Trilight connections

[Moët]

Hi
I have an aqua signal masthead three colour light on a boat that I have just bought (Hurley Sillhouette). The light has three wires running into it and I'm not sure why. The bulb is broken so I can't tell if it had two filaments which would explain the wiring, but if it did I can't see why you'd need two levels of brightness. Any ideas for me?
Thanks

 

[Rigger Mortice]

The obvious question....the third wire isn't for an anchor light?
If not, what is it connected to?
Does the switch panel give you a clue?
Did the previous owner simply have three core wire to hand when he wired it up?
You should be able to tell from the bulb exterior if it is a single or double filament bulb. If it is a bayonet fitting it would normally have two contacts on the bottom. I suppose that somebody could have two brightness levels to save battery power but................

 

[prv]

Is it simply a tricolour, or does it have an all-round-white above or below it as well? In that case it could be one positive wire each and a shared negative.

Or possibly some bodger used domestic mains flex, which is three-core, even though only two were needed?

Pete

 

[VicS]

Is it simply a tricolour, or does it have an all-round-white above or below it as well? In that case it could be one positive wire each and a shared negative.

Or possibly some bodger used domestic mains flex, which is three-core, even though only two were needed?

Pete

If its a tri-white there will be two bulbs. one for the tri and one for the white

The OP refers to " the bulb" I therefore deduce it's just a tri .

To the OP they are special bulbs in the Aquasignal lamps with a vertical filament on a spiral support which does not obscure the filament. They are expensive!

For a boat the size of a Silhouette you can use a 10watt bulb rather thanthe 25 watt bulb used on larger boats if you wish.

You might like to consider fitting a LED unit to save on electrical power. A warm white array is suitable . The spectrum of a cold white is not suitable for the coloured lenses. ( Boat lamps is are a reputable supplier and run by a forum member http://www.boatlamps.co.uk/ )

Arrays with red, green and white sectors which accurately match the coloured lenses are also available ...

 

[Moët]

Hi and thanks for the replies so far.
I have checked the light again and the light fitting has three wires connected to the bulb holder which in turn has two contacts for a bulb with two contacts, ie a bulb with two filaments. This would seem to be a sidelight/brake bulb and I just can't see why you'd have this on a red/gree/white masthead light. Any ideas?
I am thinking of just converting to an LED setup.
Thanks again.

 

[VicS]

Hi and thanks for the replies so far.
I have checked the light again and the light fitting has three wires connected to the bulb holder which in turn has two contacts for a bulb with two contacts, ie a bulb with two filaments. This would seem to be a sidelight/brake bulb and I just can't see why you'd have this on a red/gree/white masthead light. Any ideas?
I am thinking of just converting to an LED setup.
Thanks again.

The bulbs do have two contacts.( like your mains voltage bulbs at home) the body of holder is not used as it is in car type bulbs.

Car type bulbs are not suitable anyway because the filament is not correctly orientated. It has to be vertical and central to give clean separation of the coloured
sectors of the light.

Sounds like someone has fudged up something quite unaccepatble

FWIW I bought a three coloured LED "bulb" It came with a replacement holder that could be djusted to line up the three sets of clouerd LEDs correctly


Old holder in position:

new and old holders:

LED unit and new holder:

 

[Moët]

Hello,
Thanks for the very useful reply - I didn't realise that the bulb holder wasn't used in the wiring and neither did the previous owner apparently! There is a wire connected to the bulb surround and another two connected underneath the holder for the two terminals.
I didn't realise that car filaments didn't offer the correct light spread either and I think whilst it is all dismantled it might be an idea to replace things with LED fittings as this will save a lot of power.

Thanks again for the helpful replies.

 

[VicS]

I think whilst it is all dismantled it might be an idea to replace things with LED fittings as this will save a lot of power.

Thanks again for the helpful replies.

Before you splash out on an LED conversion look at the overall state of the lantern, esp the condition of the lenses. They start off perfectly clear but slowly over time they become crazed until light transmission is seriously compromised.
(One of the aspects noted in the MAIB enquiry into the demise of the Ouzo and her crew.)

If the lantern/ lenses is approaching the end of its useful life it might be more sensible to look at replacing it with an LED based lantern. Can be expensive though but the Nasa one is not too badly priced ( less than a new conventional Aquasignal possibly)

http://www.nasamarine.com/proddetail.php?prod=Supernova

http://www.nasamarine.com/proddetail.php?prod=SupernovaCombi