I had a chance to compare my anchor lights last night. To make a long story short I had one of the original Dr. LED Polar Star 40 lights, the one with 18 LED's that looks like the one below, and I did not like its bluish tint despite its USCG certification for use in Aqua Signal Series 40 all round lights.
Old Style Polar Star 40 / Image courtesy Dr. LED:
I recently discovered that Dr. LED changed the design so I bought one and the new one looks like this and now only has one LED.
New Style Polar Star 40:
Dr. LED is currently the only company to have any of its aftermarket LED bulbs certified for use in another manufacturers fixture. Unfortunately this USCG certification is limited to the Polar Star 40 but only when used in an Aqua Signal Series 40 all round/anchor light fixture.
This is an Aqua Signal Series 40 "all round":
On our boat we have two anchor lights, one at the mast head and one on the stern mounted radar pole. Both lights are Aqua Signal Series 40. The reason for two was simply because incandescent bulbs tended to die a fast life at the top of a spar so having one lower, and easier to change when solo, was a no brainer.
Mostly I have preferred my non USCG certified Marine Beam Bay 15D Warm White LED bulb when compared to teh older style Dr. LED Polar Star 40. It was a warmer white and every bit as bright or brighter than the original Polar Star 40. It also costs less at $34.95. The Bay 15D Warm White LED bulb looks like this..
Marine Beam Bay-15-D Warm White:
So here are the results taken live with the camera mounted on a tripod from approximately 1/2 mile away. The Marine Beam and Dr. LED are nearly identical in color and brightness. I really did not like my previous Polar Star 40 and instead was choosing to use my Marine Beam because of the color. I will now be using the Dr. LED because it is supposedly certified.
I say supposedly because the certification process is for the bulb and fixture submitted. I don't know if Dr. LED chose to re-submit the new & re-designed Polar Star 40 or if they are simply riding on the fact that it is still called the Polar Star 40 and the "Polar Star 40", in name, has a USCG certification. Either way I feel more comfortable using a bulb that is at least quasi certified.
Dr. LED has been quite misleading in the past about certifications and I really do still have a bad taste in my mouth over their misleading marketing tactics. That being said the new style Polar Star 40 is a very, very nice bulb.
Live Shot:
As you can see both the Marine Beam & Dr. LED bulbs show up brighter than the incandescent does and are darn close in color representation.
Here's my take:
Option A) The Marine Beam bulb works if you don't give two hoots about using a certified bulb and price is a major sticking point and issue. At $34.95 it is $8.00 less than the Dr. LED Polar Star 40 and it's VERY, VERY bright and also quite warm and not really bluish just not certified.
Option B) Buy the NEW STYLE Dr. LED Polar Star 40, it is my 3 star winner. Phil and SBO sell this bulb for $42.95 (LINK). Be sure to ask if it is the new style, with one LED and a reflector, or the old style with multiple bulbs inside. I would not want the old style personally. This bulb is USCG certified in ONLY the Aquasignal Series 40 fixture.
You can get into an Aqua Signal 40 all round and a Dr. LED bulb for about $90.00 - $95.00. This is cheaper than most all of the fixtures made by Lopo, Hella, Orca Green, Aqua Signal or Perko and sold as LED nav lights and you're still "certified".
UPDATE: Today, I would not recommend using an aftermarket bulb in an exiting fixture. The Dr. LED bulbs have been less than reliable and their customer support has also been reported as poor. Hella is now making a sub $100.00 anchor light designed and built as an LED device from the get go. If I was to do this today I would definitely not go with aftermarket LED's in an incandescant housing. Things are changing rapidly in LED technology so just wanted to update with my latest thinking on this subject.
Old Style Polar Star 40 / Image courtesy Dr. LED:
I recently discovered that Dr. LED changed the design so I bought one and the new one looks like this and now only has one LED.
New Style Polar Star 40:
Dr. LED is currently the only company to have any of its aftermarket LED bulbs certified for use in another manufacturers fixture. Unfortunately this USCG certification is limited to the Polar Star 40 but only when used in an Aqua Signal Series 40 all round/anchor light fixture.
This is an Aqua Signal Series 40 "all round":
On our boat we have two anchor lights, one at the mast head and one on the stern mounted radar pole. Both lights are Aqua Signal Series 40. The reason for two was simply because incandescent bulbs tended to die a fast life at the top of a spar so having one lower, and easier to change when solo, was a no brainer.
Mostly I have preferred my non USCG certified Marine Beam Bay 15D Warm White LED bulb when compared to teh older style Dr. LED Polar Star 40. It was a warmer white and every bit as bright or brighter than the original Polar Star 40. It also costs less at $34.95. The Bay 15D Warm White LED bulb looks like this..
Marine Beam Bay-15-D Warm White:
So here are the results taken live with the camera mounted on a tripod from approximately 1/2 mile away. The Marine Beam and Dr. LED are nearly identical in color and brightness. I really did not like my previous Polar Star 40 and instead was choosing to use my Marine Beam because of the color. I will now be using the Dr. LED because it is supposedly certified.
I say supposedly because the certification process is for the bulb and fixture submitted. I don't know if Dr. LED chose to re-submit the new & re-designed Polar Star 40 or if they are simply riding on the fact that it is still called the Polar Star 40 and the "Polar Star 40", in name, has a USCG certification. Either way I feel more comfortable using a bulb that is at least quasi certified.
Dr. LED has been quite misleading in the past about certifications and I really do still have a bad taste in my mouth over their misleading marketing tactics. That being said the new style Polar Star 40 is a very, very nice bulb.
Live Shot:
As you can see both the Marine Beam & Dr. LED bulbs show up brighter than the incandescent does and are darn close in color representation.
Here's my take:
Option A) The Marine Beam bulb works if you don't give two hoots about using a certified bulb and price is a major sticking point and issue. At $34.95 it is $8.00 less than the Dr. LED Polar Star 40 and it's VERY, VERY bright and also quite warm and not really bluish just not certified.
Option B) Buy the NEW STYLE Dr. LED Polar Star 40, it is my 3 star winner. Phil and SBO sell this bulb for $42.95 (LINK). Be sure to ask if it is the new style, with one LED and a reflector, or the old style with multiple bulbs inside. I would not want the old style personally. This bulb is USCG certified in ONLY the Aquasignal Series 40 fixture.
You can get into an Aqua Signal 40 all round and a Dr. LED bulb for about $90.00 - $95.00. This is cheaper than most all of the fixtures made by Lopo, Hella, Orca Green, Aqua Signal or Perko and sold as LED nav lights and you're still "certified".
UPDATE: Today, I would not recommend using an aftermarket bulb in an exiting fixture. The Dr. LED bulbs have been less than reliable and their customer support has also been reported as poor. Hella is now making a sub $100.00 anchor light designed and built as an LED device from the get go. If I was to do this today I would definitely not go with aftermarket LED's in an incandescant housing. Things are changing rapidly in LED technology so just wanted to update with my latest thinking on this subject.
