NASA Supernova Tri-colour and Anchor LEDs

[Sy-Revolution]

Hi folks,

Ok I've just about had it with these lights. I've now had two anchor and three tri-colours fail on me, all within 24 hours of service.

I fitted the first around two years ago, last time the mast was down. Ironically because I thought I'd have less troube with bulbs blowing etc. I'm not good at heights (ex roofer - bad experiences!) and so I want to have to go aloft as little as possible.

So while the mast was down I removed the old Aquasignal and re-wired using good quality cable and ran it all in conduit.

Two weeks later we left our home port at Pin Mill. A couple of days later we were anchored off Bembridge when I noticed that the anchor light had failed. Next evening the Tri went the same way.

So we lived with that until we arrived in Portugal for winter. I removed the dead lights and sent them back to NASA who fixed them under warranty, charging just the postage. They said it must have been a near lightning strike. Hmmmmm Not to my recollection.

So anyway, after a few weeks, up went the second set. Over the winter I tried them out once or twice for a few minutes each time to check that they were ok. Just before we left however they both failed again, one after the other. This time I'd had some tests done on the mast wiring and it checked out. No problems with continuity or voltage drop. After a call to NASA they sugested that it was lightning again. When I told them that we liveaboard 365 they suggested that it might be the Megapulse battery conditioner that was causing a problem.
They said that perhaps the units needed a 'transient suppressor' or something fitted to them. This they said they would do to the failed units once they received them.

I was ready to leave the marina at this time and didn't want to wait for the old units to be repaired so I ordered a new tri-colour. This we fitted. We didn't do much night sailing last summer and only used the light on two occassions, once on a crossing from Mahon to Sardinia and again from Bizerte (Tunisia) to Monastir. I tested it out about a month ago and it was working still. Last night I tried it out again and the damn thing wouldn't fire up fully. It was dim and flickering. This is how the others went.

I have one tri-colour left. I don't want to stick it up the mast just to see it fail again. I have other LEDs running on the boat without issue, saloon reading lights and a cheapo chinese LED riding light (used every night throughout the spring/summer/autumn). Perhaps my Vetus battery charger is causing a problem. I have a NASA BM-1 battery monitor, it never shows more than 14.3V. Maybe I should fit some kind of voltage regulation? (I did try a little 12v regulator from Maplins but to no avail)

Has anyone else had problems with these units (apart from the woefully short wire fitted and the mounting problems when both anchor and tri-colours are fitted together)?

Or should I just give up and re-fit an Aquasignal?

Cheers,

C.

 

[prv]

Or should I just give up and re-fit an Aquasignal?

Re-fit something from Bebi?

Pete

 

[awol]

I have the NASA tricolour and it too failed after only about 20 or 30 hours use. It was repaired and has worked since though only in use for about 20 hours. The mast is down just now and there is obvious condensation inside the light housing but it still powers up ok. Mine is hard soldered to its wiring and I'm beginning to wonder whether a plug/socket may not be a better bet. I love the low current draw but it should be fit-and-forget and it ain't.

 

[Alfie168]

I've not heard of a failure rate like you are having. I think we'd have heard on here as quite a few have these, including me. Have you tried workshop testing them before fitting them. PBO did tests with one and theirs was OK, but then I've no idea how long they ran theirs for.

What is worrying is that we've been sold LEDs as long lasting and super reliable and able to function through a wide voltage range 10-20V D.C. for the Nasa. I'm not an electronics or electrics expert, but I suppose the only three things that might kill these lights for definite is a short or a spike or moisture ingress.

Given their task, they really ought to be bullet proof when all is said and done, so i've no idea whats going on with yours.

Tim

 

[Sy-Revolution]

Given their task, they really ought to be bullet proof.......

My thoughts exactly. Really there is nothing that I can see that's wierd or different about my installation. These lights really should not be in anyway fragile given the conditions of their intended service.

I've now fitted the anchor light on my radar arch, wired into the same feed as the cheapo Chinese LED lantern. See how it works there.


!!Kickingmyself!! for chucking the Aquasignal out.....

C.

 

[jackho]

Thanks for this alert folks. I have just bought one of these (Tri colour) to replace my anchor light. Lo current draw and backup for night sailing vs, deck mounted nav. lts.
On test before fitting I have noticed it seems to "ramp up" to full brightness. Don't know if this is a sign of future problem but interested to know of any other feedback.

 

[VicS]

I replaced my old Aquasignal Tri with another despite the cost and the high current drain[/smug]

 

[Sy-Revolution]

The 'ramp up' is normal out-of-the-box behavior.

I guess test running for a good 36 hours over a week say would be prudent, however that won't replicate real-life condtions like sun, rain and clouds......

C.

 

[crossbones]

NASA Supernova.

