Re: LED array navigation lights?
I've used LED's for electric RC planes flown at night, aquarium lights,
and bicycle lights. It's pretty easy to work with them. Red ones are
pretty cheap, white ones maybe cost a buck or two, and green ones (as I
recall) are someplace in between. You might try casting a housing out of
epoxy. LED's are very reliable but you may need a bunch due to the
narrow angle of the light. Look at specs at www.digikey.com Go for the
"ultrabright" ones. Look at the specs for voltage, current (generally 30
to 50mA), brightness (try more than 3000 mcd) and angle. I seem to
recall a basic electronics book at Radio Shack explains how to use them.
If you can get a light for $50 you probably won't save all that much by
making your own. OTOH, a directed reading light could probably be made
for $5 or so, particularly if you can stand red light. I think you might
be able to read the compass with just one LED.
I fly my RC plane by the light of two onboard 1500mcd LED's shining up
on its translucent wings. about 1.5g weight, as I recall.
and bicycle lights. It's pretty easy to work with them. Red ones are
pretty cheap, white ones maybe cost a buck or two, and green ones (as I
recall) are someplace in between. You might try casting a housing out of
epoxy. LED's are very reliable but you may need a bunch due to the
narrow angle of the light. Look at specs at www.digikey.com Go for the
"ultrabright" ones. Look at the specs for voltage, current (generally 30
to 50mA), brightness (try more than 3000 mcd) and angle. I seem to
recall a basic electronics book at Radio Shack explains how to use them.
If you can get a light for $50 you probably won't save all that much by
making your own. OTOH, a directed reading light could probably be made
for $5 or so, particularly if you can stand red light. I think you might
be able to read the compass with just one LED.
I fly my RC plane by the light of two onboard 1500mcd LED's shining up
on its translucent wings. about 1.5g weight, as I recall.
>Susan Davis wrote:
>
>Does anyone know a good source for LED array navigation lights? I'm
>just about to the point where I need to start thinking about running
>the wiring before the deck goes on. I'm under 20 feet, and don't have
>a motor, so USCG approval isn't strictly necessary, but would be nice.
>I'd like to run everything off rechargeable dry cells and a solar
>charger, where "everything" consists of just the nav lights and a
>night light for the compass. (And maybe a LED array reading light
>in the main cabin.)
>
>Does anyone have experience with such things? I had originally thought
>to use the self-contained dinghy nav lights, but they'd be out of
>reach from the cockpit, and I don't want to have to crawl around on
>the ends of the deck to turn them on....
>
I have been working on a "Boat Box" which is a totally modular system
for managing all electrical systems on a boat. What is commercially
available for active power management is a joke. LED light arrays
are part of this solution sine they have a very predictable power
usage profile.
You will need arrays and not single LEDs because of the angle of
light projection from an LED.
Here are a few places to start your adventure:
http://www.ledmarketplace.com/profiles.htm
http://www.lightingresearch.com/index.htm
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/saurus.htm
Once mounted the boards may be diped in silicone or even epoxy.
for managing all electrical systems on a boat. What is commercially
available for active power management is a joke. LED light arrays
are part of this solution sine they have a very predictable power
usage profile.
You will need arrays and not single LEDs because of the angle of
light projection from an LED.
Here are a few places to start your adventure:
http://www.ledmarketplace.com/profiles.htm
http://www.lightingresearch.com/index.htm
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/saurus.htm
Once mounted the boards may be diped in silicone or even epoxy.
--- Susan Davis <futabachan@y...> wrote:
Micro Navigator, but at the
cost of $99 for each; red,
green & white = $300!!! I
chose to go with conventional
12V lights and instead I upsized
my PV panels and battery bank.
I don't know yet if my choice
was wise, time will tell.
> Does anyone know a good sourceI considered similar, for my
> for LED array navigation lights?
Micro Navigator, but at the
cost of $99 for each; red,
green & white = $300!!! I
chose to go with conventional
12V lights and instead I upsized
my PV panels and battery bank.
I don't know yet if my choice
was wise, time will tell.
Howdy
have a url that leads me to it?
Thanks
See Ya
Have Fun
Bruce
http://myweb.cableone.net/bcanderson/
> -----Original Message-----I searched the energizer for this headlamp, and didn't find it, do you
> Subject: [bolger] Re: LED array navigation lights?
>
> lasts forever. I
> also use the Energizer LED headlamp, which has a red setting
> to preserve
> night vision.http://tinyurl.com/epzl
have a url that leads me to it?
Thanks
See Ya
Have Fun
Bruce
http://myweb.cableone.net/bcanderson/
Perko has these:http://tinyurl.com/9yg2
I've been working with Stephen Sullivan (
http://www.8000mcd.com/flashlights.html,stephen@...) to develop a
small, portable Nav light system. He put together a set of 9V clip lights,
(likehttp://www.8000mcd.com/images/other/cliplight.gif,but with 3 colored
LED's) which could be ductaped or velcroed onto the boat.
