LED NAV and Anchor lights, Bebi and others discussion....

[skylark]

0.1 amps X 12 hours winter anchor lighting = 1.2 amp-hours power usage per day. 

Recharging is somewhat inefficient, so double that and you can estimate that you want to put 2.4 amp-hours in the system per day.  Its really not that inefficient but just being conservative.

On average, in a northern location, a typical solar panel gets about 4 hours of its rated capacity per day, depending on the weather and season.

Panels used to recharge 12V systems run at about 18 Volts.

If a solar panel is rated at 10 Watts, it puts out 10 Watts / 18 Volts = 0.55 amps.

At an average 4 hours a day, the solar panel will produce 0.55 amps X 4 hours = 2.22 amp-hours per day.  This is close to the target of 2.4 amp-hours and would probably work.

The 5W panel would be marginal, probably not enough in a long stretch of cloudy weather.

[boblamb]

Anyone ever use this kind?
  http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|328|49497|1471364&id=1476138

Hmmmm...just notice that link doesn't show the item.  It's called iMob 5.5 watts, 400 mA...$53.99   

[s/v Faith]

Since I started this thread, I have come to like my Bebe OWL anchor light more and more.

[boblamb]

Hey Mates:
    I ordered and received my Bebi anchor light in a timely fashion.  I also ordered the 5w solar panel pictured in my previous post.   I've been testing them both for a couple weeks now.  Light comes on at sundown and goes off at sun up. Very bright on a dark night.  Solar panel keeps the battery up. Works like a charm.

Thanks for all the advice!
BobL

[s/v Faith]

Hey Mates:
    I ordered and received my Bebi anchor light in a timely fashion.  I also ordered the 5w solar panel pictured in my previous post.   I've been testing them both for a couple weeks now.  Light comes on at sundown and goes off at sun up. Very bright on a dark night.  Solar panel keeps the battery up. Works like a charm.

Thanks for all the advice!
BobL

Outstanding Bob!

  Glad it is working out well for you!

[Tim]

Mine came a week ago, and I won't get a chance to try it out until next week in Tomales Bay, but I am looking forward to wowing my neighbors 

Bebi is a great outfit, and Michael if you read this, thanks again.

[Captain Smollett]

We are going to all LED.  Back in the winter, we installed an LED white/red dome light in the galley and instantly noticed how much brighter it is than either of the 10 W incandescents in the cabin.

This week, our first two LED cabin lights arrived in the mail.  I hooked one up yesterday and cannot believe how bright it is; let's see, MUCH brighter and 1/10 the current draw - seems like a no brainer.  Here are the ones we got from Sailor's Solutions:



Got two for the main cabin; will be getting two for the fore cabin with the next batch of ordering.

Another project that we have going on required us to remove the deck-level navigation lights.  I was never happy with them anyway; the lowered headsails would block the red or green (or both), the outboard blocked part of the arc of the stern light and DANG those things got hot.  Another down side was the current draw for running THREE lights (no bicolor on the bow).

So, since we had them off anyway, we went ahead and got LED replacements.

For the bow, also from Sailor's Solutions:



And for the stern (from Defender):



Both bow bicolor and stern lights will now be mounted on the rail/pulpit to get them up off the deck and away from obstructions.

Next up will be to order the Bebe, though I think I will go with the one Charlie has that plugs in.

That only leaves the steaming light and masthead anchor light.   I want to replace the masthead anchor light either with a combo anchor/tricolor or just a tricolor; in either case, the mast mounted lights are lower on the priority list (the anchor light won't be used once the Bebe arrives and the steaming light is used with the engine so draw is not a problem...my outboard has a 5 amp charger).

Going all LED has GREATLY reduced our energy budget and relieves some of the logistical problems of storing lamp oil, etc.  Previously, I had been a fan of oil lamps (even for navigation lights), but LED's make the charging requirements WELL within the capability of even relatively small solar panels.

My plan is to get a 65 W solar panel, then maybe add a 20 W folding panel for "booster" charging when need down the road sometime. 

[s/v Faith]

Wow,

  I really like this one.  Would not mind one of these on Faith's bulkhead....



looking forward to the review.

[Captain Smollett]

Here's a shot of the cabin with both lit.  Left frame is the 10 W incandescent and right frame is the new LED cabin light.

The only thing bad about it is the price.   

But hey, if it saves $$ in solar/wind/etc charging required, I'll gladly pay.