LED anchor light?

[MikeP]

I found some old threads re this but from what I saw, the LED lights available were up to 32V. But is that nominal voltage at 32, which is OK or does that mean the maximum voltage is 32, which is not enough since the 32v system can be 37+ during charge or even higher during an EQ charge - though there is not much chance that anyone would be doing an EQ charge while running/anchoring at night...

My anchor light burned out yesterday and I there is no way I can reach it on my mast without a long ladder, which I don't carry aboard. So although I have regular replacement bulbs, I got to thinking that an LED anchor light that would last longer than we will own the boat might be a good idea.

So has anyone actually replaced the 32v anchor light with a 32v LED light. If so, what brand bulb.

 

[bigbill]

mike, the ones that i bought go up to 30v. i accidentally put 32v to one of them and it lasted a millisecond the quit working. you might call one of the companies that sell them and see if they make a version that can handle 32v. bigbill

 

[Colwyn D]

I don't know of a 32v led light but wouldn't it be quite simple to make a DC voltage regulator to take the small current required to a lower voltage. It would be a 1" x 2" pcb that could go right after the anchor light switch.
I have fitted a 12-20v version of the NASA led light after two expeditions onto the half tower to replace bulbs lately. Very pleased with the result, much brighter and with 32 leds not much chance of a single failure getting you run down by a rusty shrimper at 0430!

 

[rtrafford]

Likely you'll need to plumb in a voltage regulator...perhaps 32 to 24...not expensive, only the light is.

 

[MikeP]

Well - seems like more trouble than it's worth. I found this morning that I can replace the bulb fairly easily with the mast down (its normal state in the covered slip) if I'm careful. If I stand on the very back part of the flybridge, behind our dink and hold onto the mast itself, I can lean back out over "nothing" and reach the globe/bulb socket. Sounds scarier than it is.

Or maybe not.

I realize now that I could also do it when anchored since it only takes about a minute to lower or raise the mast. But hanging back there if there's any boat movement is a bit less "secure."