About AquaSignal conversion to LED

[Ed Schenck]

Mast is down so good time to upgrade the AquaSignal tri-color to LED I think. I found a couple threads here on the subject, mostly regarding the "Dr. LED" lamps. Like: http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=633675&highlight=bebi-electronics . In this thread MaineSail mentions having not yet tested the Bebi LEDs(http://www.bebi-electronics.com/owl_namu_suggestions.html). Have you since Maine? Or has anyone else?

As seen in the Bebi site there is some work involved. Do the other solutions require this kind of wiring? Not a problem, that's my background. Just wondering if other LEDs might just be snap-ins. The cost for the two "bulbs" is under $100. which seems pretty reasonable. I could also just do the anchor light since I seldom use the masthead running lights.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Ed-

I replaced my anchor lamp in my Perko light two years ago with a Dr LED Polar Star 40. It was the model with the offset pins and the 18 LED design. No problems so far and I judge it to be as bright as the original incandescent bulb. I realize that it is not "certified". I really like being able to turn it on anytime I leave the boat and not have to be concerned with the power draw. I also have a LED surface mount light at my transom boarding area to light up places to put your feet when boarding. I routinely leave both of these lights on when I leave the boat at 10am and don't plan to return until after dark.

I would suggest that you just replace the anchor lamp in your fixture using the indexed or non-indexed bulb as needed. If I were to replace my anchor lamp today, I would look at the single LED design that Dr LED makes. It is the #90 and it looks like it is only available as a non-indexed base (which wouldn't work for me) but maybe it is also available in an indexed design.

IMO the only argument for replacing the tri-color nav lamp is if you either use it a lot or if you have frequent replacement issues. At least with the single tri-color you are only burning one lamp.

There is mention of sing colored LEDs for the red and green nav lights behind red and green lenses. Use of white LEDs behind colored lenses is not recommended. I think this restraint would complicate your installation. I didn't look closely at the Bebe lamps because the conversion just looks too complicated. I can do wiring also, but simply plugging in a bulb in the socket seems like the easiest and best way to go.

 

[Chuck Creel]

Ed, I have purchased 5 replacement leds from this guy and been trouble free for over a year now. the anchor light is brighter in my ho than the perko bulb that came in my series 40 AS light.

http://shop.ebay.com/jbillings1/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25

 

[Ed Schenck]

That's some good info Rich, thanks. So I have to know what type of bayonet socket that I have? And the Polar 40 is available with both, offset pins and non-offset?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Thanks Chuck, our posts crossed. When you wrote "5" did you mean you have used five and they are all still working? Or have you had to replace one five times?

 

[Rich Stidger]

That's some good info Rich, thanks. So I have to know what type of bayonet socket that I have? And the Polar 40 is available with both, offset pins and non-offset?

Yes the Polar 40 is available in both styles, but unless the offset design has been added to the #90 single-LED design, it is only available in non-offset.

 

[Maine Sail]

With the prices of purpose made LED nav fixtures dropping every year I would definitely not go the DR. LED or replacement LED route again.

Purpose built LED's have the proper certifications, color, horizontal & verticle sectors and are water proof and properly heat sinked. Both Aquasignal and Hella are now making reasonably priced LED fixtures.

I have replaced my Aquasignal stern light, that I had tried a Dr. LED bulb in with an Aquasignal Series 32 because the Dr. LED bulb failed and they purposely mislead me about the "certification". I had a Marine Beam anchor light fail in an Aquasignal Series 40 anchor light due to suspected condensation or heat issues.

Currently I am running Aquasignal series 32 bow and stern lights and an Aquasignal Series 40 all round with a Dr. LED Polar Star 40. It will get changed to a purpose built fixture soon enough because I know the DR. LED bulb will not last long in an incandescent housing.

Besides losing coast guard certifications you should not just put a white LED behind a tri-color. For the best performance with LED's you need red behind red, green behind green and white behind white.

I am NOT a big fan of Dr. LED. They have been entirely misleading and they do not stand behind the product. I know, I have dead ones on my bench that they will not do anything about except a "discount" on a replacement bulb. 50k hours my ARSE....

Nav lights are important I would suggest buying from a REPUTABLE manufacturer like Aquasignal or Hella. They have been doing this a LONG time and both waited and thoroughly tested their products before launching into the marine market with LED nav lights. On our yacht club launch we are on our FOURTH Lopo-Light failure. Pretty darn ridiculous and those things are EXPENSIVE...

Bebi builds fairly reliable stuff but last time I checked they do not carry any USCG certifications and have not been tested by Imanna or any of the other certified testing labs for nav lights..

Been around and around with this and I am solidly in the camp of purpose built units from reputable manufacturers.

Please keep in mind that Dr. LED only has certifications in:

Aquasignal Series 40 = All Round
Aquasignal Series 40 = Port Bow Light
Aquasignal Series 40 = Starboard Bow Light

They have NO other certifications. No stern lights, no tri-color, no bi color no and Series 25's or lights other than the three listed..

