Renewing the 'glow' in a hand bearing compass. Tritium or stronium aluminate ?

[sarabande]

I am changing the fluid in a handbearing compass and cleaning the inside of the bowl of bits of debris at the same time.

It would be useful to replace the small tritium illuminant at the same time, and ebay comes up with a number of different sized vials I could use. Then I came across strontium aluminate

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INDESTRU...aeba707d:m:mysN1H7v9gv_-nJBM5pgRHg:rk:32:pf:0

As one doesn't need internal illumination during daylight, would it be possible to fix the strontium aluminate tube to the compass in a shielded housing, charge it by exposing to a bright light source (perhaps a cree LED ?), then use it overnight ?

Has tritium been overtaken by strontium aluminate as a night time light ?

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I can't answer your question, but if you stick with Tritium I can recommend these. I replaced the std one in my Sestrel hand bearing three years ago and it's still going strong.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tritium-...ht-11mm-x-3-mm-Glow-in-the-Dark-/131206903617

 

[Halo]

I have a Nite watch with tritium vials. It is strong and bright and I can read it from bed if I put it on the bedside table at night. I think the ebay option quoted above is a good solution for your needs

 

[VicS]

I am changing the fluid in a handbearing compass and cleaning the inside of the bowl of bits of debris at the same time.

It would be useful to replace the small tritium illuminant at the same time, and ebay comes up with a number of different sized vials I could use. Then I came across strontium aluminate

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INDESTRU...aeba707d:m:mysN1H7v9gv_-nJBM5pgRHg:rk:32:pf:0

As one doesn't need internal illumination during daylight, would it be possible to fix the strontium aluminate tube to the compass in a shielded housing, charge it by exposing to a bright light source (perhaps a cree LED ?), then use it overnight ?

Has tritium been overtaken by strontium aluminate as a night time light ?

Photo-luminescent lighting has replaced beta light/ tritium capsules in things like hand bearing compasses because it has an indefinite life unlike tritium based lighting which suffers from the 12 year half life of tritium