Incandescent Nav. Bulb Watts (or 12V amps)?
- Thread starter Ziggler
- Start date
The steaming light might be 10A, but it doesn't matter much because it's only used under power while the alternator would be charging.
On our boat the anchor and steaming lights were two amps each. The stern light about one amp. Replaced with LED bulbs a few years ago and now all three combined consume less than an amp.
No mention of other running lights, which the LED version consume about 0.24 amps each; port and starboard. Incandescent bulbs consumed about two amps each.
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The incandescent bulbs draw a ridiculous amount of power but more importantly, the lenses on those fixtures are so fogged over that only a small portion of that light will get out and will be very diffused. These lights are for safety so you need good lenses. On my boat the lenses on my Aqua Signal nav lights were not in a bad shape as yours when I replaced them. I also used Dr LED bulbs. Now, if I forget to turn off the running lights after returning to the dock, the first person along will knock and ask me to turn them off because you cannot see to walk on the dock without shielding your eyes from them. 
In my building biz. I tell people LED bulbs use 10% of the power of their incandescents and last 10 times as long. Accurate enough.
And now that they can't complain about how they look (all different temperatures are now available), nor about the cost because programs have brought the cost way down (and I remind of the 10 times the life-do that math).
What are some people waiting for?
And now that they can't complain about how they look (all different temperatures are now available), nor about the cost because programs have brought the cost way down (and I remind of the 10 times the life-do that math).
What are some people waiting for?
well tom, you had to ask. my nav lights are all bronze bases with glass lenses. i have a large stash of spare bulbs. the boat is sailed in fresh water. i'm waiting till my system fails. not a fan of plastic lenses. they just don't seam to hold up very well.
No real reason for you to change right now. But when your stash runs out, just buy a replacement bulb that's LED. Your fixture will likely still be fine.well tom, you had to ask. my nav lights are all bronze bases with glass lenses. i have a large stash of spare bulbs. the boat is sailed in fresh water. i'm waiting till my system fails. not a fan of plastic lenses. they just don't seam to hold up very well.
dj
I was thinking more of homeowners with that thought. That's where we can really make a difference. I haven't changed any of my boats old nav bulbs, either Jon.well tom, you had to ask. my nav lights are all bronze bases with glass lenses. i have a large stash of spare bulbs. the boat is sailed in fresh water. i'm waiting till my system fails. not a fan of plastic lenses. they just don't seam to hold up very well.
But if I used my running lights more often, I sure would. I did swap out all my old Perko cabin lights several years ago. That's really made a difference in charging needs.
aeolus has two original kerosene lamps. i had just serviced them. they both got smashed in one day. brisk day. i love a strong breeze to sail in. both were damaged by a person holding a phone. damm phones. not well designed for sailing on sailboats.
one hand to hold on , one hand to work the boat. there's no hand for a phone. what happen to tradition. tablets, 2 hands, don't get me started
they will be restored. nice part of an oil lamp in a wood interior is the karma. 0 amps to boot.
one hand to hold on , one hand to work the boat. there's no hand for a phone. what happen to tradition. tablets, 2 hands, don't get me started
they will be restored. nice part of an oil lamp in a wood interior is the karma. 0 amps to boot.
i carry an oil lamp anchor light on aeolus. prolly not quite up to code if you want to get all techeee on me. but first you got to find me.
i keep it tied to the stern pulpit above the taff rail. no drippy on teaky that way. been doin it for 45 years. no problems so far.
0 amps too
i keep it tied to the stern pulpit above the taff rail. no drippy on teaky that way. been doin it for 45 years. no problems so far.
0 amps too
I personally love oil lamps. I love the light quality. I have oil lamps in my house also.
dj
p.s. I believe oil anchor light is up to code...
dj
p.s. I believe oil anchor light is up to code...
I finally removed my oil lamp on Papillon after banging my head on it for 20 years and never once lighting it. I will stick with the LED's.
I bought some wi-fI enabled LED bulbs that I can program on my phone...
Turn on at 6:00 am in a nice warm whit color...turn off at 7:30 (at least now).
Turn on again at 4:30 pm.. Red / Green / Red / Green / Red (I have 5 across the front of the house and Garage). Then turn off at 10:15PM.
After Christmas, I will reprogram these to just be white at night.
On the boat, I bought LEDs for the cabin domes. They were way too “white”. I bought new bulbs, a little “warmer”, and really like them.
And the Christmas lights are all LEDs this year. Way lower energy draw than the strings of C7 incandescents I finally threw out.
Turn on at 6:00 am in a nice warm whit color...turn off at 7:30 (at least now).
Turn on again at 4:30 pm.. Red / Green / Red / Green / Red (I have 5 across the front of the house and Garage). Then turn off at 10:15PM.
After Christmas, I will reprogram these to just be white at night.
On the boat, I bought LEDs for the cabin domes. They were way too “white”. I bought new bulbs, a little “warmer”, and really like them.
And the Christmas lights are all LEDs this year. Way lower energy draw than the strings of C7 incandescents I finally threw out.
putting old stuff on a new design looks odd, putting new stuff on an old design looks off as well. most of you guys don't have a fireplace either nor would you want one.
gear that hits you in the head all the time , either vintage, i would throw overboard too.
gear that hits you in the head all the time , either vintage, i would throw overboard too.