Minimum wiring for masthead option

pagoda

pagoda

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Our boat does not have an all round masthead anchor light. I get round the problem currently by hoisting a free white lamp with the a small halyard.

I don't really want to indulge in running more cable inside the mast, since there are already 4 halyards in there.
I was thinking of an alternative way of converting to LED lamps, but wiring them in opposite directions - with a double pole reversing relay near the main switch panel.
See attached PDF. diagram
If you leave the "un-energised" default position for the Tricolour, you would just need to switch it on to activate the all - round white (and the Tricolour would just go off- since LEDs conduct 1 way)
I don't need to run another cable this way.
Has anybody tried this in practice? I've bought the relay and proved it works in the workshop.

Graeme
 
I have a (commercial) LED combined Tri/Anchor that works that way.

The only thing I would check is that the LEDs are happy with a full 12V reverse voltage - and if not put another diode in series
 
As said you don't need the relay A DPDT switch with centre off will do the trick.

If you have tried the idea and it works that is fine but LED nav lights are not necessarily polarity sensitive. I am pretty sure my tricolour ( fitted only last year) is not
 
VicS said:
As said you don't need the relay A DPDT switch with centre off will do the trick.

If you have tried the idea and it works that is fine but LED nav lights are not necessarily polarity sensitive. I am pretty sure my tricolour ( fitted only last year) is not
Click to expand...
All LEDs themselves are polarity sensitive, so if your nav light isn't then it probably already has other diodes in there to correct the polarity. Certainly feasible (even sensible) for a commercial unit.
 
bedouin said:
All LEDs themselves are polarity sensitive, so if your nav light isn't then it probably already has other diodes in there to correct the polarity. Certainly feasible (even sensible) for a commercial unit.
Click to expand...

Mine is an LED unit fitted in place of the filament bulb in a standard Aquasignal lantern. All sorts of electronic gubbins in it to drive the LEDs at constant brightness independently of voltage fluctuations I guess.

90% sure its not polarity sensitive not quite 100%

It came with a special holder to get the coloured sectors orientated correctly. Had to set that by trial as the LEDS all look the same and there was no marking to indicate the front. I don't remember having to get the polarity right

DSCF0956.jpg
 
Last edited:
VicS said:
Mine is an LED unit fitted in place of the filament bulb in a standard Aquasignal lantern. All sorts of electronic gubbins in it to drive the LEDs at constant brightness independently of voltage fluctuations I guess.

90% sure its not polarity sensitive not quite 100%

It came with a special holder to get the coloured sectors orientated correctly. Had to set that by trial as the LEDS all look the same and there was no marking to indicate the front. I don't remember having to get the polarity right

DSCF0956.jpg
Click to expand...
Yes - if it designed to fit in a conventional bayonet then it is highly unlikely to be sensitive to polarity as those bayonets allow the bulb to be inserted either way round
 
bedouin said:
Yes - if it designed to fit in a conventional bayonet then it is highly unlikely to be sensitive to polarity as those bayonets allow the bulb to be inserted either way round
Click to expand...

Actually it fits the holder with offset pins that is used in AquaSignal lights .You can see that in the picture but its not obvious. I don't remember having to wire the holder to get the polarity correct.
I think I tried the bulb before I fitted anything and discovered it is not polarity sensitive.
 
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