What color ......
- Thread starter woodster
- Start date
As above, rig for red at night. But, I don't know if were a trial boat or what but the last sub I was on did blue lights for the rig for night vision thing. Seemed to work about as well. Red/amber or blue would probably be about equal but standing lookout in the bridge of a surfaced submarine the green running lights tended to spoil my night vision.
Red for night vision ability.
It takes 15 to 20 minutes for the best of your night vision to adjust. And just one stray flash of white makes it so your night vision is spoiled. It then takes 15 minutes again to adjust back.
It takes 15 to 20 minutes for the best of your night vision to adjust. And just one stray flash of white makes it so your night vision is spoiled. It then takes 15 minutes again to adjust back.
Richie sells LED conversion kits for their compasses in both red or blue, now. I went with red, as that's all I've ever used, but the military has gone to blue, exclusively, so it might be better. I've never had a big problem with night vision adjustment, so I can't comment on which might be better, though I do use blue battery voltage digital meters below, and they give off a huge amount of light at night, perhaps too much for a compass light.
It seems that red is the color of choice for compass manufacturers but I have been hearing that blue retains your night vision and allows you greater acuity. IIRC, field medics are starting to use the blue light to be able to tell the difference between blood and muscle under battlefield conditions. Think boom, cockpit, 4 foot chop.
I wish I could back any of this up with documentation but I don't have any. Mostly hearsay from people who are in "The Sandbox". And anything you find on google is mostly hearsay, too.
I wish I could back any of this up with documentation but I don't have any. Mostly hearsay from people who are in "The Sandbox". And anything you find on google is mostly hearsay, too.
The military uses blue because it does not interfere with NVG (night vision goggles). Red is still clearly better for night vision non- interference, but with all the electronic aids now in use, the Class-A eyeball is less important to them.
Red.
However, old bulbs can fade their red paint, making the light much brighter, and pink. Time to change it then.
Also, when it's verrry dark, even a good compass light can be too bright. Especially if it's on the binacle and close to your eyes. It won't take your night vision, but it can be a distraction. A dimmer installed inline can be a nice feature. Or, connect it to your master dimmer for the instruments, if they're analog....which they probably aren't.
However, old bulbs can fade their red paint, making the light much brighter, and pink. Time to change it then.
Also, when it's verrry dark, even a good compass light can be too bright. Especially if it's on the binacle and close to your eyes. It won't take your night vision, but it can be a distraction. A dimmer installed inline can be a nice feature. Or, connect it to your master dimmer for the instruments, if they're analog....which they probably aren't.
Very true. When at the helm of the workboat I crewed on, we would often shut off all the instrument lights, including the compass, on those dark nights with no moon. Even the compass light was enough to obscure the stars and horizon. A small flashlight was used to periodically scan the instruments and compass.
Oh come on now. Even in 1903 they must have had lit binnacles. At least by 1909 they did. On my fancy new (new compared to 1903) 1909 gaff ketch we had a lovely kerosene lantern lit binnacle. What a pain. Try adjusting two kerosene lamps to leave you with any night vision on a boat that had to be steered 24/7.
Happenned to mine. I have the Richie Globemaster at the helm. It was as pink as a stockbroker on holiday. And bright. It has the stainless hood, which I used to cover the beacon till needing a peek now and then. I thought it odd, so I ordered a new bulb. Now it's the subtle and soothing blood-red.
The fading may be so gradual that it's not noticed till a new owner like me takes her out and thinks the light is odd.
Or the PO didn't want to order the red bulb, and opted to use red nail-polish on a plain bulb. It works, but might not last. Actually, it's a good alternative if you are out there somewhere, and need to replace the compass bulb, but only plain bulbs are on hand.
I like it. But then, I'd have to go shopping for nail polish
The Ritchie bulb is specific to the compass. Little tiny thing - amazing how well it does. There is a clear bulb available, so you might be right about the PO, but the old one looked faded red I'm pretty sure. Didn't look modified. I guess it took 30 years (boat's age) to fade, so am not too worried about a recurrence. Still, the new bulbs came in a package of 2, so have a spare......plus the old pink one.
My Grandfather had a lit compass on his boat. I don't remember it being all that red in the lighting department - more an orangey wash to it. I wonder if the red on that bulb were fading? Damn, I sure wish I had that compass now... It wouldn't really fit on my boat anywhere, but I'm just sick that so many things I remember growing up with him are gone now, including Granddad. I miss him so much. Wish I could take him out sailing with me, I know he'd be tickled at what I've accomplished...
I think with a little Google searching, you will learn that most of what is stated here is based upon myth or old practice. What is most important is that the color is dim.
Red started because of photography; if it was safe for B&W film, it must be less damaging. Of course, that has to do with a completely different effect and is irrelevant.
For many applications we now see blue or green. It turns out that it takes much less of these colors to create the same level of visual acuity than red, because our eye don't respond very well to red.
An then there is the matter of reading charts. Illuminate in only one color, and that color disappears from the chart, while the others are distorted. Very dim white light is better.
So while you can search for a single "right answer," my understanding is the current science says it's not that simple. Personally, I find very dim while light less disorienting, and that I can work with far less white light than if I try to use red. What go is it if my night vission is just a little better, if I can tell the difference between a red and a white light in the distance?
Red started because of photography; if it was safe for B&W film, it must be less damaging. Of course, that has to do with a completely different effect and is irrelevant.
For many applications we now see blue or green. It turns out that it takes much less of these colors to create the same level of visual acuity than red, because our eye don't respond very well to red.
An then there is the matter of reading charts. Illuminate in only one color, and that color disappears from the chart, while the others are distorted. Very dim white light is better.
So while you can search for a single "right answer," my understanding is the current science says it's not that simple. Personally, I find very dim while light less disorienting, and that I can work with far less white light than if I try to use red. What go is it if my night vission is just a little better, if I can tell the difference between a red and a white light in the distance?
This is a good point. My instruments use white light, the RAM mic is amber, and the AP head is blue and white(or you can switch it to black and red, and others).
Only the compass is red. However, the others have dimmers. Everything can be dimmed to a point where I can only notice it if I look right at it. Which is fabulous. But many compasses have no dimmer, so you need the light to be inherently dim. This is where the red coloring comes in, not only for the single color wave in the spectum, but for its dim qualities.
If I don't dim the other electronics with their white, amber, etc., the lights obscure the horizon, but the red compass does not, unless it's reeeally dark, then it's only a distraction. Red is good, in my opinion. But I've nevr tried green, so maybe it's better.
