Aqua Signal 25 waterproofing?

[xeitosaphil]

Hi all, just in the process of replacing and fitting new Aqua Signal 25 nav lights. I noticed there is no provision for water to exit the light if it comes in via the lense, which is a dry fit to the case with gaps at the side. Any water that finds it's way in to the light has no means of escape. I wondered to drill a hole at the back of the case at the bottom under the screw fixing nut to let any water drain out?
The lights are approx 6ft off the waterline on the pulpit, so probably never see any seawater only rain.
Has anybody else done this or found the need to?

I don't really like the idea of any water possibly lying under the light fitting all the time in the case.
Only other way would be to seal the lense into the case I guess?

What have others done if anything?

Thanks for any replies Philip.

 

[[70521]]

It is rated at IP46. From memory there is a rubber gasket? I recently went up to the Series 41 as I felt the 25 were a bit on the light side.

 

[VicS]

Hi all, just in the process of replacing and fitting new Aqua Signal 25 nav lights. I noticed there is no provision for water to exit the light if it comes in via the lense, which is a dry fit to the case with gaps at the side. Any water that finds it's way in to the light has no means of escape. I wondered to drill a hole at the back of the case at the bottom under the screw fixing nut to let any water drain out?
The lights are approx 6ft off the waterline on the pulpit, so probably never see any seawater only rain.
Has anybody else done this or found the need to?

I don't really like the idea of any water possibly lying under the light fitting all the time in the case.
Only other way would be to seal the lense into the case I guess?

What have others done if anything?

Thanks for any replies Philip.

I have Aqua Signal series 25 nav lights.
I thought there was small drain hole but they are a good few years old........... the early type with two screws for the lens assembly. I don't remember any gaps at the side. I'm sure there is a gasket between the back and the lens assembly

 

[xeitosaphil]

Thanks for your replies. There is a rubber gasket sealing the back of the case to the lense, but the lense on the new ones are loose and just are held in place.by the back part of the case. As the lense is a loose fit, water can get down the sides of the lense as it is not sealed and can lie under the sealed section.
I don't like the idea of any water being held under the sealed section as the soft rubber gasket is only reliant on a limited amount of pressure and could possibly leak. Any water that does enter the outer case cannot get out as there's no drainage hole.
I think they could have made a better job of these by sealing the lenses into the case, or providing a drainage hole..
Just wondered how others have faired and what if any precautions they had made?

 

[C08]

My LED Aquasignal 25 was totally full of water, still working. I drilled a small drain hole. Poor design.

 

[neil_s]

My masthead anchor/tricolour always gets condensation and has to be dried out at the end of the season. The lights at deck level don't suffer though!

 

[Refueler]

My Aquas fell apart inside because of this 'fault' ... so when I replaced - I used Lazilas which have the press tongue under to fit / remove the body / lens. That tongue allows water to leak out bottom ... I believe Hella are similar to Lazilas ..

If I was to use Aqua's - then I would drill a drain hole in bottom.

 

[xeitosaphil]

Thanks for all the replies. I finally fitted both the aqua's today and decided to drill holes in the underside of each fitting to allow drainage as my original thoughts.
Time will tell if this was s good decision, but hoping it was.

Cheers
Philip

 

[BabaYaga]

My LED Aquasignal 25 was totally full of water, still working. I drilled a small drain hole. Poor design.

As far as I know Aqua Signal 25 uses incandescent bulbs. Perhaps you meant to refer to some other model? Could be interesting to know which.

 

[VicS]

Thanks for all the replies. I finally fitted both the aqua's today and decided to drill holes in the underside of each fitting to allow drainage as my original thoughts.
Time will tell if this was s good decision, but hoping it was.

Cheers
Philip

My recollection is that mine have a small rectangular cut out in the back edge of the bottom of the lens assembly that forms a drain hole. I remember thinking that they must not be fitted upside down or they'd let in water.
That applies to the stern and steaming ones .... more serious reasons for not fitting P, S or bi upside down although I've seen a bicolour upside down, showing red and green reversed..

 

[Refueler]

Oh woe ... I remember my old Aqua's ...... screws seized so I had to break the light to open it to remove ......

I may not like the Lazilas and some of the Hellas with the press tab underneath to lock the lens cap on ... but you can always open them !! AND the water drains out via that tab. I previously preferred the screwed design of Aqua's - till having to replace them !