|
|
24-05-2018, 05:52
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ontario Canada
Boat: 1985 Canadian Sailcraft CS30
Posts: 502
|
Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Considering installing a photo sensor that automatically turns on the anchor light at night and off again when the sun comes up. Decision is what sensor and where to install it. Anybody have any experience with this?
|
|
|
24-05-2018, 07:20
|
#2
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 14,678
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Some solar regulators will do this.
If you install a seperate dedicated automatic day night switch check the power consumption. LED anchor lights do not consume much. The power consumption of some day/night switches can be a significant. So you need one of the low consumption switches to make the exersise worthwhile.
Leaving the anchor light on 24 hours can be an option.
|
|
|
24-05-2018, 07:46
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area (Boat Sold)
Boat: Former owner of a Valiant V40
Posts: 1,141
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
There are LED bulbs with built-in photocells available. Does exactly what you want without additional wiring.
|
|
|
24-05-2018, 09:23
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,479
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamhass
There are LED bulbs with built-in photocells available. Does exactly what you want without additional wiring.
|
This^. Installed in my anchor and tricolor at start of this season. Awesome.
|
|
|
24-05-2018, 09:28
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Boat: Luders 33 - hull 23
Posts: 1,787
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
|
|
|
24-05-2018, 10:02
|
#7
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ontario Canada
Boat: 1985 Canadian Sailcraft CS30
Posts: 502
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Quote:
Originally Posted by conachair
|
This is great....thanks
|
|
|
24-05-2018, 14:29
|
#8
|
Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,135
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Bedazzled (UK LED vendor) has tower type lights with auto switching built in. We've used one for some years now, and it is bright and low power draw, switches off and on reliably. Excellent product, as are all the other ones we've bought from them.
It was Dockhead who directed our attention to the firm... thanks, DH!
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
|
|
|
24-05-2018, 16:03
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: puɐןsuǝǝnb 'ʎɐʞɔɐɯ
Boat: Nantucket Island 33
Posts: 4,864
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
I've had the bulb with the sensor. Worked well. I't (obviously) has some electronics with it so check the height fits the housing and I'd also recommend dipping the bulb (except for the contacts, of course) in some clear polyurethane to seal all the circuitry from the elements.
Nowadays, I just use the "load" output from my solar panel MPPT controller with it configured to come on from dusk 'till dawn.
|
|
|
25-05-2018, 07:58
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Boat: Casacde 36
Posts: 596
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Davis have one that is an LED anchor light with a built in sensor. I leave the light switched on whenever I'm at anchor; then I can find the darned boat, when returning late in the evening.
|
|
|
25-05-2018, 08:22
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Ranieri/Bari, S. Italy
Boat: Jeanneau 43ds
Posts: 638
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
I agree w JammHasss and Jim. Forget messing around with a separate light sensor. Just change the bulb for an LED with sensor built in. Same fitting as your old bulb. I did it and it is so convenient and consumes so much less bec only comes on when dark (you might have left the boat already a few hrs beforehand to go to a restaurant) and then in the morning will switch OFF when it becomes light enough (while everybody else is still snoring away). This is a no-brainer.
__________________
|
|
|
25-05-2018, 09:41
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: www.mvmojo.com
Boat: Robt Beebe Passagemaker 49-10 in steel
Posts: 424
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Been using one for 20 years! First was home built similar to the schematic posted. When it finally failed, I found one on Amazon. Just type in 12v photoelectric switch. Here's one similar to what I'm using now. $4.50. You can't buy the parts to make one for that!
https://www.amazon.com/Solu-Photosen...lectric+switch
|
|
|
25-05-2018, 09:54
|
#13
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 15
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
C'mon guys and girls, consider the effect of light pollution. Yes its very real and extremely damaging to all nocturnal ecosystems ..... minimise your footprint on this earth.
|
|
|
25-05-2018, 10:14
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Atlanta, GA
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 651
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Unless you are planning to live on the hook, why would you want/need such a thing? Unless you are on a very small vessel, the anchor light is ONLY for when you boat is at anchor. It is NOT a steaming light, it is not to illuminate your wind vane, nor is it 'to make you more visible'. If you want a light to show you are a sailboat, get a red over green light or a masthead tri-color.
|
|
|
25-05-2018, 10:26
|
#15
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SC
Boat: None,build the one shown of glass, had many from 6' to 48'.
Posts: 10,208
|
Re: Photo Sensor for Anchor Light
Quote:
Originally Posted by 01kiwijohn
Davis have one that is an LED anchor light with a built in sensor. I leave the light switched on whenever I'm at anchor; then I can find the darned boat, when returning late in the evening.
|
Probably works well depending on how many lights one sees late in the evening.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|