How do I replace a bulb in a Plastimo Compass?

[Zanziba]

The bulb has stopped working on my Plastimo Contest compass on my yacht...

I've removed the back plate and extracted it from the boat... it has a double wrapped black wire going into it which is the obvious thing to trace but no obvious way to get the unit apart? Does it pull apart or am I missing something obvious?

 

[VicS]

The bulb has stopped working on my Plastimo Contest compass on my yacht...

I've removed the back plate and extracted it from the boat... it has a double wrapped black wire going into it which is the obvious thing to trace but no obvious way to get the unit apart? Does it pull apart or am I missing something obvious?

have you considered looking at the manual which is available on Plastimo's
website?


.


.


. Dont bother .. it does not tell you


BUT see here http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64412

 

[LittleSister]

I think it may just pull out. If I remember correctly, the bulb sits in a little cylindrical plastic holder with the wires coming out the back. This just pushes into a hole in the plastic rear case of the compass (for a through bulkhead mounted one, inside the cabin). I am not completely certain of this, but it is probably worth trying giving it a gentle tug.

 

[Zanziba]

Plastimo should be embarrassed by the poor quality of their generic manual, that was my first port of call

I'll try pulling it apart gently today and see happens... Failing that it's duck tape and head torch for tomorrows night sail

 

[saltylegs]

As Little sis above says.
The bulb just pulls out of a round hole after you remove the back late , the bulb has wires permenently fitted to it so the new bulb comes complete with the wires attached.

 

[savageseadog]

As Little sis above says.
The bulb just pulls out of a round hole after you remove the back late , the bulb has wires permenently fitted to it so the new bulb comes complete with the wires attached.

That's what mine does. You can buy suitable bulbs from RS components or possibly move on to LED lighting. If you use LED's you need to make sure they are either 12V or fit a current limiting resistor in series.

 

[lenseman]

For the replacement, it might be worth thinking about using a red LED in series with a 1k2 Ohm resistor wired via the nav lights (aft steaming light)?

 

[savageseadog]

For the replacement, it might be worth thinking about using a red LED in series with a 1k2 Ohm resistor wired via the nav lights (aft steaming light)?

I tried a red LED in my Plastimo Contest and found it difficult to read. I would suggest a white LED.

 

[lenseman]

I tried a red LED in my Plastimo Contest and found it difficult to read. I would suggest a white LED.

It might be because the LED that you tried only had a 15 to 25 degree angle of light output.

Over the passed few years things have improved and LED's can be wide-angle and high-brightness. It is worth looking at various types, they are only pennies each.

 

[Zanziba]

Found a clip on the bottom once the unit was fully removed,screwdriver inserted makes the unit fall in half. One of the wires has broken so should be a simple soldering job this evening, touching them together makes the bulb work

 

[lenseman]

RESULT !

 

[2Tizwoz]

Found a clip on the bottom once the unit was fully removed,screwdriver inserted makes the unit fall in half. One of the wires has broken so should be a simple soldering job this evening, touching them together makes the bulb work

Plastimo twist the wires around each other to avoid creating a magnetic field.

 

[bluerm166]

You take the front off.