Nav lights - How bright ?

[bobgosling]

I realise this may be difficult to describe but how bright should my nav lights be ? They seem quite dim. The steaming light particularly; I can't tell if it is on when in daylight ! There is nothing wrong with the rest of the equipment. GPS, radar, etc all works OK. Bow bicolour seems bright enough but stern, steaming, tricolour and anchor lights are giving a good imitation of candle powered devices instead of electric lights.

If I put a multimeter in-line with the light what readings should I expect ?

 

[snowleopard]

Under 12m 10 watts, over 12m 25 watts.

 

[Guest]

When they worked ....

I literally had to squint to see them in daylight ... Mast steaming light .... used to wait till dusk !!

It is actually surprising how bright a light is at night ...

I am in the process of re-fitting lights with my 'Share' and probably will up the wattage a bit from the std 10W festoon bulbs fitted ... but then you have a trade of - more power and also cable size becomes more critical ....

 

[Mirelle]

How big are the cables?

Sounds like a case of voltage drop, though, as Nigel says, they can be hard to see in daylight.

See what a multimeter says. I would not want less than 11.5v. in a 12v nominal circuit.

People laugh at my massive 2.5 sq mm cables, but the lights are bright!

 

[bruce]

Re: How big are the cables?

you did not mention frosting/hazing of the lens due to old age, uv may have killed the lens...would measure voltage at the bulb, and remember doubling the bulb to 20W may cause overheating of the wires from increased current and light housing may be damaged by bulb heat...prob wrong, but something to think about.

 

[VicMallows]

I would measure the CURRENT in each light circuit. Far easier than climbing the mast to measure the voltage at each bulb. Assuming you know the wattage of the bulbs (well, you will have spares you can look at /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) you can work out if you have excessive voltage drop (resistance) in the circuit.

Agree with others it is nearly impossible to tell if the above-deck lights are on in daylight ...... just wait until dark!.

Vic

 

[Guest]

Another point worth remembering ....

My boats nav lights presently do not work !! Why ? The guy who wired up etc. made all cables literally exact in length in nice plastic conduit .... very nice - till the boat starts working in a seaway ... over time they of course have stretched and parted .... I spliced in a section and got them working - but of course some blind section somewhere has failed now ...

Make sure that your cable is not so exact and tight that it is under tension ... !! Simple but true.

Another point ..... plugs etc. at mast base are fine ... But I still feel a cable through a gland and then into a screw terminal block is much better ..... and is also easily serviced etc. I have plugs / sockets at mast base and they are always needing cleaning etc. and most times have significant resistance ..... only advantage is when raising / lowering mast !!