I fitted the Tri-colour and anchor light a couple of years ago and they have performed flawlessly. Perhaps you should contact nasa. I have always found them helpful. With the level of failures you have experienced they should be able to get to the root of the problem.
Regarding the stepping of the intensity when switched on. I mentioned this to nasa at the LBS. They say it's a programmed soft start to prevent start up transients blowing the fuse. It sounds plausable though probably unnecesary.
My only negative comment:- why don't they fit a longer length of cable?

 

[Sy-Revolution]

I've contacted NASA a number of times already, as you'd expect. However they are sticking to the line that it's either a 'near' lightning strike (which considering the units intended use shouldn't be an issue) or my wiring, which has been checked by a marine electician.

Short of taking the boat back to the UK for them to look at (I'm in Tunisia, they're in land locked Stevenage) I don't really know how to proceed.

I have not been vociferous about the troubles I've had on these fora until now as I wanted to give the units and NASA a fair crack of the whip. After this latest failure though I felt that folks aught to know of my troubles. I was also interested to hear if anyone else had had similar experiences.

Perhaps it is my electrical system that's at fault but I can't see how.

Cheers,

C.

 

[nimbusgb]

There's a NASA tri-colour in the window of the chandlers at Brighton Marina that's been on for months. Not that that helps you in any way I suppose. I have both an anchor and a tri-colour that I want to fit on my next trip to the boat. I have stripped them and noticed that they have both reverse polarity protection and a zener limiting diode across the input terminals. The power supply circuit they are using is not too bad. Whilst I had them stripped I have taken the opportunity to spray conformal coating on the exposed sections of the PCB track side.

 

[Sy-Revolution]

How'd you get them apart? They look glued to me.....

 

[prv]

Whilst I had them stripped I have taken the opportunity to spray conformal coating on the exposed sections of the PCB track side.

I find it surprising that they *can* be stripped. With an item that has no replaceable parts, it seems a lot more sensible to pot the whole lot into a solid block of plastic to eliminate any possibility of water entry.

I don't want to seem like I'm pushing the Bebi units too hard (just a satisfied customer) but they are embedded in epoxy with just a wire pigtail poking out.

Pete

 

[nimbusgb]

I find it surprising that they *can* be stripped. With an item that has no replaceable parts, it seems a lot more sensible to pot the whole lot into a solid block of plastic to eliminate any possibility of water entry.

I don't want to seem like I'm pushing the Bebi units too hard (just a satisfied customer) but they are embedded in epoxy with just a wire pigtail poking out.

Pete

Grab base in one hand, grip domed lens in the other. Unscrew. They are held together with an M5 Stainless screw. The only way there are 'no user replaceable parts' is if you can't wield a soldering iron! All the components are standard leaded ones, not even an SMD in sight

 

[nortonmotors]

Held together with an M5 screw? Bu%%er. I converted my masthead NASA anchor light to a more 'traditional' one that's hoisted by the staysail halliard.
Conversion included 'poxying an aluminium skull to the top and a snap shackle; the downhaul is another snapshackle.
I think I'll be a bit more cautious about hauling it taut in case the lens and base separate and the halliard flirts itself up the inner forestay.

 

[nimbusgb]

Held together with an M5 screw? Bu%%er. I converted my masthead NASA anchor light to a more 'traditional' one that's hoisted by the staysail halliard.
Conversion included 'poxying an aluminium skull to the top and a snap shackle; the downhaul is another snapshackle.
I think I'll be a bit more cautious about hauling it taut in case the lens and base separate and the halliard flirts itself up the inner forestay.

You could have cut the label on the top of the unit, taken out the M5 screw, replaced with a length of M5 s/s threaded rod right through the unit, added two nuts and then bolted on two tabs for hoisting. The current M5 is screwed into a brass thread insert that is just a push fit into the white moulding.

Too right, don't pull too taut on your halyard/downhaul!

 

[Martin_J]

Sy-Revolution...

To be honest, my NASA Tricolour only lasted a month or so after being fitted to the masthead. The symptoms were the same as yours - with power applied the leds would all just come on dimly (with a slight flicker). The ramp up to full brightness never happened.

The local chandlery replaced the unit with no questions asked although I kicked myself for not pursuing the reason for the fault (with either the chandlery or with NASA).

The replacements (Tricolour and anchor both dismantled and stuck together now!) have been up for about four months....

 

[nimbusgb]

Sorry it's an M4 screw not an M5. Just stripped mine to check!

 

[robertj]

well wont be updating to these units.
Too many problems to warrant the purchase and too much hassle to go up the mast every whip and flip to sort out.

sorry nasa not good enough

 

[Georgio]

The 'ramp up' is normal out-of-the-box behavior.

I guess test running for a good 36 hours over a week say would be prudent, however that won't replicate real-life condtions like sun, rain and clouds......
C.

It's rather worrying to hear of your problems as I fitted one of these last season, it has had about 5 nights use with no problems (in fact the people I was sailing in company with tell me that it is very bight at a few miles away).

When yours have "blown" has it always been when relatively new...?

I'm tempted to take your suggestion and leave on for a few days before I head off on a long passage later this year.