Reflectors in nav lights?

Nos4r2 · 06 June 2011, 16:56

I'm just messing around with my nav lights trying to work out if LED conversion is practical and I noticed that my port and starboard lights are black inside rather than reflective-but my steaming and stern lights have reflectors of sorts.

Is there a specific reason I can't use a lower brightness LED bulb combined with a reflective surface as long as I don't exceed the prescribed visibility angles for each light?

ashbypower · 06 June 2011, 17:24

Hi Matt cannot see a reason why not. However I have heard of problems with LED style Bulbs being used in Conventional Nav lights, where the colour has been off, due to the wavelength of the white light emmited by LEDs.
Just something to be aware of.

Nos4r2 · 06 June 2011, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Hi Matt cannot see a reason why not. However I have heard of problems with LED style Bulbs being used in Conventional Nav lights, where the colour has been off, due to the wavelength of the white light emmited by LEDs.
Just something to be aware of.

Thanks Brian.

I've already found out about the wavelength problems-I put white LED bulbs in the back of my car and had to change them to red. I'm using the right colour bulbs in the nav lights.

ashbypower · 06 June 2011, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Thanks Brian.

I've already found out about the wavelength problems-I put white LED bulbs in the back of my car and had to change them to red. I'm using the right colour bulbs in the nav lights.

JABS · 06 June 2011, 18:52

If you look around, you should be able to find warm white LED bulbs which are much closer to incandescent lamps.

I wonder if the issue will be that the replacements are not made for the sort of vibration seen on a RIB. Could lead to breaks in the PCB tracks and the like.

It is something I would like to do when the LED market settles down.

Let us know how it works out.

Nos4r2 · 06 June 2011, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABS

If you look around, you should be able to find warm white LED bulbs which are much closer to incandescent lamps.

It still doesn't work- it's down to the wavelengths of light emitted by LEDs. White LEDs emit very little red or green spectrum light and coloured lenses block all bar that light spectrum.

I've got quite a selection of different colour automotive LEDs here,having converted all the bulbs in my car bar the headlights and indicators to LEDs and it's the same for all colours.

A quick demo for you-all taken through my Port nav light lense with different colour LEDs:-

1) Red LEDs
2)White LEDs
3)Green LEDs

Channel Ribs · 07 June 2011, 10:53

Great set of pics, thanks for that.

jwalker · 07 June 2011, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

...Is there a specific reason I can't use a lower brightness LED bulb combined with a reflective surface as long as I don't exceed the prescribed visibility angles for each light?

No, I don't think there is but it's difficult not to exceed the viewing angles and retain the correct brightness through all angles because of the scattered nature of reflected light and it's the reason nav light bulbs use vertical filaments. One plus of leds is that, as you are doing using the correct colour, almost all the light that is emitted is seen whereas a filament bulb, though it's power seems fine, only has the red portion of its light transmitted and the rest is wasted. I've given up on my led lights, poor viewing angles and led failures, and installed proper nav lights with 25watt lamps, so far so good and good range too.