 

[RichH]

I have Dr. LEDs on my mast. I find that they are very vulnerable to 'close' lightning strikes. Im replacing back to incandescent bulbs.

 

[All U Get]

With the prices of purpose made LED nav fixtures dropping every year I would definitely not go the DR. LED or replacement LED route again.

Purpose built LED's have the proper certifications, color, horizontal & verticle sectors and are water proof and properly heat sinked. Both Aquasignal and Hella are now making reasonably priced LED fixtures.

I have replaced my Aquasignal stern light, that I had tried a Dr. LED bulb in with an Aquasignal Series 32 because the Dr. LED bulb failed and they purposely mislead me about the "certification". I had a Marine Beam anchor light fail in an Aquasignal Series 40 anchor light due to suspected condensation or heat issues.

Currently I am running Aquasignal series 32 bow and stern lights and an Aquasignal Series 40 all round with a Dr. LED Polar Star 40. It will get changed to a purpose built fixture soon enough because I know the DR. LED bulb will not last long in an incandescent housing.
Please keep in mind that Dr. LED only has certifications in:

Aquasignal Series 40 = All Round
Aquasignal Series 40 = Port Bow Light
Aquasignal Series 40 = Starboard Bow Light

They have NO other certifications. No stern lights, no tri-color, no bi color no and Series 25's or lights other than the three listed..

I had this same question, thank you.
All U Get

 

[Ed Schenck]

So should I forget the whole thing? Maybe just purchase a battery-operated anchor light and hang on the backstay?

I have never had a bulb issue with the tri-color, nine years now. It is just the amps that I thought I would improve. And I so seldom sail at night that the bow and stern lights are non-issues. Except for the offshore trip to Florida of course with enough motoring to not have to be concerned.

 

[Rick D]

LED's

Ed, I replaced my Hella lamps with Dr. LED's when they first came out. It's a big savings in amps overnight... huge in fact and I have not had to replace them which I did twice with the OEM bulbs. I have a lot more confidence with the LED's.

 

[Patrick17430]

Dont do it !

I would'nt ever buy anything from Dr. Jackwad ever again . His products are crap and he does'nt stand behind them. Go for the Lunasea Brand . Much better stuff. Svendsens had a half off sale on Dr.Crap products to get rid of what they had left and droped the line all together. Its garbage. Dont buy it.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Geez, I feel like an independent sitting between a Democrat and a Republican! I guess more research and thought is required. UNfortunately I have until April to figure this out. Isn't the LED technology solid by now?

 

[Rich Stidger]

Geez, I feel like an independent sitting between a Democrat and a Republican!

I am confident that you will make the RIGHT choice...... or maybe

 

[JohnShannon]

LED tech is solid and can be done right, if you want that go buy Hella.
It can also be done wrong, failure to design for voltage surges, failure to properly heat sink, failure to account for marine environment etc etc. So even the same electronic schematic can yield completely different results based on mechanical design and build quality.

Very few of us will get anywhere near the rated lifetime of these LEDs 50khrs is ten years of running the lamp every night. Something else goes wrong first.

 

[Rick Webb]

Just to be Sure it is Mentioned


Some of the LED nav lights out there are only certified for powerboats they do not cover the arc required when a boat is heeled over.

 

[Chuck Creel]

Thanks Chuck, our posts crossed. When you wrote "5" did you mean you have used five and they are all still working? Or have you had to replace one five times?

LOL Each and every LED I have purchased from there is still going strong.

NO failures to report.

Now that i have upgraded boats I was looking at replacing ALL the cabin lights bulbs

However, most of them are already replaced.

Go for it

 

[Blitz]

For what it is worth, I have my mast down this winter and am replacing the steaming light and the anchor light along with all the wiring. The anchor light is to be an LED and I recently purchased the LED from Signal Mate. It is coast guard certified. I purchased from sailors solutions website:

http://sailorssolutions.com/index.asp?page=ProductDetails&Item=LEDANC01

I'm still looking for a combination steaming/deck light... They all look so cheap and want hoping the deck part lights up the deck sufficiently.

 

[Free Spirit]

Geez, I feel like an independent sitting between a Democrat and a Republican! I guess more research and thought is required. UNfortunately I have until April to figure this out. Isn't the LED technology solid by now?

Ed,
By April as an Independent, you might be over run with "pork projects" from the Dem/Rep's. Then you'd have to deal with change of the original design because of new technology for LED lights, then your up sh(*& creek, because then your stuck having to change out the set up for the lights!
LOLOL and it never ends...

Free Spirit

 

[rpwillia]

Don't rush

... as an Independent, you might be over run with "pork projects" from the Dem/Rep's. Then you'd have to deal with change of the original design because of new technology for LED lights ...

Wow, 2 of my hot buttons in one post. First both parties need to make a trip to the back of the wood shed - way too much irresponsibility on both sides.

As far as LEDs go, give it time. As we are seeing in the home and automotive LED lighting areas prices are coming down and they are perfecting the technology. I suspect in about a year we will have a lot of choices at much better prices. We don't need government mandate (refer to 1st part of post) when the technology becomes compelling enough on its own right.