Getting annoyed with my Buoy Light

Refueler

Refueler

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I have a Buoy Light on lanyard to my Horseshoe buoy. The orange type with mercury switch when it floats upright connects the 3 D cells to light the bulb.

All batterys / bulb / switch access via the screw on lens cap. The body of the light being one plastic moulding.

The light hangs upside down from the buoy ready for deployment. Fine except one thing ..................


After short period, no matter what I do - the lens cap has an egg-cupful of water sitting in it. So when light flips upright - the water shorts the bulb / batterys. Even if I religously empty the cap as soon as I see water ... too late, moisture has already done the job.
No way to put silica gel sachet in - as that would stop battery making contact if it dropped to bottom of body ...

Anyone else have similar ?

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Is it a Plastimo?

Some time back (2002/2003?) PBO did a review and the Plastimo unit was the 'Best buy', so maybe it's time to change unless, of course, your experience contradicts the report?
 
I had a similar problem with my Tron 4f lifebouy light and finally tracked it down to a hairline crack in the lens. Screwing it down too tight had caused it to crack at the top of the threaded section. A new lens cured the problem---free from the manufacturer and a lot cheaper than a new light. The thread on the new lens and the rubber O ring were generously smeared with silicone grease and so far it's a dry as a bone.
 
Every one I have looked at of that type has water in the lens. At least your cheap white plastic tuibe that holds the batteries in place is still in one piece. They aften fall apart as well!
 
take the batts out and fill it with soda water or similar put the top on and turn over gently.
see where it pees out, looking at the seal it looks cracked.


steve
 
Gave up on those things years ago. They always fill up with water, no matter how well you fix and lubricate the seal and cost a fortune in batteries.
Aquaspec AQ180 is the answer, five year battery life, fit and forget,
 
The seal is perished for one thing!
My one flashes every now and then whilst healing. I had to cover the bulb on an overnight the cherbourg. It was like a flash going off followed by hopeless night vision. Definitely see it at night in the water though.
 
[ QUOTE ]
take the batts out and fill it with soda water or similar put the top on and turn over gently.
see where it pees out, looking at the seal it looks cracked.


steve

[/ QUOTE ]

That ring seal in fact doesn't even seal - never did as the cap stops before it squeezes it. The cap has an O ring inside it that is the real seal and that is in good condition.

Best on ships were the McMurdo block jobs ... the lanyard before it got to the end made fast to the light had a silicon plug into a hole ... chuck buoy over .. lanyard pulled light and as it came out of the mount - pulled the plug out to let SW in to activate the Seawater battery. But they were not cheap ! Second you needed a reasonable Perrybuoy to have the weight to PULL the light out of the fitting and the plug out to activate the battery. If you took light out by hand - battery wouldn't activate.
 
Mine rust the bulbholder out so I bought a whole new thing - flashes when it feels like which is not very often and certainly not reliably enough. Had a conversation with neighbouring boat about accidently hitting a MOB with one and knocking them out because they are so heavy.

Have now found and bought a smaller version with just one D battery that flashes properly and is not heavy. Can't remember the name because it is the boat. £19 against £49 for the 5 year battery jobs. Ah here it is Nuova Rade Stella has a PCB under the dome so I hope it is watertight.

The old new one is going spare.
 
If there is no hole in the casing/lens and the washer is sealing properly the only source of water must come from within the light. It would seem that the D cells are the only likely source of moisture. Why not try a new set or attempt to dry them in a safe manner and then see if you still suffer the same problem?
 
Replace the O ring.
Make sure the ring is getting compressed as you tighten the lens. You sometimes need to clean up moulding flaws.
Add silicone grease,
A bit of insulting tape over the join is a secondary seal and keeps the UV off the o-ring.
Plan B is keep the thing indoors when boat not in use!
I use plan B. An old lifebuoy is left out all times in case its needed on the mooring. That way the decent MOB gear gets checked before a passage.
 
Yes, keep it inside when boat is not being used. That way, you can't help checking that it works when you put it in place.
Of those left out all the time, I doubt if as much as half of them work.
Apart from water in the works, there are problems with electrical contacts, especially in bulb holder (bulb comes unscrewed).
 
have a mcmurdo solas type, 4 c cells very thick seal ,could be bit of grit in seal,replace use grease onthread tape on outside,tape a bike flashing led to outside well taped against water last longer,if all fails get rid of it and buy girly light no one will know.
 
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