Marinebeam stern light wiring

[Scott T-Bird]

It took me a while but I finally fished the wiring for my new LED stern light through to the panel. I don't remember if there were any instructions. The leads are white and black wires and I can't remember if there is a positive and a negative that needs distinction. Before I hook up the wires, I want to know which is which, in case it's important to know before I ruin the light by wiring it the wrong way! Any local knowledge?

Thanks!

 

[dlochner]

If the wires are black and white, I would go with black for negative. Unlike other LEDs the ones from Marine Beam, I believe the ones from MB are sensitive to polarity. Certainly the LEDs to replace halogen bulbs in cabin fixtures are not sensitive to polarity.

Marine Beam has good customer service, give them a call.

 

[Terry Cox]

Marine Beam has good customer service, give them a call.

I've had good luck sending them an e-mail message describing my plight. Usually get a speedy response.

 

[MitchM]

they look like a nice light, might get one myself!

 

[Ward H]

MB light fixtures are not polarity sensitive. I would still follow basic DC wiring color code of black to DC neg and white (or other color) to DC positive.
I agree, they are nice lights.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

MB light fixtures are not polarity sensitive. I would still follow basic DC wiring color code of black to DC neg and white (or other color) to DC positive.
I agree, they are nice lights.

After installing a tricolor/anchor combo and the steaming/deck light combo, you'd think I remembered something, but you'd be wrong!

I do like them. Next & last to replace ... the bow lights, maybe.

 

[Mr Fox]

They are quality bulbs, it’s the cheap ones that are polarity dependent (some even cause rf interference). I love knowing I basically never have to change a bulb on top of the mast again...

 

[Terry Cox]

Based on Mainsail’s recommendations a number of years ago, replaced all interior and exterior light bulbs with Marinebeam bulbs. DC consumption almost nil. Really like them.

 

[dlochner]

If the wires are black and white, I would go with black for negative. Unlike other LEDs the ones from Marine Beam, I believe the ones from MB are sensitive to polarity. Certainly the LEDs to replace halogen bulbs in cabin fixtures are not sensitive to polarity.

Marine Beam has good customer service, give them a call.

They are quality bulbs, it’s the cheap ones that are polarity dependent (some even cause rf interference). I love knowing I basically never have to change a bulb on top of the mast again...

One of these days I'll remember to proofread what I write. One omitted word and the whole sentence is wrong. I meant to say, "I believe the ones from MB are not sensitive to polarity."

 

[jtm]

I put hose marinebeam lights all over my h25. I love em. They burn 1/10 th the power. I got the mast top tricolor, the deck nav and stern. I also did the steaming/ foredeck combo lights. They take a 2 seconds then turn on as they are a circuit and do a sort of post test before lighting up - so have a little patience in testing your connections. I didn’t recall having issue with polarity on the stern and nav lights as I connected the colors accordingly. I also found festoon LEDs for cabin lights just ensure you install them with the illuminating side towards the lens.

 

[jtm]

I mean the H28.5. (Typo)

 

[Terry Cox]

Our stern light takes a 32MM festoon incandescent bulb. Replaced with a MB LED, but it lasted less than a season because it was not sealed/enclosed. Sea destroyed the components. MB has no plans to make a sealed version. Bummer. The only incandescent bulb on the boat.

 

[Ward H]

I do like them. Next & last to replace ... the bow lights, maybe.

I bought the MB bow light but haven't tackled installing it because of the effort to run the wire into the pulpit and into the v berth. I'll install it when I install the new pulpit I sitting at home.
So, I installed the MB LED bulb they use in their Economy Series 25 bow fixture, in the bow light for now. Much easier install.

 

[Ward H]

After installing a tricolor/anchor combo and the steaming/deck light combo,

That is a nice set up.I followed your lead and installed the same.

 

[jssailem]

I put hose marinebeam lights all over my h25. I love em.

JTM... What do the “hose” lights look like?

Last fall I installed new bow lights.


Bright compact install and USCG qualified.
Still looking for a stern light that will last.

 

[Mr Fox]

Replaced with a MB LED, but it lasted less than a season because it was not sealed/enclosed. Sea destroyed the components.

My stern light is a MB 31mm festoon (standard stern light replacement) it’s been working for 4 years inside a perko housing. I’m just curious as to how the sea is destroying it? Is salt water actually getting on the bulb and the or is it just salt air?

FWIW my yard always seals fixtures with silicone when replacing bulbs, on their advice I did the same on mine when swapping.Maybe that would work for you?

 

[Justin_NSA]

I just ordered more LED cabin lights from MB today. They didn't carry a wedge style switchable red/white dome light so they are building me one for $13.

 

[AaronD]

...
Still looking for a stern light that will last.

@jssailem : Here's the MarineBeam stern light I have. I think we've had it for 5 years now, and no complaints. It looks like they have a stainless version now, which would probably worth the extra $10.

 

[AaronD]

If the wires are black and white, I would go with black for negative. Unlike other LEDs the ones from Marine Beam, I believe the ones from MB are sensitive to polarity. Certainly the LEDs to replace halogen bulbs in cabin fixtures are not sensitive to polarity.

Marine Beam has good customer service, give them a call.

I don't know about their bow and stern lights, but my MarineBeam anchor light (from 2015) is sensitive to polarity. My boat's original mast wiring was crossed (which didn't matter for the incandescent fixture). So I crossed the wiring at the masthead when installing the anchor light. But forgot about that a year or two later when I replaced all the wiring in the boat, and spent way too many hours trying to figure out why everything but the anchor light worked...

 

[jssailem]

Thanks @AaronD