Solar light on a swing mooring

[GTom]

I will spend long periods on a swing mooring this season and thinking about adding a light - not necessary £££ heavy "official" one - that doesn't kill the housebank while I am away for a week, still produces enough light to be seen from half a mile. First, I thought a simple garden solar lantern could do the job, but I think most of them simply don't deliver enough light. If the LED in the lantern is 2W, the battery capacity we seek here is about 24Wh with a solar panel capable to charge that within 2-3 hours.

Anyone using a light while on a swinging mooring?

 

[Graham376]

Garden lights go dim fairly quickly and very few last all night but on mooring you don't have to meet any regs. Dusk to Dawn anchor lights work well, low current draw, switch off at dawn and meet the regs for anchor light, even better with the optional large led. https://boatlamps.co.uk/products/dusk-to-dawn-anchor-utility-led-light

 

[VicS]

I will spend long periods on a swing mooring this season and thinking about adding a light - not necessary £££ heavy "official" one - that doesn't kill the housebank while I am away for a week, still produces enough light to be seen from half a mile. First, I thought a simple garden solar lantern could do the job, but I think most of them simply don't deliver enough light. If the LED in the lantern is 2W, the battery capacity we seek here is about 24Wh with a solar panel capable to charge that within 2-3 hours.

Anyone using a light while on a swinging mooring?

I have experimented with a couple of garden solar lanterns. The trouble I found is that they dont necessarily reflect the light out on the right direction even if nominally bright enough and they dont stay alight for long enough, except perhaps in midsummer.

I modified one ( Lidl's ???) by adding a conical reflector. I reckon it was adequately bright with that modification but it would have needed a larger capacity battery and a larger solar panel to have stayed alight all night.

I have also looked at one or two camping lanterns. Bright enough ( but useless for the purpose they were intended for I would think). No dusk 'til dawn operation and quite heavy on AA battery consumption.

Maybe the best bet is a LED version of the Davis Megalight, or something similar, running off the domestic battery with adequate solar charging. https://boatlamps.co.uk/products/dusk-to-dawn-anchor-utility-led-light

 

[[70521]]

I was on a swing mooring for five years nobody had an anchor light lit.

 

[Iain C]

9 years on a swinging mooring and no issues.

However, I have just been given one of these and it's brilliant. This will now be my anchor light, and it's equally as useful in the cockpit for entertaining, in the dinghy at night, beach BBQs, etc. And because it folds up very small it will go in a pocket. The charging/run time specs seem very good, and it will solar charge or charge from a USB cable. In fact, I was surprised that it was apparently charging just sat on the saloon table on a fairly dull day. It's waterproof too, with a flashing mode, could even be useful in foulie pockets for an MOB situation.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LuminAID-P...&qid=1557391315&s=gateway&sr=8-25-spons&psc=1

 

[GTom]

9 years on a swinging mooring and no issues.

However, I have just been given one of these and it's brilliant. This will now be my anchor light, and it's equally as useful in the cockpit for entertaining, in the dinghy at night, beach BBQs, etc. And because it folds up very small it will go in a pocket. The charging/run time specs seem very good, and it will solar charge or charge from a USB cable. In fact, I was surprised that it was apparently charging just sat on the saloon table on a fairly dull day. It's waterproof too, with a flashing mode, could even be useful in foulie pockets for an MOB situation.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LuminAID-P...&qid=1557391315&s=gateway&sr=8-25-spons&psc=1

Looks interesting but a little too much windage probably. Does it turn on automatically in the evenings? Thought leaving one on the mast.

 

[VicS]

Looks interesting but a little too much windage probably. Does it turn on automatically in the evenings? Thought leaving one on the mast.

I does not look very interesting to me.

As far as I can see no auto on off switching.
Insufficient "run" time unless used on the medium or low power settings.
Solar recharging will be too prolonged but for occasional use probably OK as it can be recharged via its USB connection

Check out its tech specs before you waste £20 on one.


https://luminaid.com/products/PackLite-Nova-USB

 

[RupertW]

Garden lights work fine for us as anchor lights - clearly visible half a mile away and I’ve never been hit by anything further away. Auto on and off obviously and are still glowing each dawn in the Summer.

 

[peteK]

I just use a garden solar light mounted on the stern the newer ones are a lot brighter than a few years ago.

 

[GTom]

I just use a garden solar light mounted on the stern the newer ones are a lot brighter than a few years ago.

Thanks! I'll get one, auto on/off is a must for me, the boat will be left alone for 2-3 weeks.

 

[rotrax]

For many seasons our previous boat had some 'Homelite' solar deck lights-for outside decking at home- screwed to the teak toerail either side of our entry gates through the guardwires.

From April to October they stayed on all night, charged during the day and were visible for at least half a mile, despite their shallow domes facing upwards.. They were removed each winter, batteries taken out, stored in a dry place. One set of batteries over the five years we used them. A pair of batteries in each lamp, quite a large solar panel for charging.

I fitted them for our convenience. To be able to see the gate, the clips and the deck under your feet when coming aboard on a dark night was a plus and the increased visibility of the vessel when on a mooring or on the hook was an extra bonus.

 

[Graham376]

I was on a swing mooring for five years nobody had an anchor light lit.

Neither did we when Conwy based for many years but where we've been for the last 12, there's lots of (often fast) night time traffic through the moorings. Helps with security and us getting aboard and unlocking as well.

 

[geem]

Our masthead Led anchor light turns on automatically by virtue of the Victron MPPT solar regultor ‘streetlighting’ function. If you have solar on your boat this is a nice way of doing it and keeps you legal.
If you dont want to light at mast head its simply to wire in an led lamp at deck level as an alternative.

 

[RupertW]

Our masthead Led anchor light turns on automatically by virtue of the Victron MPPT solar regultor ‘streetlighting’ function. If you have solar on your boat this is a nice way of doing it and keeps you legal.
If you dont want to light at mast head its simply to wire in an led lamp at deck level as an alternative.

That’s a good tip re Victron - I might also get a cabin light to come on so it looks like we are on board when out before dusk