Huge range of LEDs at Marineconnect
by Media Services on 17 Oct 2007
Marineconnect’s LED Crown Masthead or Stern Light bulb for vessels up to 20m: manufactured exclusively to Marineconnect’s design Marine Connect
www.marineconnect.com.au
With the summer sailing season fast approaching it’s time to shake off winter apathy and dive into boat maintenance and repairs. If you haven’t already done so it is the ideal time to consider swapping over to LED navigation lights. With many LEDs having an estimated shelf life of 100,000 hours, compared to approximately 1000-3000 hours for incandescent bulbs, it’s one job that you won’t be likely to be doing again next season.
The specialist marine electronic and electrical shop Marineconnect has a huge range of LEDs available as well as the technical expertise to help you with any installation queries.
Marineconnect is located on the ground floor of the Botany Bay Yacht Club’s premises on the eastern shore of Kogarah Bay. Their showroom and electronics workshop is just next door to the club’s shipyard, slipways and berthing facilities.
Since opening in 2003 the shop has specialised in electronic and electrical components and systems for boats and has a wide range of stock including the latest solar panels, LEDs, set top boxes and boat alarms.
Marineconnnect were some of the first people to stock LEDs (light emitting diodes) when they became commercially available in Australia in about 1998. At the time only single bulbs were available not the clusters of multiple bulbs that are now widespread.
Marineconnect’s Dianne Gray described the latest additions to their LED range.
Firstly there is a LED bulb for a masthead or stern light. It’s incredibly bright white light is suitable for vessels up to 20 metres and the good news is that it draws only 180 milliamps. The voltage range is 9-40VDC (volts of continuous current) which means that it is suitable for both 12VDC and 24VDC electrical systems. Even better news is the price: $85 for a lifespan of 100,000 hours continuous use.
The butterfly bi-colour LED bulb has 64 high powered LEDs with a vivid red and green light. Again it is suitable for both 12VDC and 24VDC electrical systems, has 100,000 hours of continuous use and draws only 160 milliamps at a price of just $69.00.
There’s even a light weight three LED white cap head light, a nifty device that clips onto the front brim of your baseball cap or hat. It’s perfect for fishing at night or general lighting when you need hands free.
LEDs are being used in an ever expanding range of marine applications because of their cool-operating temperatures, high resistance to vibration and efficiency.
These features: resistance to vibration, efficiency, long life and stable temperature also make LEDs ideal for use as navigation lights. Fast moving planing hulls will appreciate their toughness and the bow lights on any vessel need to be strong enough to withstand a rough ride home. Replacing navigation lights is a job that no-one likes doing, especially when it involves changing a yacht’s masthead light, so the long operating life means they’re a good and safe choice.
Another positive feature of LED navigation lights is that they rarely suddenly fail. You’ll know when it’s time to replace an LED because over a relatively long period of time it will start to dim. Obviously dim navigation lights are far from ideal, but it’s a lot better than no navigation lights at all, which can be the situation when an incandescent bulb blows.
The other point of difference between LED navigation lights and incandescents is that LED’s throw out red or green coloured light even without their lenses, whereas incandescents will glow white if the coloured lense is removed or damaged. The loss of a lense is clearly a dangerous situation particularly if travelling at night in poor visibility: showing a white light rather than red or green is likely to confuse nearby vessels and create a potentially dangerous situation.
Many boaties are discovering the power advantage of replacing interior and cabin lights with LEDs: they use 80-90% less power than incandescents and produce the same amount of light. This is particularly advantageous for small boats with limited capacity to generate power, but even on larger vessels minimisation of power usage is still a valued asset.
Small LEDs can be powered with just AA or AAA batteries which mean that they can be effectively used in secondary or non essential applications. You can use Velcro or tape to attach them where you need them. Some people attach battery operated LEDs inside lockers or compartments; it’s a simple way of locating objects at night and the lack of wiring makes them extremely easy to install.
Finally LEDs make great underwater lights, especially for bait tanks and through hull lights. The fishing fraternity appreciates the value of the tiny 0.05A draw of some bait tank lights. Likewise boaties with power hungry halogen bulb underwater lights understand the benefits of replacing them with a LED alternative.
If all this still hasn’t convinced you, pop in and see Dianne and the team at Marineconnect; their slogan ‘where advice is free and nothing is impossible!’ really says it all.
Contact details:
Address: 44 Endeavour Street, Sans Souci, NSW. 2219
Postal address: PO Box 115, Sans Souci 2219
Phone: (02) 95831710
Fax: (02) 95831659
email: sales@marineconnect.com.au
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