I've heard that a flaw in the photocell for this product often leads to premature failure. Has anyone had any experience with this? It appears to be a great piece of safety equipment- minimal draw- visible to 2 nm- inexpensive, but I don't want to run the risk of it failing while I'm on the hook at a busy anchorage.
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I have one
I have a megalight and did have to change the bulb once. I used it for a couple of years before the bulb needed replacing though. During that time, I used it for a solid month and a half while cruising. There were less than one hands count of nights I didn't use it on that trip. I am still using the replacement bulb, but it has unfortunately only seen minimal use for the past year and a half. (Fortunately for me, I went to the Bahamas on a friends boat last summer!) I am unaware of any "flaw" in the product, please post another article if you learn about any published flaws.
I have a megalight and did have to change the bulb once. I used it for a couple of years before the bulb needed replacing though. During that time, I used it for a solid month and a half while cruising. There were less than one hands count of nights I didn't use it on that trip. I am still using the replacement bulb, but it has unfortunately only seen minimal use for the past year and a half. (Fortunately for me, I went to the Bahamas on a friends boat last summer!) I am unaware of any "flaw" in the product, please post another article if you learn about any published flaws.
Havn't found a problem
Nathen, I've been using a davis-megalight for the last year and haven't had a problem. I'd note that I don't use it that often, maybe 3 times a year so I've only used it about 6 times.. /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Nathen, I've been using a davis-megalight for the last year and haven't had a problem. I'd note that I don't use it that often, maybe 3 times a year so I've only used it about 6 times.. /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
One year and counting
I do not have the photo sensor. I did drop it once leading to a bulb change. r.w.landau
I do not have the photo sensor. I did drop it once leading to a bulb change. r.w.landau
Mine failed
within a week. But it may have been a physical shock. Still, I thought it should be sturdier. I complained and Davis instantly sent me more bulbs, no charge. I really like thi thing though I don't think it's all that inexpensive. But hey, it's boating.
within a week. But it may have been a physical shock. Still, I thought it should be sturdier. I complained and Davis instantly sent me more bulbs, no charge. I really like thi thing though I don't think it's all that inexpensive. But hey, it's boating.
Two Failed but I still like them
I have had two of them fail. However, I have been in Florida with a lot of lightning. I rewired one of the failed lights so that I could still use it but not automatically.
I have had two of them fail. However, I have been in Florida with a lot of lightning. I rewired one of the failed lights so that I could still use it but not automatically.
Mine failed too
We purchased one and it failed after one use. Returned it, thought it was defective and got another. That bulb went after a few uses and now are on another bulb. Wasn't real impressed. I think there is a flaw.
We purchased one and it failed after one use. Returned it, thought it was defective and got another. That bulb went after a few uses and now are on another bulb. Wasn't real impressed. I think there is a flaw.
Failed after one season
Agree with Lisa that there appears to be a problem. Ours actually malfunctioned by going into a very dim mode (apparently the light sensing circuitry failed). Fortunately, there are a lot of deals on much cheaper LED lights on the web now (just Google a bit). So we usually just hang one of our LED headlamps or dive lights above the cockpit table for happy hour (it gets pitch dark after 6:00 pm in Vanuatu winter time). However, it is much more difficult to find a LED light that radiates 360 degrees (Sportsman's Guide briefly offered a LED-based tent lamp with a nearly 360 degree horizontal beam a couple of months ago). A cheap solution to produce a 360 degree beam is to make a highly reflective white or silver cone with a 45 degree slope angle and center it in the beam of a regular LED light. Flying Dutchman
Agree with Lisa that there appears to be a problem. Ours actually malfunctioned by going into a very dim mode (apparently the light sensing circuitry failed). Fortunately, there are a lot of deals on much cheaper LED lights on the web now (just Google a bit). So we usually just hang one of our LED headlamps or dive lights above the cockpit table for happy hour (it gets pitch dark after 6:00 pm in Vanuatu winter time). However, it is much more difficult to find a LED light that radiates 360 degrees (Sportsman's Guide briefly offered a LED-based tent lamp with a nearly 360 degree horizontal beam a couple of months ago). A cheap solution to produce a 360 degree beam is to make a highly reflective white or silver cone with a 45 degree slope angle and center it in the beam of a regular LED light. Flying Dutchman
Used mine about 2,000 nights
without failure. My time's worth money, so I don't consider them too expensive - but lot's of white LED's available now, if you want to try the home made jam jar thing. Gord
without failure. My time's worth money, so I don't consider them too expensive - but lot's of white LED's available now, if you want to try the home made jam jar thing. Gord
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