Mess Deck: General Section > Beginners start here...!
MOWE 2 Navigation lights
supaboat:
Hello everyone. Could somebody be kind enough to show me where and what navigation lights I need for this small fishing boat. I know I need a GREEN light on the RHS and a RED light on the LHS.(Looking from the back of the boat)
My next question is are these 5MM LEDS usually wired in SERIES or Parallel? I know one can buy them made up but I would prefer to make my own up. Thanks everyone.......Cheers
CGAux26:
Here are the official NavRules, as published by the US Coast Guard. While the Inland Rules apply only in the US, the International Rules apply everywhere to vessels built after the 1970's or so.
Fishing vessels are covered starting with Rule 26, page 80.
I can't help you with your LED question.
tsenecal:
as to how to wire up LEDs for your navigation lights:
2mm, 3mm or 5mm will work, look for an "MCD" rating of 4000 or so, a rating of 8000+ are considered "ultra-bright" and not necessary for model boats.
ANY led should be wired single with a resistor. DO NOT run in series to drop the voltage. both voltage and load have to be restricted or you risk ruining the LED. use an online calculator to figure out what size/rating resistor to solder in line to reduce the load to the LED.
the resistor calculator i use...
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tools/led-resistor-calculator/
Skimmer Fan:
The link below should help with Nav Lights.
http://www.bosunsmate.org/seamanship/lights.php
The wiring of LED's is covered on the Component Shop web site. I always wire mine singly.
https://www.componentshop.co.uk/led-exp/
JimG:
--- Quote from: tsenecal on October 05, 2018, 06:31:48 pm ---as to how to wire up LEDs for your navigation lights:
ANY led should be wired single with a resistor. DO NOT run in series to drop the voltage. both voltage and load have to be restricted or you risk ruining the LED. use an online calculator to figure out what size/rating resistor to solder in line to reduce the load to the LED.
--- End quote ---
It is perfectly OK to wire LEDs in series to give the correct voltage at each. This is done commercially, if you buy a 12V LED light strip it is made up of sections of 3 LEDs in series with one resistor per set. For small rectangular LEDs I have used a 12V circular unit consisting of 3 parallel sets of 4 LEDs in series, not a resistor to be seen. Once the metal backed circuit board is cut up into sections it is easier to solder to than individual LEDs, the individual units were wired in parallel to run off of a 2 cell NiMh pack(2.4V), all working OK.
Jim
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version