Lopo Light (Tri) failure modes

RobbieW

RobbieW

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Having read here that Lopo Lights, especially earlier ones, are prone to failure I'm interested to know if my sympton is common. I have a Lopo masthead combined tri & anchor light fitted. This was done in c. 2006 by the previous owner so now out of warranty.

It appears that the front facing sectors of both tri and anchor light have failed but the rear sector of both is still working. Common ?
 
Hi There, my Lopolight failed last year: the red and white sector failed. It was fitted in 2006. Lopolight were fantastic and replaced it under warranty: all that was required was to complete a form from their website, with the serial number from the light (requires retrieving it from the top of the mast) and then sent one from Denmark (I think) within 48hrs. Worth giving them a call to discuss to see if this applies to yours.
 
Your symptoms are very similar to my problem with a tricolour Lopolight circa 2008. First the green sector failed then the red. The white sector continued to work.

Lopolight were very good with their warranty service. After e-mailing the serial number I had a replacement within 48 hours. The replacement unit is significantly different to the original and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the design problem has been sorted.

They were clearly aware there was a problem with early units so whilst the warranty period is 5 years I would try e-mailing them and see if they are prepared to do anything for you.
 
FWIW Our 7 year old Lopolight tricolour with anchor is still going strong.
The main hardware difference between the newer and older lopolights is the cable connection.
With the older lights the cable was connected to terminals inside the unit. New lights come with a cable spur.
Our bow and stern Lopolights failed just inside the 5 years. Warranty claim was hassle free.
If you only want to make the one trip up the mast then you can phone IMP (Uk distributor). Purchase a new light from them. Fit the new light when taking down the old and they will then reimburse the cost of the new light once they receive the old.
 
Can I add that now they recommend and supply voltage regulators for the lopolight. I think they have had issues with voltage spikes killing the LED arrays. These are little boxes about the size of a small match box that you wire into the circuit. There is one per function - so I have two: one for the tricolour and one for the anchor light, and I put them at the bottom of the mast inside the boat in the dry (I have a keel stepped mast) with Lopolight's approval as they do suggest putting them at the top of the mast - a logistical and weather proofing nightmare. Hopefully will prevent future failures.
 
Perhaps I'm being hopelessly optimistic here but I'd kind of expect a premium product to have spike protection circuitry built into the head units. Especially where the cheapest LopoLight tri units are in the region of £400 and LEDs off ebay are now fitted with spike protectors for the sort of variations that might come from a regular 12v yacht setup.

Mine MAY have failed as a result of an electrical storm. Not an especially close one, but lots of sheet lightning around. That night my Bebi foretriangle anchor light failed, the makers suspect a big EM pulse but they are replacing it anyway. Trouble is I'd not checked the masthead unit for a couple of months, it being summer and having an alternative anchor light.

Anyways, now I know I have to take the cover off the light to get at the serial number I'm about to go and have another look - taking the allen key set along too.
 
I found this spring that my Lopolight tricolour with anchor light was not working. Most unlikely that a voltage spike was the cause, even if I had started the engine with the tri lit I would not have done so with the anchor light as I have never used it. I wired it with all new cable three or four years ago, taking great care with the connection to the light, mast off the boat.
 
RobbieW said:
Perhaps I'm being hopelessly optimistic here but I'd kind of expect a premium product to have spike protection circuitry built into the head units. Especially where the cheapest LopoLight tri units are in the region of £400 and LEDs off ebay are now fitted with spike protectors for the sort of variations that might come from a regular 12v yacht setup.
Click to expand...

+1 to that. Great service from Lopolight aside, It does seem amazing that they aren't more robust, and supplied with suitable inbuilt protection from the start. They must be replacing loads of these under warranty, but I expect that the purchase cost has enough margin in it that the purchaser has paid for two anyway...;)
 
Puggy said:
Can I add that now they recommend and supply voltage regulators for the lopolight. I think they have had issues with voltage spikes killing the LED arrays. These are little boxes about the size of a small match box that you wire into the circuit. There is one per function - so I have two: one for the tricolour and one for the anchor light, and I put them at the bottom of the mast inside the boat in the dry (I have a keel stepped mast) with Lopolight's approval as they do suggest putting them at the top of the mast - a logistical and weather proofing nightmare. Hopefully will prevent future failures.
Click to expand...

I have 9 quid LED cabin lights which have surge/spike protection built in on the circuit board (from Bedazzled). So an 800 pounds tricolor/anchor light needs an accessory? Otherwise will be fried and useless since there are no replaceable components? Extremely poor; will not be buying any Lopos.
 
I bought Hella led lights for my bow and so far (fingers crossed) no problems. They too are compleatly sealed units with a lead attached. the previous lights used to take all the waves ect and I was constantly having to clean the contacts because of water ingress. Because the led lights are a sealed unit I have no such problems and they are very bright.

Here is the mast head tri-anchor version
 
Dockhead said:
I have 9 quid LED cabin lights which have surge/spike protection built in on the circuit board (from Bedazzled). So an 800 pounds tricolor/anchor light needs an accessory? Otherwise will be fried and useless since there are no replaceable components? Extremely poor; will not be buying any Lopos.
Click to expand...

That's a relatively recent addition. The ones i got from bedazzled had additional components in the package with wiring instructions, a resettable fuse and something else which I can't remember, which suggested to me that some strange stuff had surfaced which hadn't been thought about with the previous design of the electronics. Surge protection now built in as you say. Same in the new lopolights apparently.

The power
electronics have 6kW surge and transient protection.
Click to expand...

http://www.lopolight.com/download/new lopolight masthead 5nm 6 nm.pdf
 
I dropped a brand new one from waist height onto carpet and that stopped red sector from working. They replaced it and do have good service but product is not fit for purpose
 
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