Fitting anew bulb to an anchor light.

Ian_Edwards

Ian_Edwards

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The bulb in this anchor light has failed.
A spare bulb was provided with the light.
But I can't sperate the lens from the base, that's the only way to access the bulb holder.
No instruction in or on the box, new at the start of this season.
It looks like it should unscrew, I've clamped the base in a vice and used a strap wrench but can't budge it.
I'm reluctant to use a stilson pipe wrench, it's just plastic and I could completely knacker it!

Anchor light.jpg

anyone got one of these, and know how to access the bulb holder?
I haven't tried hot water of penetrating oil yet, I though I'd see if there's real world experience of this, or a similar problem on here.
 
Thanks that's useful to know.
I've been trying to twist it ant-clockwise, but can't move it.
I'll try warming the base gently, and see if I can move it.
The gland came loose in my attempts the separate the two parts.
There's a back nut which secures the gland, but that is only accessable after I've managed get inside the anchor light.
I'll make sure it well sealed, if and when, I get to put it back together.
 
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Put it in a bowl of hot water and find a couple of thick elastic bands. After 5 mins remove from the water, wrap the elastic bands around the two halves to provide grip and then hopefully achieve a separation.
 
Thistle said:
What make is it?
Click to expand...
It's a utility anchor light bought from Force4.
When I bought it in April this year, I was looking for an LED version, but couldn't find anyone with one in stock. The masthead anchor light had failed and again, I couldn't find stock anywhere, nor could Largs Chandlers.
I'll replace the masthead unit over the winter now the mast is down, but wanted to repair this one. I prefer an anchor light hung in the fore triangle just above head height. I think it's easier to see in an anchorage, than one up 22m on the top of the mast.
This shouldn't be difficult, its designed to have the bulb replaced, it was sold with a spare bulb.
 
Ian_Edwards said:
It's a utility anchor light bought from Force4.
When I bought it in April this year, I was looking for an LED version, but couldn't find anyone with one in stock. The masthead anchor light had failed and again, I couldn't find stock anywhere, nor could Largs Chandlers.
I'll replace the masthead unit over the winter now the mast is down, but wanted to repair this one. I prefer an anchor light hung in the fore triangle just above head height. I think it's easier to see in an anchorage, than one up 22m on the top of the mast.
This shouldn't be difficult, its designed to have the bulb replaced, it was sold with a spare bulb.
Click to expand...

If you get this one apart -

I concur with your idea to hang the light in the foretriangle, for the reasons you mention. I'd hang it, upside down (with the black housing up) as then the light can shine and illuminate the foredeck which will make your yacht more visible (particularly as maybe 25% of the light is actually point skywards - and few people are going to see that part of the illumination.

Either you need a completely new light or you may need to better waterproof the existing device.

Jonathan
 
The lens and body just unscrew. Perhaps a couple of these to help?

tradecounterdirect.com/boa-baby-boa-constrictor-strap-wrench_type.html
 
Ian_Edwards said:
It's a utility anchor light bought from Force4.
When I bought it in April this year, I was looking for an LED version, but couldn't find anyone with one in stock. The masthead anchor light had failed and again, I couldn't find stock anywhere, nor could Largs Chandlers.
I'll replace the masthead unit over the winter now the mast is down, but wanted to repair this one. I prefer an anchor light hung in the fore triangle just above head height. I think it's easier to see in an anchorage, than one up 22m on the top of the mast.
This shouldn't be difficult, its designed to have the bulb replaced, it was sold with a spare bulb.
Click to expand...
Have you asked F4 for advice?
 
I managed to get it apart, delayed by the failure of my old Bosch paint stripper, I had to wait for a new one to arrive via Amazon.
This definitely has a bayonet fitting, with an O ring seal.

Anchor light 1.jpg

The cable gland has an internal nut, which had come loose, and an O ring seal on the outside, it's now back on and tight, unlikely to come undone again. The O ring is just in compression, no grove or any locator, not the best engineering practice, but probably OK, it should see anything worse than rain.

Anchor light 2.jpg

The filament in the bulb was broken, it's a 1813, with a BAY 9s base, whatever the s means.
I've ordered on of these, BA9S 12 SMD 3014 LED Replacement Lamp

The new LED, although only 0.5W, is likely to be much brighter than the original incandescent, is this likely to turn the anchor light off, it's placed very close to the bulb, see photo below. That would probably result in a flashing light! I'll obviously try it when it arrives.

Anchor light 3.jpg

I do hang it upside down (lens down), from the stay sail halyard, about 4m above the deck, and yes it does light up the deck, but the original was very dim.
 
Ian_Edwards said:
......I've ordered on of these, BA9S 12 SMD 3014 LED Replacement Lamp. The new LED, although only 0.5W, is likely to be much brighter than the original incandescent, is this likely to turn the anchor light off, it's placed very close to the bulb, see photo below. That would probably result in a flashing light! I'll obviously try it when it arrives.
Click to expand...

No flashing, I think it's something to do with wavelength of the light. We have the brighter of the two led bulbs sold with these lights (BA9S 15 SMD 3528 LED) and it stays in use 365 on the mooring but one segment failed after several years. The slight leak we had was around the cable where it passes through the grommet in the gland, not the gland to base joint.
 
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Ian_Edwards said:
That would probably result in a flashing light! I'll obviously try it when it arrives.
Click to expand...
Mine flashed with the original bulb. I just bent the sensor away from the bulb a bit to cure it.

BTW, I think the S on the bulb means single contact base (with body -v) as opposed to dual contact +ve and -ve on base.
 
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