125W Light Bulb found on Port Nav Light

[Phoenician]

On a recent passage, my port navigation light gave out. Attempting to replace the bulb at the next port, I found out that it was a Bay 15D 12V- 125 W (One Hundred Twenty Five Watt) light bulb ("Made in Germany") and I was met with bafflement as I shopped around for something like it at the local shipchandlers.

On the internet the only replacement bulbs I could find with these specs are for small aircraft navigation lights (these are also BAY15D sizes and come in 12V, 125W), so I guess it must not be totally abnormal to use such wattage for nav lights, even though it draws something like 10 Amps at 12 V, must be a lot even for small planes?

Since most marine navigation bulb are rated either at 10W or 25W, I wonder what am I missing? What could be the rationale for using such power hungry light on a sailboat in the first place? (unless the previous owner was a pilot with a stack of spare light bulbs for his/her cessna)

Needless to say, I hesitate to replace with another 125W bulb...

Anyone can shed some "light" on this?

Many thx

[scoobert]

does it LOOK like this?


because i am betting it is this:
http://www.lamps-on-line.com/navigat...cd-bay15d.html

[Phoenician]

It looks more like the 2nd one (the first one is the aircraft, correct?), but its filament is somewhat more "intricate" than the one you have pictured. (for eg, it also has something that looks like a coil inside)

[noelex 77]

It will be 25w

[goboatingnow]

Bay15D is a very common European car lamp size used in brake and tail lights

The 125w I suspect is actually 12, 5 W ie 12.5W

Dave

[noelex 77]

For a 54 foot boat 25w is needed.

[Phoenician]

You all got me convinced. (and I learned a lot about nav lights in the process!)

Thanks for the posts

J

[S/V Alchemy]

If it's akin to the Aquasignal 40s I have on the side of my pilothouse, it's a 12 V 25 W. One hundred and twenty five watts could be seen from space, and would heat up the typical 18 or 16 ga. wire runs that feed them.

Hence the bafflement, I suspect.

[Cheechako]

I've never heard of a 125 watt 12volt bulb.....? that would be drawing 10 amps!!!

[savoir]

They would see you coming alright.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by savoir

They would see you coming alright.

Sure would. See you quite well by the flames coming from the fixture.

[WaterJunkie]

The previous owner probably replaced a burned out bulb with something in his junk draw. Bite the bullet. Replace the lights with LEDs

[savoir]

125W led = priceless

[pbiJim]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I've never heard of a 125 watt 12volt bulb.....? that would be drawing 10 amps!!!

High power off-road automotive headlight