alahol2
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that. I've now got something to play with over the winter.
Red over green
- Thread starter Graham_Wright
- Start date
Thanks for that. I've now got something to play with over the winter.
William_H
Well-Known Member
You will need a 12v supply and a lamp similar to your boat lamp. Obviously for LED lights you need a lot more turns of lighter wire while for a 25w globe you need very few turns.
The physical space on the glass tube dictates the max number of turns for any given wire guage. So smaller guage wire for many turns for LED light. Heavy wire few turns for incandescant lamp. The reed switch can simply light a LED indicator to show light is on or via a transistor or relay to show a fault light if light is switched on but not drawing current. PM me if you want olewill
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
>I think I need to split the white stern light out onto its own circuit, then for steaming have bow red green + masthead all round white? With stern light switched off
Why would you want to do that?
Why would you want to do that?
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
Because otherwise he would be showing two white lights at the stern, as stated above.
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macd
Well-Known Member
I think he has this weird idea of complying with colregs in a way that's the least trouble on his boat.
BTW, I have a trench that needs digging, and you're obviously a dab hand...
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
>Because otherwise he would be showing two white lights at the stern, as stated above.
Well yes you would but it doesn't answer the question. The boat would look like it is anchored while showing green and red bow lights. You should stick with the normal setup
On a different subject it has been pointed out that you can sail using the lower lights rather than a tricolor. This is true but we have seen a good few of those at night and in any decent sea or swell you and your lights disappear which is why we only use a tricolor..
Going back to the subject of red over green we the did the ARC and because of a delay due to bad weather we left at night. The racing boats go first, the the fastest cruising boats go next, etc, the slowest being last to leave, which was the group we were in. This gave us a chance to see the lights on about 180 boats and we saw at least 150 more when cruising. Every boat left the dock with lower lights and steaming light then changed to a tricolor when the sails were up , this was the same with cruising boats. As I mentioned I have see a couple of very large yachts with red over green but never a cruising yacht.
Well yes you would but it doesn't answer the question. The boat would look like it is anchored while showing green and red bow lights. You should stick with the normal setup
On a different subject it has been pointed out that you can sail using the lower lights rather than a tricolor. This is true but we have seen a good few of those at night and in any decent sea or swell you and your lights disappear which is why we only use a tricolor..
Going back to the subject of red over green we the did the ARC and because of a delay due to bad weather we left at night. The racing boats go first, the the fastest cruising boats go next, etc, the slowest being last to leave, which was the group we were in. This gave us a chance to see the lights on about 180 boats and we saw at least 150 more when cruising. Every boat left the dock with lower lights and steaming light then changed to a tricolor when the sails were up , this was the same with cruising boats. As I mentioned I have see a couple of very large yachts with red over green but never a cruising yacht.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
Neither the 2 nor the 3 lamp setup for steaming lights is "normal". They are both equally valid alternatives, and there is no "should" about it as long as you comply with the regulations. The 2 light setup is used on plenty of smaller boats, especially those with limited power generation capability.
If, when navigating, you are approaching a single white light, you are required not to stand on, either because the other boat is anchored, or if navigating, being overtaken by you. (I am aware of the <7m all round white case, but that is rare in open water).
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knuterikt
Well-Known Member
The best lights to use is depending on the conditions.
Sailing inshore the lower lights will in most cases be the best to use as many boaters will not look for light 17 meters (or more) above sea level and the tricolor will often blend into background light on shore.
Offshore the the tricolor or red over green will make a it easier to spot the boat at a distance.
The combination of lower lights and red over green give the best of both.
Just because it's not widely used does not mean that this combination (red over green combined with deck level stern and sidelights) is a bad idea.
The tricolor was introduced at time where led navigation lights wasn't invented yet...
So replacing a stern light and two sidelights (total 75 watts) with one tricolor (25 watts) would make perfectly sense in it's time.
Today it should be possible to get away with a total power consumption (using led lights all around bicolor sidelights, sternlight, two 180 green and one 360 red) of 7 watts - half of an old fashioned tricolor.
A led tricolor alone would use 3.5 watts
It all boils down to what one think will give the visibility in different conditions
Buck Turgidson
Well-Known Member
deleted as already covered.
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KellysEye
Well-Known Member
>light 17 meters (or more)
How many inshore boats have a mast 17 metres/55 feet nine inches high?
>Just because it's not widely used does not mean that this combination (red over green combined with deck level stern and sidelights) is a bad idea.
I've never said it'd bad idea but apart from a few large boats nobody uses them. If you look at the mega-yachts in Falmouth Harbour during Antigua Sailing Week they all have a red anchor light at the top of their masts just as tall buildings etc do. But I've never seen then leave with a green light underneath.
>Today it should be possible to get away with a total power consumption (using led lights all around bicolor sidelights, sternlight, two 180 green and one 360 red) of 7 watts - half of an old fashioned tricolor. A led tricolor alone would use 3.5 watts
Having seen LED lights they have nowhere near the range of incandescent lights which is why I would never fit them.
How many inshore boats have a mast 17 metres/55 feet nine inches high?
>Just because it's not widely used does not mean that this combination (red over green combined with deck level stern and sidelights) is a bad idea.
I've never said it'd bad idea but apart from a few large boats nobody uses them. If you look at the mega-yachts in Falmouth Harbour during Antigua Sailing Week they all have a red anchor light at the top of their masts just as tall buildings etc do. But I've never seen then leave with a green light underneath.
>Today it should be possible to get away with a total power consumption (using led lights all around bicolor sidelights, sternlight, two 180 green and one 360 red) of 7 watts - half of an old fashioned tricolor. A led tricolor alone would use 3.5 watts
Having seen LED lights they have nowhere near the range of incandescent lights which is why I would never fit them.
knuterikt
Well-Known Member
Is there a size limit one must adhere to to be allowed to sail inshore?
I have a mast height of 17 meters on 38 feet boat and I sail inshore and offshore, often jumping in behind islands before going out again.
That's your choice, based on my experience LED navigation light is not any worse than incandescent lights. And it's possible to increase the visible range without increasing the power consumption (electricity is scarce on a sailboat)
The Norwegian Coastal Administration have started to use LED light when replacing or installing new lights (and say they give brighter light than the old ones)
Interesting campaign against red over green...
First you tell us that is "against COLREGS", that the lower lights is for motoring and that "all sailing yachts have a Tricolor"
noelex
Well-Known Member
That has not been my experience. Because there are no great power consumption issues manufacturers tend to make them brighter than the equivalent incandescent globes. They are also not as sensitive to voltage drop which can be a problem with incandescent globes not meeting their specifications when used with a long wiring run.
All the certified led lights must meet at least the minimum visibility standards to be approved.
There are additional safety benefits with no chance of blown globe and their low power consumption encourages use in marginal conditions such as low visibility.