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Old 26-10-2016, 11:24   #1
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Cowling mounted nav light?

Hello. i own a yamaha 8hp f8mxh outboard on my coastal dingy. Would it be possible to tap into the power generated by the engine and mount a foot tall Nav light that usually gets wired to a 12v battery onto the top cowling of the engine? I know there may be problems with the power, but it wont be big like just a small LED.
Ps I know they make battery powered ones. I've already lost two of them over the stern.
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Old 26-10-2016, 12:21   #2
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Re: Cowling mounted nav light?

Some engines have a charging coil, if so I think you may be able to tap into that, but may need a battery to absorb voltage surges.
Simplest is battery power
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Old 26-10-2016, 12:27   #3
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Re: Cowling mounted nav light?

Yes. This is at times done. We had one on our ex job maxi. Right on top of the outboard.

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Old 26-10-2016, 12:34   #4
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Re: Cowling mounted nav light?

I am pretty sure the Yamaha has no generator/alternator but only uses a magneto/cdi ignition. As such there is no way to connect a 12v DC lamp to it.

Even should you manage to mount a 12v nav light, how would this be less likely to be lost overboard than a battery unit? They do make very nice securely mounted nav lights intended to be mounted on the outboard cowling.
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Old 26-10-2016, 13:51   #5
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Re: Cowling mounted nav light?

Back in the day engines often had two coils under the flywheel, one made power for ignition, the other basically trickle charged the battery, not regulator or anything. I think maybe some engines still may? Usually electric start ones anyway?
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Old 26-10-2016, 13:52   #6
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Cowling mounted nav light?

Battery powered one I have mounts with rare earth magnets and Is unlikely to fall off, and if it does, it floats.
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Old 26-10-2016, 14:34   #7
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Re: Cowling mounted nav light?

Quote:
Originally Posted by a64pilot View Post
Battery powered one I have mounts with rare earth magnets and Is unlikely to fall off, and if it does, it floats.
My dinghy o/b cowl is made from FRP, so my neat little battery powered tri-color does not stick so well with magnets. What do you stick yours to?

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Old 26-10-2016, 16:32   #8
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Re: Cowling mounted nav light?

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Originally Posted by Jim Cate View Post
My dinghy o/b cowl is made from FRP, so my neat little battery powered tri-color does not stick so well with magnets. What do you stick yours to?



Jim

There are four rare earth magnets that are in a thin plastic plate, I'd guess 2 mm thick, this mounts to anything you want it to with a small phillips screw in the middle of it, then the light itself has four rare earth magnets in it, and when you get it close to that plate also with four magnets, it holds fast.
It's this light, and made I think from down under somewhere
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp...556&id=2689311
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Old 26-10-2016, 16:35   #9
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Cowling mounted nav light?

That one I linked to may not have the magnet base mount

This one does, sorry
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp...556&id=2217408
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