LED anchor light

[Sy-Revolution]

Hi folks,
Anyone bought one of these and if so are they any good?

http://www.triton-marine.co.uk/Anchor-jul06.htm

Cheers,

Crispin.

 

[Guest]

Judging by the patterns of light thrown on the background, each LED seems to be very directional, with blind spots in between...

 

[Sy-Revolution]

Yes that's what I thought but wondered if it were in practice.

 

[B175Chris]

Looks like a nice unit, there is one for sale on sailroom by the way, came up after i had a search for reviews:

http://www.sailroom.co.uk/auctiondetails.php?itemname=Flextek-LED-Anchor-Light&id=102137

Chris

 

[Searush]

[ QUOTE ]
Judging by the patterns of light thrown on the background, each LED seems to be very directional, with blind spots in between...

[/ QUOTE ]

each LED has a radiation beam pattern that will overlap its neighbours at a given range - probably only a few yards, judging from the picture. So viewing from further away than that, it will look like just one source of light. But 30 quid seems a bit bloomin' steep. I'll just keep anchoring in shallow water to keep the big boys away!

 

[B175Chris]

Doesnt seem too bad a price for LED's though, if it'll stop another vessel from hitting me as they can see me from further away i know it'd be worth 30 squid...

 

[Sy-Revolution]

Yes it does seem a bit pricey but low power consumption is important. I'm moored in the Orwell, about 20 meters from the deep water channel. I'm not too worried about the big boats though, one can still do a bit of damage with a small one!"

I thought I'd put a light sensor in the circuit so it only comes on after dark.

£29 isn't too much to know that my presious can be seen at night when I'm not around......

 

[johnalison]

According to the blurb, each light has 40 degrees of spread and according to my arithmetic at this time of the evening 360/40=9 which is the number of LCDs, so the horizon is fully covered, just.

 

[William_H]

I think you would find the coverage in azimuth quite adeqate. The 40 degree radiation angle is not a definite hard cut off but a diminishinng point. So at a point of azimuth exactly between 2 LEDs you would have some light from 2 LEDs. I suspect the picture is more an artists impression.
I note they show pulling it up on a halyard. It would have to be a vertical halyard so the light is exactly level to give equal ilumination all around as elevation ilumination would only be up and down 20 degrees. (before light diminishes.) olewill

 

[graham42]

try:
www.ledshoponline.com
the aquasignal/hella 18 led replacement with off set pins is 40 australian dollars.
bought 6 and cost with postage £106
there might be import duties/vat
my import was free via post.

put led in stern lamp and its brilliant and uses 0.4amp

 

[Colvic Watson]

We have one and it is excellent. When suspended in the foretriangle, the placement of the LED's gives a slight 'twinkling' effect as the boat moves. It's very bright and we leave it on all night when in the marina so you can see your way to the heads. It isn't that pricey and it uses virtually no power. As far as reliability goes, we've had it for about 18 months and used it for about 60 or 70 nights so far. We got it to replace a useless masthead anchor light - couldn't pick it out when returning to the boat one night in Stangate Creek and it used more than 20 flippin amps overnight!

 

[pappaecho]

If the product is Hella then it has automotive origins. You can get any sort of Led tail light, brake lights and reversing lights from Ebay, with various configuration if equal and off set pins. Have used a couple to replace interior lights, but they are to all purposes unidirectional and not suitable for wide angle viewing as needed in the marine environment

 

[RichardTaylor]

I use one of these which works very well

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/product-Stormlite-Mini-LED-Lantern-18871.htm

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

They claim to have carried out some pretty extensive tests but it is a shame that they did not have them carried out or checked by an independent laboratory.

I see that they are regulated beyond 12V which is an excellent sign (many aren't) bu if they are regulated by means of some kind of pulse or square wave system then you need to check interference. Not so serious at anchor, maybe, but Navtex is very sensitive to interference and you would not be amused if it stopped your Navtex from working!

The fact that another forumnite has had one for a couple of years and is very pleased with it (for the right reason - i.e. it is highly visible) is a very strong plus point.

The problem with non-approved lights is that if there is an incident and someone claims not to have seen you, and hits you, and it they are not insured fully comp, if they see that you are using some kind of unusual anchor light are they going to claim that it was your fault as you were not using an appropriate light? If I was in that situation and many thousands of pounds were at stake, I might just take that line myself especially if I really did NOT see the other boat when it would be fair to ask if I would have had the other boat been showing the correct light (s).

For that reason I would always stick with an approved light or a hurricane lamp which has de facto approval. How about both?

 

[Sy-Revolution]

At present I have no light, and niether does anyone else up the river that I've noticed. I've just forked out for a new deck, new sprayhood, osmosis treatment etc, etc, etc and funds are now pretty much exhausted so this relitively cheap option is definately attractive, for this year at least......

 

[Anonymous]

If you are on fixed moorings you are not required to show a light (unless there are local byelaws or regs) so I don't suppose that the legal side comes into it while you are so moored. Might be different if you were to use it elsewhere, though.

 

[spidy]

they are brilliant, they put all other anchor lights to shame, and you can have a lie in and not about the loss of amps

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.triton-marine.co.uk/Anchor-jul06.htm

[/ QUOTE ]

We are hoping to have these in stock later this week, our price should be 29.00 <u>inc delivery</u> and eligible for forumite discount.

 

[yobbo]

Go to Ebay in australia there is a Ebay store called Bright Light Auto Parts they auction and buy it now a wide range of LED replacement globes at a reasonable price far cheaper then the triton one, bayonet style with either 2 contacts or single contacts , festoon style and they all operate from between 10-16 volts. I have replaced all my globes in courtesy light anchor lights nav lights with LED and they all appear to work very well

 

[gandy]

[ QUOTE ]
try:
www.ledshoponline.com
the aquasignal/hella 18 led replacement with off set pins is 40 australian dollars.
bought 6 and cost with postage £106
there might be import duties/vat
my import was free via post.

put led in stern lamp and its brilliant and uses 0.4amp

[/ QUOTE ]Those look pretty much identical to the Ultraleds lamps sold in the UK. Replacement bulbs for existing nav lights, not complete light units like shown in the original post.

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/ub20cw-light-...708ff6664f88c22