Anchor/Steaming light with photodiode

[geoffschultz]

My current boat has a 360-degree anchor light that also can be used as a 225-degree steaming light. It also has a photo-diode that controls the anchor light. I am building a new boat, and want the same functionality, but for the life of me, I can't find one. Does anyone have any suggestions?

-- Geoff

 

[jssailem]

Mast head light used when under power (steaming) Is different than an anchor light and located on the mast in a different location.



NOTE: A sailboat operating under power at night - whether the sails are set, or not – is required to follow the same rules as a power boat, as outlined above, since they are no longer entitled to the sailboat's usual right of way privileges due to restricted maneuverability. For this reason, most sailboats will often comply with option 1 above, and will mount a masthead (or “steaming”) light on the front of the mast. Although called a “masthead” light, this light is not literally carried at the top of the sailboat's mast. Instead there are specific minimum height requirements for various length sailboats, which will be found in Annex I, Section 84 of the Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook.

If you are thinking about a white light while sailing then this light is used at night and faces to the stern. Not forward as a steaming light.

Since the lights are used after sunset and before sunrise I am confused as to how a photo-diode is going to make your life easier regarding a steaming light.

 

[geoffschultz]

Mast head light used when under power (steaming) Is different than an anchor light and located on the mast in a different location.

View attachment 230502

NOTE: A sailboat operating under power at night - whether the sails are set, or not – is required to follow the same rules as a power boat, as outlined above, since they are no longer entitled to the sailboat's usual right of way privileges due to restricted maneuverability. For this reason, most sailboats will often comply with option 1 above, and will mount a masthead (or “steaming”) light on the front of the mast. Although called a “masthead” light, this light is not literally carried at the top of the sailboat's mast. Instead there are specific minimum height requirements for various length sailboats, which will be found in Annex I, Section 84 of the Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook.

If you are thinking about a white light while sailing then this light is used at night and faces to the stern. Not forward as a steaming light.

Since the lights are used after sunset and before sunrise I am confused as to how a photo-diode is going to make your life easier regarding a steaming light.

I checked Annex 1, Section 84, and the only applicable section is as follows:

804.2(c) The masthead light of a power-driven vessel of 12 meters but less than 20 meters in length shall be placed at a height above the gunwale of not less than 2.5 meters.

There's nothing that states that it needs to be mounted in front of the mast. It just has to be 2.5 meters above the gunwale. The top of the mast qualifies. The requirement is that it's 225 degrees facing forward.

The photo diode is purely for the anchor light. It has nothing to do with the steaming light.

 

[geoffschultz]

This is what I'm looking for, but it doesn't have a photo diode.

https://defender.com/en_us/signal-mate-led-combination-masthead-navigation-anchor-light-3nmmhanc

But, I will be running SignalK and have the lights controlled by CZone, so I can automate the turning on/off of the anchor light.

 

[jssailem]

Happy you found it.

There is a consideration among some boaters that a steaming light on a sailboat less than 20 meters in length at the top of the 16 meter mast may be misleading to other captains who are monitoring the surface lights for other craft.

The light location is your choice.
Fair winds and safe sailing.

 

[JoeWhite]

What is a photodiode? Do you mean LED? or photocell?

 

[jssailem]

I believe he wants to connect a photocell to trigger the lights on or off.

 

[kloudie1]

I have seen some automatic anchor lights, but I've not seen an anchor-steaming combination with the on-at-dusk, off-at-dawn feature.

 

[Foswick]

This might be more DIY than you had intended, but this is a REALLY simple circuit. If you are even a little handy with a solder iron, you can make your own switch for well under $20.

I wouldn't use a photodiode, for this application, but instead use either a photocell (LDR) or phototransistor. A LDR will be more suitable if you want an analog response (an approximate measure of amount of light), and a phototransistor is more suitable to pure on/off response. The only (small) challenge is housing the tiny circuit so it is protected and allows light to reach the LDR/phototransistor.

Myself, I would just 3D print this in ASA and seal in a small lens. But, if that is not in your wheelhouse, weatherproof enclosures are pretty easy to come by.

If you are using SignalK, that makes your options even better. You can make light-level data available to your SignalK server so you can make multiple decisions, based on light level. Not sure what else this might be, but you could do it. Or, you could dual-purpose the sensor. It could directly turn on/off the anchor light and tell SignalK about light levels.

 

[sesmith]

I had one on my old boat that I installed. It was made by Lunasea Lighting. At the time they listed it as a power boat anchor steaming light, which was a kind of weird description as it was clearly made for sailboats. It was a great and really bright light. I just checked their website and all they seem to offer now is the 360 degree only version. It might be worth a call to the company to see if they have any of the older combo lights around. It also had the photocell, and I believe it also strobed if you turned it on off on quickly.

 

[SkiingSailor]

I had one on my old boat that I installed. It was made by Lunasea Lighting. At the time they listed it as a power boat anchor steaming light, which was a kind of weird description as it was clearly made for sailboats. It was a great and really bright light. I just checked their website and all they seem to offer now is the 360 degree only version. It might be worth a call to the company to see if they have any of the older combo lights around. It also had the photocell, and I believe it also strobed if you turned it on off on quickly.

We have a Lunasea on on top of the mast of our (sail) boat. Very bright. Yes, also strobe (but only 2 wires needed). Been great for well over a decade. Photocell turns off lights in daylight... great for anchor light.

NOT a "steaming" light.

 

[PaulK]

Last I heard strobes indicated submarines traveling on the surface. Last time we saw a sub traveling on the surface it was doing about 25 knots. You definitely want to know where they are if they're at your level.