Lopolight failure

[Plevier]

My Lopolight bi-colour has failed. It appears to be an internal fracture of the cable just where it leaves the unit, if you bend it in one direction you can consistently make the light work. I think it's very poor that the cable has no strain relief sleeve where it exits the casing.
I'm trying a warranty claim but it is a bit outside the 5 years. If they won't help, I'm wondering if I can grind the epoxy encapsulation away very carefully and expose the connection points, I'm guessing the wire is soldered to pins.
I wondered if anyone had tried this or at least if anyone knows the layout inside the epoxy and whether there is a chance without hitting the PCB that must be in there?

If I have to replace it, it certainly won't be a Lopo. Anyone got recommendations for a reasonably priced LED unit? I wondered about the Osculati ones. ASAP sell some of their models
http://www.asap-supplies.com/lighti...ation-light-bicolour-red-green-12v-24v-731875
http://www.asap-supplies.com/lighti...avigation-light-bicolour-red-green-12v-731895
or this is a 2 mile one that looks as though it should be more conspicuous (it's a 10.5m boat so I could use a 1 mile unit but would prefer to be more visible)
http://www.piplers.co.uk/brands/osc...avigation-led-lights-for-vessels-20m-s-s-case

 

[Boo2]

Hi Mike,

Replaced the bulb type nav lights on Sunrunner with Aqua Signal type 34 LED ones last year and they seem OK so far. They're rather a lot brighter then the bulb ones were.

Boo2

 

[Hoolie]

I've just fitted an AS type 34 unit but can't try it until mast is back up. It's quite a bit shorter than the bulb unit it replaced and I've had to change the VHF antenna as the old one had a large mounting boss that obscured the nav lights.

 

[Plevier]

Fantastic service from Lopolight.
I emailed a warranty claim on Thursday evening, today (Monday) I have shipment details from them for a warranty replacement to be here on Thursday!
Outstanding.

 

[vyv_cox]

Fantastic service from Lopolight.
I emailed a warranty claim on Thursday evening, today (Monday) I have shipment details from them for a warranty replacement to be here on Thursday!
Outstanding.

I agree. It would be preferable that they did not fail but when it did there was absolutely no discussion, they sent me another straight away and only wanted the serial number of the failed one. It cost me €100 for a cherry picker to replace it but preferable to having to buy a replacement as well.

 

[Tradewinds]

What's the overall failure rate on the (masthead) Lopolights I wonder?

Your 2 and I know Old Varnish has got through 2 (at least) in quick succession.

Great that they replace them so willingly - but surely they should be more reliable than they seem to be (though 5 years+ is almost OK'ish but not long in cruising terms IMO).

 

[sailorman]

What's the overall failure rate on the (masthead) Lopolights I wonder?

Your 2 and I know Old Varnish has got through 2 (at least) in quick succession.

Great that they replace them so willingly - but surely they should be more reliable than they seem to be (though 5 years+ is almost OK'ish but not long in cruising terms IMO).

Oyster seem to fit them, whether std fitting or an extra i dont know

 

[Woodlouse]

In my experience they don't have the greatest reputation for reliability but my experience of them was a fair while ago now so hopefully they've improved.

 

[vyv_cox]

In my experience they don't have the greatest reputation for reliability but my experience of them was a fair while ago now so hopefully they've improved.

The design of my second was different, with extended tails for connection below the unit. Suggests they suspect the source of the problem to have been DIY connection to the old version, although I don't think it was in my case. Some LEDs gave up initially, followed by the rest of them.

 

[Graham_Wright]

It cost me €100 for a cherry picker to replace it

 

[vyv_cox]

Don't understand the confusion. I guess that some people might be capable of working above the masthead for an hour removing one light, remaking electrical connections and fastening everything back together, but I am not one of them. I took all my tools in the cherry-picker and used a surprising number of them. Would have taken considerably longer in a bosun's chair.

 

[Alfie168]

Don't understand the confusion. I guess that some people might be capable of working above the masthead for an hour removing one light, remaking electrical connections and fastening everything back together, but I am not one of them. I took all my tools in the cherry-picker and used a surprising number of them. Would have taken considerably longer in a bosun's chair.

And there was I thinking "What a great idea, but how the hell did he get it to float?"

Tim

 

[Graham_Wright]

As a Fred drift, my son was tending construction barges for underwater piling on the new cross Manchester rail link.

During off loading of the barges, he was not allowed by the on-site H&S rep. to climb onto a lorry bed without using a cherry picker!

 

[Topcat47]

What's the overall failure rate on the (masthead) Lopolights I wonder?

Your 2 and I know Old Varnish has got through 2 (at least) in quick succession.

Great that they replace them so willingly - but surely they should be more reliable than they seem to be (though 5 years+ is almost OK'ish but not long in cruising terms IMO).

Mine is the "older" version,fitted myself over four years ago. Still going strong. I was replacing filament bulbs twice a year in my old fitting before that. I'm very satisfied with the kit and even more so knowing they give that sort of customer service.

 

[Plevier]

The new light has just arrived on the promised day.
Hats off to Lopolight.