>From Reynold Steckley, Strecktronics www.Stecktronics.com I thought I'd go right to the source. Here is Mr. Steckley's response: Charmaine, Now that you ask, I'll give you some LED facts......you're right about one thing, if there's cooling fins incorporated in the circuit design then there s heat and heat is wasted energy that is not made into light......in other words, a very inefficient design. Now, here's the deal......there are two different types of LEDs incorporated into a circuit design. The first one is many individual LED bulbs grouped together that make up a cluster of LEDs all pointed in their proper direction to get a 360 degree light pattern as in an anchor light for instance......this is the way Stecktronics does it. The second design is based on what is called Luxeon LEDs......these LEDs are very bright and one luxeon LED covers a viewing angle of 120 degrees which means three Luxeon LEDs will cover 360 degrees and be bright enough for a two mile anchor light ......this is the way OGM, Orca Green Marine does it. So, OGM's way is certainly an easier design, it's rather easy to place 3 LEDs to form a light pattern then it is for Stecktronics to place 24 LEDs into a 360 degree pattern.......so why does Stecktronics do everything the hard way?..........Here's the reason, when you fire up those little miracle Luxeon bulbs, each with its own little heat sink, and you happen to touch one in action........your finger will move away real fast with no skin on it! All this takes you back to paragraph one......in other words, the efficiency...not so good. Below are listed the current draw specifications of four manufacturers of USCG certified anchor lights.....all are certified for 2 nautical miles visibility and for vessels up to 65' 6" (20 meters) Stecktronics: 24 LED bulbs, current draw 100 ma (0.1 amps.)....Have not found anyone to beat this!!! OGM: Luxeon technology, current draw 200 ma (0.2 amps.) AquaSignal: Luxeon technology, current draw I can't find. They simply say less then incandescent...lets hope? Perko: Not sure what's in their sealed unit but the current draw is poor, 275 ma (0.275 amps.) -------Original Message------- From: [email protected] Date: 2/27/2009 6:59:56 PM .org Message: 1 Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:22:20 -0800 From: ken <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] Anchor light To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Why waste the power if you don't need too? OGM is almost certainly superior in efficiency and in surge protection, undoubtedly it will last longer. You DO get what you pay for. Do you LIKE climbing the mast? -Ken ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:51:51 -0800 From: Stuart Reynolds <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] Anchor light To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Wow! They're *much* cheaper than the one I installed (I put on a Lopolight -- if I were redoing it, I'd definitely consider the Signalmate). Current draw and the required cable gauge are the only things that would make me go for 2 rather than 3nm. TBH though, the draw on most LEDs is so low, that I wouldn't worry about the battery drain. Voltage drop may be an issue - *some* LEDs fail to work it they don't get the required voltage -- unlike tungsten and halogen lights which gradually dim. I suspect that even small gauge will work -- in my installation after some concerns about the roundtrip wiring distance from the battery to the top of the mast (on my N41
its something ridiculous -- wayl over 100 ft), I remember the deciding factor being the mechanical strength of the cable rather than its electrical properties. Do you already have cable installed? This link: http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/05.htm should let you work out what cable you need. Also, if you mount it on the top of the mast -- be sure there's enough clearance that its visible close by -- I had to make a riser for mine. - Stu On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 9:06 AM, Bob Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > I know there was a discussion about LED lights recently and OGM was a well > regarded unit. I was looking at the anchor light unit at www.signalmate.com > and it looks like a well built small unit. Both 2 and 3 nm USCG approved > units are available for about the same money as the OGM. Why not put the > brighter 3 nm unit on for about the same money? Has anyone used this brand? > > Bob > PDQ 36 > Peace > _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
