LED Lights

[bobfrost]

Now led bulbs are becoming commonplace and cheap as replacements for auto bulbs why are they not being marketed for the yachting industry. There's an anchor light i've seen with led bulbs but it is about £150. Is anyone making straightforward replacement led bulbs for masthead tricolour/anchor lights. The components are cheap enough and they use little juice?

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[Talbot]

The problem is that making a straight replacement requires using the Bay15D connector. This is not aligned accurately in conventional Tri-colours, as it is not necessary with a normal bulb. The best LED replacements have a mix of white red and green bulbs, but then need to be lined up to get the correct angles on the tricolour. They also need to be spaced so that there is the correct angular spacing both horizontally and vertically to avoid blind spots, and to achieve the correct range. They then have to seek approval for the system, and this is why the approved systems are sold as a led and housing set, because it appears to be the only way that they can achieve appropriate approval from USCG/MCA etc.

If you look at the cost of the orca green LED Tricolour, and at a similar conventional tri and anchor light combo, you are not spending a great deal more.

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[Joe_Cole]

There are two problems.

One is that most marine lights are "all round" or cover a large angle. The bright LED's cover a very narrow angle so that several are needed to give proper coverage. When you add the need to be able to give coverage when the boat is heeled then you need even more LED's. Last time I looked at it I would have needed about 30 LED's (it will vary with different LED's but the ones I was using were cheap!) to give proper all round visibility.

The other problem is the colour of the light. The colour specification in COLREGS is not designed for LED's so it is another problem which needs to be addressed if a manufacturer wishes to make a "legal" light. I suspect that, at some time in the future, the COLREGS will be modified to make this less of a problem. (Unless the LED manufactureres have got the colour of their LED's right by that time.)

I'm sure that they will become more readily available, but whether the technology will catch up with the regulations or vice versa is anybodies guess. If I had to put money on it I would guess that the technology will change before the bureaucrats!

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[Talbot]

USCG tried to get the light regs amended recentlyto allow use of LEDs, but IIRC Hella and Aquasignal successfully lobbied the IMO to stop this happening.

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[pappaecho]

Mooring and navigations lights aside, the low power drain against tungsten filaments, means that LEDS are a serious option for internal lighting and for any lighting which is not sight critical. This winter I have to completely rewire my Evasion 32, of which the surveyor put "nightmare" in his assessment of the wiring on the boat. If I can I will adapt existing fittings to LEDS - any one know of a source of super bright 12 v LEDS?

<hr width=100% size=1>Def: Yachting - a way of spending the kids inheritance

 

[hylas]

have a look at:
www.optolamp.com

This should be the solution to your problem...

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[hylas]

www.optolamp.com

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[Joe_Cole]

You can get them from Maplin or any similar shop. However they are relatively expensive in the shops. I've always found E bay good for this kind of thing. Don't worry too much about getting 12volt LED's. They are usually a lower voltage. Just use a dropping resistor to prevent them burning out. (Shout up if you need help in working out what resistor to use)

FWIW however I wouldn't use them for general lighting down below. The light tends to be a bit harsh and very directional (like spotlights)> Personally I don't like the effect...but that's just my opinion. However, they are excellent for reading lights.

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[kds]

I wired mine using FRENSCH lights and like them. They also do an interesting Nav. table light which I find excellent.
Ken

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[Ric]

I'm not yet convinced by them as nav lights. But I'd certainly have one for my anchor light - especially a flashing one. I was coming into a bay in Corsica last summer and all the regular mast lights were indistinguishable against the shore lights. The only visible one was a "non-regulation" flashing LED light that I could distinguish as a masthead light six miles out.

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[William_H]

I agree with Joe Cole leds from Maplin will typically need 2 to 2.6 volts at 50 milliamp. In practice you can connect 4 in series (there is a + and -) with 120 ohms (aprox) series resistance or 3 leds with 160 ohms . The latter option gives better brightness on low battery. These resistor values are based on 14 volts max supply and leds 2 volts (ie min of variation) You could get it working and use a multimeter to check current and find that you can reduce the resistance to increase current and light but do it with engine charging if you have engine charging. If you do not use the lights with battery volts at charge rate then you can go 80 ohms for 4 or 120 ohms for 3. You must have a reasonable resistance to give current limitting. You might reckon 5 in series on 12.5 volts with no resistor would be fine but they would vanish in a puff of smoke. To mount them all you need is a section of headlining or thin plastic where you can drill a 3/16 inch hole and poke each one through shining down. They have a built in lens and shine in a focussed spot. You can of course use any number of strings of 3 or 4 with resistor.
I paid A$2 ie 80 p each for mine (more in UK of course) so you can afford to experiment . They come in white or an amber color you want as many milicandella as possible mine were 8000mcd. Often the red are brighter. give it a try regards will

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[dickh]

Also try <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ultraleds.co.uk>http://www.ultraleds.co.uk</A> or look on ebay - thousands on there!

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[alan]

"orcamarine" in the states make replacement fittings for Aquasignal lights. They can be easily modified for Hellamarine lights.

Alan.
Nettuno, Italy.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Cloke

 

[roger]

Cheapest source for anchor lights is solar garden lights. Nowadays they come with a blue-white LED. This has a narrow beam angle so the solar light has an ingenious clear plastic housing to spread the light. I doubt if they are legal but they are useful when moored where you are likely to get hit by some drunken idiot at closing time.
Down below I've a string of red LEDs at intervals down a long bit of thin cable which I will fit to provide just a little light at foot level - when I can find theat ROUND TUIT

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[Joe_Cole]

Are you sure that it was a flashing LED light, rather than a strobe light? It's just that visibility at 6 miles would be superb for an LED set up.
Just curious.

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[silverseal]

I have just been offered super white leds 5mm at 5volts for 98p + vat each is it a good deal?

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[Joe_Cole]

No!

Best price I've had was 35p ea. on E bay.


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[Graham_Wright]

Flashing lights on boats are totally illegal for the obvious reason that they could be confused with buoyage lights with potentially disastrous consequences.

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[Joe_Cole]

I think that's why he referred to them as "non regulation".

FWIW I've got a strobe. It's not used very often but in some situations I find it useful. It may be illegal but, if it makes sure that I'm seen, that's fine.


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[rallyveteran]

-If it makes sure I am seen that's fine-

You are from the I'm all right Jack (Joe) school of sailing

The rule is there for a reason.

Why do you need to be seen from 6 miles away, anyway



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