Replacing bulb on aqua signal bow light with led issue

[CYQK]

So am replacing with led on my bow light and of course did the voltage testing before re-mounting the bow pulpit

I noticed that when i hooked up 12v to the two spade terminals it lit up fine and when i placed 12v on one spade and the other on the chassis it was much brighter??? It didnt matter which spade i used for the test and yes both spades are clean.
So i am thinking brighter is better,,does this damage the led??

What have you seen
Thanks

 

[jviss]

I'm confused. Did you mean you did the testing before remounting the light fixture on the pulpit? What kind of light is it, and what type bulb? What "chassis" are you referring to?

 

[CYQK]

its a standard aqua signal grn/red bow light
chassis is the metal base the bulb is mounted on

 

[jviss]

So, let's assume it's a Series 41 Bicolor using a Bay15D bulb; this bulb has two contacts on the bottom.

You get a brighter light when you energize it case to contact, either contact, than contact to contact.

Who made the LED bulb you are fitting? Is it a bicolor or white?

By the way, most would think this is a nit, but these navigational lights are only certified as complete assemblies, including the OEM bulb, so fitting a third party bulb results in a light that's not certified for navigational use:

From Aqua Signal:
"Certification Applicability Aqua Signal navigation lights are certified as a complete assembly including the original equipment bulb. Use only certified OEM replacement bulbs to maintain ongoing certification."

 

[Ron20324]

LEDs have a different "white" frequency, and that will alter the visible light coming out of the red/green lense- and not being C.G. compliant. Also, if you mean "chasis " as the light fixture, or the bow pupit or such?

 

[Johnb]

I would also be perturbed by the fact that the body (chassis enclosure fixture ?) is electrically connected to the bulb. That is a recipe for corrosion.

More clarification is required. Note also that it is not just a bulb but actually a whole little electronic regulator. It may be as others have noted entirely unsuitable for the purpose.