Navigation bulbs BAY15D

[Mikedefieslife]

Seems one of my nav lights uses a white bulb with offset pins and two contacts on the bottom.

I thought this was a standard bay15d type bulb common in the automotive world.

I'm looking at replacing it with a LED, not really for energy saving but more for longevity. I have some LEDs lying around with the same fitting and same two contacts on the bottom. The catch is they don't work.

The incandescent bulb seems to have plus and minus contacts on the bottom. The led although it has the same looking contacts, instead seems to use the metal base of the bulb as negative rather than one of the contacts.

So now I'm confused as what type of bulb I actually need.

 

[VicS]

Seems one of my nav lights uses a white bulb with offset pins and two contacts on the bottom.

I thought this was a standard bay15d type bulb common in the automotive world.

I'm looking at replacing it with a LED, not really for energy saving but more for longevity. I have some LEDs lying around with the same fitting and same two contacts on the bottom. The catch is they don't work.

The incandescent bulb seems to have plus and minus contacts on the bottom. The led although it has the same looking contacts, instead seems to use the metal base of the bulb as negative rather than one of the contacts.

So now I'm confused as what type of bulb I actually need.

It sounds as though the LED's you have "lying around" have the same contact and pin configurtion as a dual filament car stop/ tail light bulb in which the cap is used as the common negative for the two , different power, filaments
You need an LED bulb that uses the two contacts , but not the cap , like navigation light bulbs.

Boatlamps will be able to supply what you need but no doubt there are cheap ebay suppliers of simiar bulbs

https://boatlamps.co.uk/

It is best to use the correct colour LED for coloured nav lights but warm white is an acceptable alternative. Plenty of info on the Boatlamps site

 

[pvb]

Seems one of my nav lights uses a white bulb with offset pins and two contacts on the bottom.

I thought this was a standard bay15d type bulb common in the automotive world.

The BAY15D socket is used for some navigation lights to stop people putting incorrect bulbs in, and the wiring is different from the automotive uses. As Vic suggested, a specialist supplier will be able to help, but automotive-style LEDs won't work without rewiring.

 

[ghostlymoron]

LEDs are polarity sensitive so may be wired backwards. As others have said they're not generally interchangeable with auto bulbs.

 

[RichardS]

LEDs are polarity sensitive so may be wired backwards. As others have said they're not generally interchangeable with auto bulbs.

That had me fooled changing the bulbs on the Series 3 Landy to LEDs. It's a 1982 negative earth car .... but one of the original incandescent bulbs is factory-wired as positive earth. :ambivalence:

Richard

 

[Mikedefieslife]

LEDs are polarity sensitive so may be wired backwards. As others have said they're not generally interchangeable with auto bulbs.

Nah, like I said on the LED the metal base of the bulb is the negative. Rather than the two connectors at the bottom being positive and negative like the navigation bulb.

Both seemingly use the BAY15D socket, which means each bulb must have some kind of industry code it's called by.

Anyone know what they are?

 

[LadyInBed]

I have just ordered and received a Two Pack off eBay. (

£15.18 Warm White )​

I bought these because they had 8 stacks of 6 LED's, others had less LED's.
I put 12v across the pins to test them, also checked them with reverse polarity and they drew the same current (380mA) with either polarity.

PS so there is no confusion, they lit up nice and bright with voltage connected to the bubbles on the base either way round.

 

[Mikedefieslife]

I have just ordered and received a Two Pack off eBay. (

£15.18 Warm White )​

I bought these because they had 8 stacks of 6 LED's, others had less LED's.
I put 12v across the pins to test them, also checked them with reverse polarity and they drew the same current (380mA) with either polarity.

PS so there is no confusion, they lit up nice and bright with voltage connected to the bubbles on the base either way round.

Yes those are the right type. They have a positive and negative terminal. The car rear light ones have two positive terminals.

What I'm trying to find out is the technical name for each different type of bulb.

 

[RichardS]

Yes those are the right type. They have a positive and negative terminal.

Although they don't actually have a positive and negative terminal as both can be positive and both can be negative, although not at the same time. We need a new definition .... how about bipolar?

Richard

 

[Pete7]

Mike, how are you going to deal with the wrong colours some LEDs will give in port and stbd lights? also will the arcs be right if you put an LED in a light designed for a filament bulb?

I have replaced the bulb with LED in my stern light and will probably do the same for the anchor light when I next go up there. However, I have left port and stbd ones alone.

 

[VicS]

Yes those are the right type. They have a positive and negative terminal. The car rear light ones have two positive terminals.

What I'm trying to find out is the technical name for each different type of bulb.

BA indicates a bayonet base with parallel pins ( ie 180 ° apart) non offset ( ie the same height)

BAY has parallel pins, offset vertically

BAU has staggered pins (150° apart), non offset

BAZ has pins both staggered and offset

15 = diameter in mm, S= single contact, D= double contact

No doubt other types exist which you should be able to find trawling round the internet if you have the time to waste dig out irrelevant information

However you need to also consider the light output ( given in lumens ) and the colour spectrum ( chromatically , if that the right word) because LEDs do not emit a continuous spectrum like incandescent filament bulbs. You must use a bulb which emits light of a wavelength which matches the colored NAV light lenses if being used in existing lanterns with coloured lenses.

If you buy from a reputable supplier, such as Boatlamps, you will get LED replacements for filament bulbs with the correct base for your lanterns, the correct lumens output and the correct spectral characteristics. Alternatively you can trawl around the internet wasting time and money on all sorts of unsuitable items

 

[VicS]

Although they don't actually have a positive and negative terminal as both can be positive and both can be negative, although not at the same time. We need a new definition .... how about bipolar?

Richard

It is "non polarised"

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have just ordered and received a Two Pack off eBay. (

£15.18 Warm White )​

I bought these because they had 8 stacks of 6 LED's, others had less LED's.
I put 12v across the pins to test them, also checked them with reverse polarity and they drew the same current (380mA) with either polarity.

PS so there is no confusion, they lit up nice and bright with voltage connected to the bubbles on the base either way round.

Those are the exactly the same ones I have. The warm white like posted I use in my bi colour bow and my tri colour giving visually the correct colour . I use the cool white for my stern / anchor and steaming light. Visually the cool whits is much brighter but do not give the correct colours in the bi and tri colour lights

 

[ghostlymoron]

Use warm white bulbs and the colours will be okay.

Mike, how are you going to deal with the wrong colours some LEDs will give in port and stbd lights? also will the arcs be right if you put an LED in a light designed for a filament bulb?

I have replaced the bulb with LED in my stern light and will probably do the same for the anchor light when I next go up there. However, I have left port and stbd ones alone.

 

[RichardS]

It is "non polarised"

That sounds more like my old sunglasses.

Richard

 

[Heckler]

LEDs are polarity sensitive so may be wired backwards. As others have said they're not generally interchangeable with auto bulbs.

Sorry. most LED bulbs nowadays are configured so that they can b fitted both ways.

 

[LadyInBed]

Those are the exactly the same ones I have.

Yes, it was you that put me on to them on a previous thread re BAY15 LED stacks - thanks.