LED Anchor light - is the jury out?

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There's previously been discussion hereabouts as to whether LED's satisfy the legislative requirements for the brightness and distance of visibility et al when used for navigation lights purposes. I have seen discussion that using LED's may invalidate one's insurance in the event of a claim when "inadequate" lights had been shown. Does this remain the case or has the industry concluded that LED's meet the need? The idea of <1A per night is very appealing compared to 8A!

TIA

rob
 
There is absolutely no reason why LED lights cannot be made with the correct colour and intensity to meet the requirements of the Colregs and I would expect all the lights on the market to do so. From the visibility point of view, LED lights are very narrow spectrum and are perceived as less saturated than the filament equivalent.

However Annex 1 of the Colregs contains this paragraph
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14. Approval
The construction of lights and shapes and the installation of lights on board the vessel shall be to the satisfaction of the appropriate authority of the State whose flag the vessel is entitled to fly.

[/ QUOTE ]
and I hope there is someone who can tell us what satisfies, presumably, the MCA.
 
Various LED lights have been certified for marine use - the one I have passed the USCG test, so I assume complies with Colregs. Certainly I am very happy with mine and the anchor light gives much better visibility than the old filament bulb it replaced.

On a secondary note - if you have the sort of insurance policy that might start voiding the policy if you are not showing the proper lights then I would change insurer. Mine certainly would not.
 
Would you mind naming the LED type which you have found satisfactory and meets the USCG spec? I insure with GJW ~ I've not checked the small print apropos lights but I will.

rob
 
Mine came from Orca Green they aren't cheap but they are very good. Mine is now about 4 years old and LED technology has come on a lot since then. There may well be better and cheaper products available now.
 
DrLed claim on their web site to be USCG approved and I see in the new West Marine catalogue that it also states them to be USCG approved.

It may be interesting to check that USCG approval is in writing to either DrLED or West Marine.
 
Most insurance companies will require to comply with the colregs. This gives the spec of equipment required and do not specify what kind of equipment will comply.

If my insurance company tried to reject a claim for non compliance with any colreg I would insist that they prove that the equipment did not comply not that I have to prove that it did.

Does it say in the colregs for private use that equipment must be approved by any outside organization, I don't think so.
 
The US coastguard accepts that lights that have passed the Underwriters Laboratory test UL Standard 1104 meet '72 colregs and US Inland rules for vessels over 20m.
For smaller boats the rules are a bit different; boats built before 2003 have different requirements to boats built thereafter. The latest USCG requirement for boats under 20m is that they be tested by the manufacturer using USCG approved laboratories and that the legend 'USCG 1nm, USCG 2nm etc be visible once the light is installed.
LED navigation lights are subject to the same certification.
 
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the legend 'USCG 1nm, USCG 2nm etc be visible once the light is installed


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That would imply that a LED lamp fitted into say a aqua signal light fitting would not comply as the lamp could not be seen once the coloured lense is fitted
 
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I am happy with one of these ,

John

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Yes, I have wondered about those.

I would like one with an auto on-off which is not built in to the Triton light. Does anyone have a suitable and efficient circuit capable of switching this light ? it only draws 0.1A so it should be easy to make something.
 
Correct.
If you change the light bulb you must use the bulb for which light was originally certified or it has to be retested.
Anchor lights are a slightly oddball case: If you anchor in a 'designated anchorage' you don't need an anchor light. Some anchor lights have a label on them saying 'only for use in designated anchorages' thus avoiding the need for certification. I can be argued that most anchoring is done in designated anchorages.
 
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Does anyone have a suitable and efficient circuit capable of switching this light ? it only draws 0.1A so it should be easy to make something.

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Do you mean something like this ?

John
 
In the FAQ's for that kit it says:

Q) how much current does this switch require? - Andy
A) 100mA.


Which means you would use less power if you just left the light on 24hrs/day!

Although, on reflection, maybe that means the current to hold the relay closed. In which case you could remove the relay and just wire the anchor light straight in???????????
 
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Most insurance companies will require to comply with the colregs. This gives the spec of equipment required and do not specify what kind of equipment will comply.

[/ QUOTE ]

In my earlier post I quoted the relevant paragraph of the Colregs which requires the lights to meet the satisfaction of the relevant authority of the flag state i.e. the MCA for the UK.

BS IEC 60092-306:1980 (Electrical installation in ships. Equipment. Luminaires and accessories) may apply - I don't have access to a copy - but it is the only one I can find that refers to navigation lights.

ISO 16180:2007 specifies requirements and gives guidelines for the design, construction, performance, placement and installation of electric navigation lights for recreational craft under 20 m length of hull but this is still in creation. This is mentioned in the RCD so presumably will apply eventually.

USCG regulations would apply if your boat is US flagged but a pedantic insurance company might want to argue, possibly along the VHF radio lines of CE marking.

Hope that helps!!!
 
There seem to be 2 types.

A) Approved to Regs and a silly price
B) Same price or cheaper than filament lamps but not approved.

Are there any that are approved but a sensible price?
 
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