Navigation lights - LED's

[Dutch Peter]

Want to put LED's in my navigation lights:

- Do LEDs supply enough light for navigation lights (how many candles?).
- What's the average power consumption of LEDs.

Can anyone help?

[60minmacd]

White LCDs' output ~3000mcd. Is that enough? You can cluster these babies behind a colored lens and get enough output for navigation purposes. Or you can get red @ 6000mcd and green @ 3000 mcd. Try allelectronics.com

[Corpus Skipper]

There was recently an article about this in PBB. Check out Perko and other's web sites, they've got 'em. 18 wheelers are using them now in droves, and they look very good, nice and bright.

[propnut]

There are some manufacturers producing LED navigation lights that meet COLREGs, USCG and ABYC standards. The last meeting for ISO standards shelved any changes for navigation lights. Proposed changes from the US delegates would have eventually allowed their use worldwide. European nav light manufacturers were vehemently opposed. Some of those manufacturers are now selling LED lights in the US, but US manufacturers are selling few if any lights in Europe, LED or other. But there's no protectionism or restraint of trade involved,,,,right!

[taniwha]

Check also www.orcagreen.com But note that the lights come without fitting and you need "american" thread on the screws. Kind of protectionism you know? Later they'll blame us for not accepting their lights !
Europe lover

FWIW, I don't think there's protectionism going on here .. AFAICS, even the Euro-manufactured lights are not selling much in Europe either. All those that I've seen so far quote the US approvals but say EU approval is not yet obtained. I think having unapproved light would leave one open to legal action, or at least cause insurance difficulties in the even of a night-time collision.

[D'ARTOIS]

A popular issue right now, although Peter, the hot item is that they are not yet recognised by the SI and therefore their use is illegal, although nobody would lift a finger against the use of LED Navlights unless you arrive in an accident at night. Then indeed you might have a problem.
Ask ASA boot electro, they will definately have the answer on this. Keep in mind that there are differences between the BAR and ZAR applications. In the ASA boot-electro catalogue the differences are precisely described.

[taniwha]

The European Recreational Craft Directive stipulates as follow:
[i]5.7 Navigation lights
Where navigation lights are fitted, they shall comply with the 1972 COLREG or CEVNI regulations, as appropriate.[/I]

Text of CEVNI:
The term “masthead light” means a strong white light projecting an uninterrupted beam throughout a horizontal arc of 225° and placed so as to project that beam from the bow to 22°30' abaft the beam on each side;
(b) The term “side lights” means a bright green light to starboard and a bright red light to port, each of these lights projecting an uninterrupted beam throughout a horizontal arc of 112°30' and placed so as to project that beam from the bow to 22°30' abaft the beam on its side;
(c) The term “stern light” means an ordinary or bright white light projecting an uninterrupted beam throughout a horizontal arc of 135° and placed so as to project this beam throughout an arc of
67°30' along each side from the stern;
(d) The term “light visible from all directions” means a light projecting an uninterrupted beam throughout a horizontal arc of 360°;
Colreg adds:
Rule 22

Visibility of Lights

The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in Section 8 of Annex I to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following minumum ranges

follow this site for exact specifications: http://members.aol.com/ocv807/annex1.html