I started testing the red, to see how long the battery lasted. Running 3
hours a day (to simulate real-world usage) it went a couple weeks before I
lost track of the hours. Sitting on my porch, in a well-lit suburb, the
light caught my eye from 1/2 mile away. I think it will meet the 1 (and
probably 2) mile visibility standard.
I'm trying to convince Stephen these should cost $50 (per set of 3 - RGW) or
so; he thinks less.
The single cliplight makes a good, but dim, reading light; lasts forever. I
also use the Energizer LED headlamp, which has a red setting to preserve
night vision.http://tinyurl.com/epzl
I've been working with Stephen Sullivan (
http://www.8000mcd.com/flashlights.html,stephen@...) to develop a
small, portable Nav light system. He put together a set of 9V clip lights,
(likehttp://www.8000mcd.com/images/other/cliplight.gif,but with 3 colored
LED's) which could be ductaped or velcroed onto the boat.
I started testing the red, to see how long the battery lasted. Running 3
hours a day (to simulate real-world usage) it went a couple weeks before I
lost track of the hours. Sitting on my porch, in a well-lit suburb, the
light caught my eye from 1/2 mile away. I think it will meet the 1 (and
probably 2) mile visibility standard.
I'm trying to convince Stephen these should cost $50 (per set of 3 - RGW) or
so; he thinks less.
The single cliplight makes a good, but dim, reading light; lasts forever. I
also use the Energizer LED headlamp, which has a red setting to preserve
night vision.http://tinyurl.com/epzl
>> Does anyone know a good source for LED array navigation lights? >
>Look at these sites and go from there:
>
>http://www.e-f-w.com/community/index.php
>
>http://www.theledlight.com/led-specs.html
>
>A reading light that clips to your book is far more efficient of
>battery usage than a general area light.
Been there, done that. Even made some myself, in a foray into surface mount electronics and board etching.
They are expensive.
Buy them from Deep Creek, I would, if I had it all to do over again.
Of course, there are a LOT of things I would differently if I had them to do over again... <sigh>
Or, spend your money on a bigger gell cell and solar panel, in the traditional fashion.
They are expensive.
Buy them from Deep Creek, I would, if I had it all to do over again.
Of course, there are a LOT of things I would differently if I had them to do over again... <sigh>
Or, spend your money on a bigger gell cell and solar panel, in the traditional fashion.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Davis" <futabachan@...>
To: <bolger@yahoogroups.com>; <microcruising@yahoogroups.com>; <paradoxbuilders@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 11:43 PM
Subject: [bolger] LED array navigation lights?
> Does anyone know a good source for LED array navigation lights? I'm
> just about to the point where I need to start thinking about running
> the wiring before the deck goes on. I'm under 20 feet, and don't have
> a motor, so USCG approval isn't strictly necessary, but would be nice.
> I'd like to run everything off rechargeable dry cells and a solar
> charger, where "everything" consists of just the nav lights and a
> night light for the compass. (And maybe a LED array reading light
> in the main cabin.)
>
> Does anyone have experience with such things? I had originally thought
> to use the self-contained dinghy nav lights, but they'd be out of
> reach from the cockpit, and I don't want to have to crawl around on
> the ends of the deck to turn them on....
>
>
> =====
> Susan Davis <futabachan@...>
>
> __________________________________
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--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Susan Davis <futabachan@y...> wrote:
http://www.e-f-w.com/community/index.php
http://www.theledlight.com/led-specs.html
A reading light that clips to your book is far more efficient of
battery usage than a general area light.
Tom
> Does anyone know a good source for LED array navigation lights? >Susan Davis <futabachan@y...>
>Look at these sites and go from there:
http://www.e-f-w.com/community/index.php
http://www.theledlight.com/led-specs.html
A reading light that clips to your book is far more efficient of
battery usage than a general area light.
Tom
Does anyone know a good source for LED array navigation lights? I'm
just about to the point where I need to start thinking about running
the wiring before the deck goes on. I'm under 20 feet, and don't have
a motor, so USCG approval isn't strictly necessary, but would be nice.
I'd like to run everything off rechargeable dry cells and a solar
charger, where "everything" consists of just the nav lights and a
night light for the compass. (And maybe a LED array reading light
in the main cabin.)
Does anyone have experience with such things? I had originally thought
to use the self-contained dinghy nav lights, but they'd be out of
reach from the cockpit, and I don't want to have to crawl around on
the ends of the deck to turn them on....
=====
Susan Davis <futabachan@...>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com
just about to the point where I need to start thinking about running
the wiring before the deck goes on. I'm under 20 feet, and don't have
a motor, so USCG approval isn't strictly necessary, but would be nice.
I'd like to run everything off rechargeable dry cells and a solar
charger, where "everything" consists of just the nav lights and a
night light for the compass. (And maybe a LED array reading light
in the main cabin.)
Does anyone have experience with such things? I had originally thought
to use the self-contained dinghy nav lights, but they'd be out of
reach from the cockpit, and I don't want to have to crawl around on
the ends of the deck to turn them on....
=====
Susan Davis <futabachan@...>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com