or automation, or demonstrable experience installing and maintaining electrical and electronic systems on boats; marine electricians, yard and repair shop staff, owners and fleet managers are also welcome.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with webcam and microphone and a broadband connection; a basic digital multimeter is recommended for the practical exercises.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $188 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.

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