NASA Superterranova tricolour LED

[Justin_G]

There are a number of posts on here (mostly a few years back) commenting on making repairs to these lights. Mine has failed and I'd like to open it up to see whether I can get it working again - but I cannot work out how to open it up. It seems to be that the clear plastic lens is bonded to the white plastic base. Can anybody give me a steer? I don't want to start attacking it with a knife or break it apart if there is a simple way in!

 

[LittleSister]

i can't answer your question, but would be interested in how long it has lasted you (though I have a vague recollection they changed the design after some early failures).

 

[captainboo]

In the centre of the label you might feel a slight depression.

Under the label in that depression is a slotted machine screw that holds it together!

In what way has it failed as I recently replaced two of the LEDs to make mine work again?

 

[earlybird]

When my early example failed after a couple of years I posted it off to NASA. They repaired it and posted it back for ~£10 total. No further problems.

 

[Dipper]

There are a number of posts on here (mostly a few years back) commenting on making repairs to these lights. Mine has failed and I'd like to open it up to see whether I can get it working again - but I cannot work out how to open it up. It seems to be that the clear plastic lens is bonded to the white plastic base. Can anybody give me a steer? I don't want to start attacking it with a knife or break it apart if there is a simple way in!

I've just had the anchor light section on my Combi repaired by NASA. for £36 inc carriage and VAT. They received it Thursday and it was repaired and ready to send back on Friday. The inductor had broken which is not surprising since it had been dangling from its wiring for over a year partly due to lockdown. There's a Goretex seal in the case that may/may not need to be replaced. They fitted a new one to mine.

 

[fredrussell]

… There's a Goretex seal in the case

Er, what?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Er, what?

A water vapour permeable membrane that allows water vapour to escape and pressure to equalize but not allow liquid water in. Tiller pilots have them as well (a pity that the rest of the seal isn't much cop though).

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

A water vapour permeable membrane that allows water vapour to escape and pressure to equalize but not allow liquid water in. Tiller pilots have them as well (a pity that the rest of the seal isn't much cop though).

Goretex is also used in leather sailing and hiking boots.

 

[Justin_G]

thanks for all these responses - good to know how to get in. On opening it up I have found a label giving a date in 2010. However I don't know how long it has lasted. I have owned the boat a year and it has not worked during my ownership. I suspect that date makes it an early model - there is no evidence of a goretex membrane.
But it's good to hear that NASA are willing and able to repair for reasonable cost. Have emailed them.

@ Captainboo - not working as in no light when powered up. How did you work out which LEDs needed to be replaced?

 

[fredrussell]

A water vapour permeable membrane that allows water vapour to escape and pressure to equalize but not allow liquid water in. Tiller pilots have them as well (a pity that the rest of the seal isn't much cop though).

I don’t get it. Are there moving parts in the light? Why is it not just sealed permanently with rubber, silicon etc at factory? Is the circuit board sweating? Genuinely baffled!

 

[Praxinoscope]

I don’t get it. Are there moving parts in the light? Why is it not just sealed permanently with rubber, silicon etc at factory? Is the circuit board sweating? Genuinely baffled!

I‘m not an expert, but I think that although LED’s are very efficient, they do still emit a small amount of heat when illuminated and may cause condensation within the unit under various conditions, so the membrane is there to allow any internal condensation to evaporate rather than build up in the unit.

 

[fredrussell]

Ah, ok. That makes sense.

 

[Dipper]

From Nasa's web site:

A tough polycarbonate shell protects Supernova from the elements while a Gore-Tex membrane vent ensures equalization of pressure on the seals.

 

[wingcommander]

Goretex is also used in leather sailing and hiking boots.

Yep good old PTFE . Used i believe with silic.for the space shuttle surface too prevent temperatures getting a little warm on re-entry. Also your non stick pans and your good old plumbing tape.

 

[captainboo]

The Gortex vent is fitted in the black rubber grommet pictured above. On mine one 'bank' of the LEDs was glowing dimly. They are split into 2 banks (every other one) and the nominal 12v is boosted to about 50v which is then used to power each bank of leds. I found the dodgy leds by shorting each one out in turn until the remainder glowed properly and just replaced the two faulty ones with new ones given to me by NASA.
In your case you might want to start with a multimeter to see if there is any power to the led banks in the first place. If not you may have had a failure of power circuit which will probably require NASA's help to fix! I also had to buy a length of thin neoprene cord to replace the seal under the cover as it was compressed.

 

[Justin_G]

thanks Cpn'Boo - a multimeter confirmed 12v is being delivered to the unit - and using the multimeter on its continuity setting passes a small current through each LED, I found that most of the LEDs in the white segment are not working, and more or less alternate LEDs in the red and green segments are not lighting. Too many for my limited soldering skills - so I will be sending it off to NASA to sort out. Had a very helpful response from them.

 

[LittleSister]

There's a Goretex seal

Er, what?

A water vapour permeable membrane

And this is a seal -

 

[Graham_Wright]

Yep good old PTFE . Used i believe with silic.for the space shuttle surface too prevent temperatures getting a little warm on re-entry. Also your non stick pans and your good old plumbing tape.

Er……………………missing an "e". ePTFE.

 

[Alfie168]

My NASA Supernova spent a day or so grinding on the seabed after being dismasted on a swinging mooring in a storm (boom with stackpak got loose and whacked shroud). I thought it was a gonner. NASA supplied new LEDS to solder in ( about six IIRC), New clear dome and seal, new dome sticker (which hides the screw) . That was ten years ago. It still works OK.

 

[wingcommander]

Er……………………missing an "e". ePTFE.

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