Rechargeable anchor light (LED)

I would not think it difficult to make - the issue would be having enough power to allow it to be both bright and last long enough. There are already USB powered lights which are quite? bright (but tiny light source) - but none, that I have seen, would be sufficient to use as an anchor light.

Power Bank (charged by solar) would be a starting point.

Jonathan
 
I have a fair size LED lantern which I hang in the fore triangle. It is very bright, dimmable and takes two D cells. Used it for four nights at anchor, no drop in brightness so far. The spec. sheet says it should last three more nights before requireing new cells.

A simple solution bar purchase of new cells every now and then.
 
I've been contemplating making something similar: based on a pair of near new small 6 lead acid batteries I have kicking around after replacing a faulty burglar alarm system. They're 1.2AH each, so in series would happily power say 4x 10mm white LEDS at 20ma each overnight: plug in to 12 volt to recharge in the morning.

I have an anchor light at the masthead, now with an LED bulb, but it's in the wrong place.

Another thing I've thought of is as well as using the masthead 360, putting a second LED stern light fitting on, and at anchor turning that plus the mid-height front of mast "steaming" light on - between the two I'd have 360 degree coverage much lower down. As I read it this is OK for Colregs.
 
LittleSister said:
You can also get ones that you can recharge with paraffin!

Cuts out the need for a power station, distribution system, charger and batteries. ;)
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On a previous (quite long ago) boat with zero electrics (yes zero) I used to hang a Tilley paraffin pressure light in the rigging as anchor light. Lit up not just the deck but boats all around too, and made it very easy to spot my boat in an anchorage.
 
jwilson said:
On a previous (quite long ago) boat with zero electrics (yes zero) I used to hang a Tilley paraffin pressure light in the rigging as anchor light. Lit up not just the deck but boats all around too, and made it very easy to spot my boat in an anchorage.
Click to expand...

Was that the one that Sir John Franklin stole from you.....?
 
jwilson said:
On a previous (quite long ago) boat with zero electrics (yes zero) I used to hang a Tilley paraffin pressure light in the rigging as anchor light. Lit up not just the deck but boats all around too, and made it very easy to spot my boat in an anchorage.
Click to expand...

I still use a hurricane lamp as anchor light. Cheap, simple, effective ... and I am the only boat in the anchorage with a flickery yellow light so, as you say, easy to spot.
 
Also use a hurricane lamp in the fore-triangle, but don't worry Jumbleduck, as I'm East Coast. Finding the fuel, then the funnel, filling, lighting, adjusting the wick, cleaning the lens (not in that order) are an integral part of our anchoring regime. Its also just about the only times I use the pole up/downhaul. Beginning to be tempted tho' by the rechargeable ones that claim to last the whole night and could be similarly hoisted. Not interested at all in the masthead ones that are such a pain in a crowded anchorage.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I still use a hurricane lamp as anchor light. Cheap, simple, effective ... and I am the only boat in the anchorage with a flickery yellow light so, as you say, easy to spot.
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Once you are within 5m. We had a mooring in the Orwell for years and it never ceased to amaze me that the smacks, and barges all used hurricane lamps. In their day I suppose they were all that was available but now they are next to useless.
 
Yes as said make an anchor light. The only reason to use rechargeable is if you don't want a cable stretching into your cabin or down to a point where ships power is available. Obviously the ships battery is the best option for rechargeable.
Ok so if you want rechargeable in the lamp you need to decide if you want lithium or MiMH batteries. And what voltage.
Individual LEDs will run happily from about 4volts min battery. However is much easier to run the lamp from 12v and use a 12v bulb. The 12v battery however is a bit more tricky to recharge from 12v. (unless you run the engine to get 14v) or get a boost voltage converter. You need about 14v to charge a 12v battery.
Bulbs like this would be fine or you can go more powerful.
You need 10 NiMH cells either tag types to solder in or get a battery holder for 10x AA rechargeable s.
Or you could go Lithium like 18650 cell or 14500 (AA cell size) They do 3.7 to 4.1 volts so 3 cells for 12v bulb. You do however need to buy a battery management board for recharge and discharge control. Either 1S of 3S (1 cell or 3cell)
For recharging 1 cell lithium best to start with 5v into the board so need a 5v buck converter.
If you want to run low voltage you need to have individual led bulbs at east 4 but preferably more arranged in a circle to give 360 degrees azimuth of light. All the bulbs are wired in parallel then a resistor for current limiting around the 47 ohm but this should be adjusted for correct current in the bulbs.
A jam jar is best for mounting light inside. With batteries and a switch that is weather proof. If the glass bottom is facing down you can light up the deck if you have led facing down. Or a dob of epoxy on the glass bottom to fix an attachment to hoist it screw top down.
So all sorts of options if you have a soldering iron and a curiosity to make your own. good luck olewill
PS solar is not feasible for an anchor light. You need a biggish panel at least 5w hardly reasonable to hoist into the rigging. Anything small enough will not give enough power so not enough light. So you mount the panel on the deck you would be better off charging the ships battery from the panel and running the anchor light from the ships battery.
 
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this is what you need, possibly the most exiting addition to our boat this year. as well as being a perfect anchor light, (waterproof, adjustable brightness and a built in clip), its also a phone charger, its usb in and out, you can of course, charge it onboard, but the trick is to turn up to the boat with a couple of these, charged, something to remember the evening before you go, i charge them when putting 2, 2 litre bottles of water in the freezer for the firdge...


obv, link didnt work, its a rechargeable power bank camping light, usb in and out, and waterproof with clip.. cylindrical , orange and yellow, they are rebranded and widely available..
 
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Hadenough said:
Once you are within 5m. We had a mooring in the Orwell for years and it never ceased to amaze me that the smacks, and barges all used hurricane lamps. In their day I suppose they were all that was available but now they are next to useless.
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Nobody has hot me yet, and I have no difficulty spotting my boat from the shore. One does need to keep the glass clean and the wick trimmed, of course.
 
jwilson said:
I used to hang a Tilley paraffin pressure light in the rigging as anchor light.
Click to expand...

It was the 'getting up from a warm bed' every half hour to check it was still lit, then padding barefoot up forward to pump it up again, that eventually put me off.....
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. As I am a person of little Competence, I need to find an off the peg solution and a couple have been suggested so that's grand. Thank You.
As ever I am amazed by the abilities of some contributors and their inventive abilities!
 
goldcrest said:
this is what you need, possibly the most exiting addition to our boat this year. as well as being a perfect anchor light, (waterproof, adjustable brightness and a built in clip), its also a phone charger, its usb in and out, you can of course, charge it onboard, but the trick is to turn up to the boat with a couple of these, charged, something to remember the evening before you go, i charge them when putting 2, 2 litre bottles of water in the freezer for the firdge...
Click to expand...

You do not appear to have shown us what you are referring to.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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