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22-11-2017, 10:12
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 46
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Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
Hi all -
I currently have an Orca Green Marine (OGM) LED tricolor that emits enough RF to negatively impact both VFH and AIS reception. This is obviously an issue because both the tricolor and VFH /AIS are needed at the same time. I have a whip style VHF/AIS antenna that's mounted about 4" away from the tricolor.
Orca Green Marine has not been helpful. The owner and I had a 30 minute discussion and then she asked me to send pictures of the light to see if it was an older version prone to RF. After sending the pictures, she is unreachable. I've been calling a few times a week for the past month.
Can anyone recommend an LED tricolor / anchor light that has little RF emission?
Thanks!
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22-11-2017, 10:51
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#2
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Cruising the northern Bahamas until June
Boat: Leopard 40 2009
Posts: 587
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
I'm not an electronics expert, but here's some educated guesses to start you thinking. First, it's probably the actual LED, not the simple fixture that's causing the interference. You may be able to get a better quality LED bulb for $15 to solve this without re-wiring & re-mounting an entire fixture at the masthead. Dr. LED and MarineBeam are both US retailers of good quality LED that purport to be insulated for RF interference. I've used MarineBeam LEDs and never experienced RF from my masthead light. I also recently installed the combination anchor / tri-light from MarineBeam that uses a single wire and a switching pattern to switch from Anchor to Tri, and am very satisfied.
__________________
John Trusty
Better to trust the man who is frequently in error than the one who is never in doubt." -- Eric Sevareid
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22-11-2017, 21:59
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,663
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
Check out marinebeam. I've measured the RF interference (RFI / EMI) from the marinebeam bi-color light that I mounted on my bow, and it is extremely quiet. On their website they discuss EMI and the steps they have taken to reduce it to a minimum, and from what I've seen they do an excellent job of it.
__________________
Paul Elliott, S/V VALIS - Pacific Seacraft 44 #16 - Friday Harbor, WA
www.sailvalis.com
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22-11-2017, 23:58
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#4
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cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Probably in an anchorage or a boatyard..
Boat: Ebbtide 33' steel cutter
Posts: 5,030
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
You can see what's really going on for the cost of a beer...
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/spektrum-new...yzer-software/
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23-11-2017, 01:33
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: 2023 - Colombia
Boat: Amazon 49 cutter, custom steel boat built in Surrey, Canada
Posts: 841
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
We have been very happy with our Stecktronics tricolor/anchor/strobe combination. We have no apparent RF interference with our VHF or AIS that I have noticed.
I especially like the fact that it requires only one pair of wires. I believe we installed it in 2013.
Innovative LED Lighting Products
Cheers!
Steve
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23-11-2017, 03:33
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#6
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northern Caribbean
Boat: Cheoy Lee, 44 Cutter. Dolce Far Niente
Posts: 564
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
Try LOPOLIGHT probably the best product out there.
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23-11-2017, 08:32
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 76
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
Quote:
Originally Posted by rourkeh
Try LOPOLIGHT probably the best product out there.
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Sorry to contradict but there are several witnesses on the net about interference. For example by Attainable Adventure Cruising ( https://www.morganscloud.com/). But perhaps they are better now.
The Aquasignal 32 or 34 are much cheaper, don't have RFI and were tested as best by Practical Boat Owner (UK)(october 2009).
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23-11-2017, 11:59
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Summer Europe Winter Florida
Boat: Dufour Nautitech435/FP Venezia42/Baltec Visiona 40/Catalac 10m used as a river cruiser
Posts: 182
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
I had the same probleme with RF from Anchorlight and Tricolor when using Multivoltage LEDs (10-30V) as I was afraid of Voltage changes maybe by charging the batteries. When I changed back to the cheaper 12V LEDs no more RF.
I have to say that my AIS Antenna was at about 14 feet above waterline, the VHF antenna on top of the mast about 70 feet above waterline.
Good luck James
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23-11-2017, 12:17
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West Sussex, United Kingdom
Boat: Tradewind 33, 33 foot, Parker 27 , 26 foot
Posts: 496
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
I had a lopolight combined tricolour/anchor light on my previous boat, and now have a NASA Marine combined light on my present vessel. I never had any issues with RF interference on either boat, but noting that some people have had issues particularly with the Lopolight, I wonder if it might be a problem with the installation (cable runs etc) rather than the lights themselves, or possibly particular brands of radio may be more susceptible than others? Any electronics/radio techs got any ideas?
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23-11-2017, 12:18
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: French Polynesia
Boat: Allied 39
Posts: 886
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Elliott
Check out marinebeam. I've measured the RF interference (RFI / EMI) from the marinebeam bi-color light that I mounted on my bow, and it is extremely quiet. On their website they discuss EMI and the steps they have taken to reduce it to a minimum, and from what I've seen they do an excellent job of it.
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Paul is correct
We have a marinebeam masthead tri color and have notice ZERO RF from it. We have had it on about 4 years of mostly full time cruising.
I contacted MarineBeam before purchasing with the same question and was assured that they have tested it for RF and it was without RF interference on either VHF or HF
Good luck in your choice
Chuck
Jacaranda
lying Mo’orea
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23-11-2017, 19:21
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
I have an aqua signal LED tricolor and have noticed no RFI from it on the Hf Radio. My Icom 802 is the most susceptible thing I have in my boat.
My boat is full of Marine Beam interior lights, bow and stern running lights and steaming and deck light, and I have noticed no RFI from any of them.
The biggest two emitters of RFI on my boat are the Satellite TV antenna or maybe receiver and the Adler Barbour fridge compressor, both emit something that sounds a lot like Morse code.
I wonder what it is the fridge is trying to tell me cause that bugger is noisy
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23-11-2017, 20:41
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,663
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
Another manufacturer you might consider is "Optolamp". I've got their "Amazonia" tricolor ( http://www.optolamp.com.br/english/i...in-1-2013.html), and it puts out zero interference. It uses a linear (non-switching) regulator which is noise-free. I don't know for sure if their other nav-lights have similar regulator designs though.
__________________
Paul Elliott, S/V VALIS - Pacific Seacraft 44 #16 - Friday Harbor, WA
www.sailvalis.com
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24-11-2017, 11:49
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#14
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,033
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
^^ This.
you can buy them here: LED Navigation Lights by Optolamp Boating Gear fit for the King
They are superb.
I tried a whole bunch of masthead lights before settling on these. Well made and no RF.
BTW, the lopo's actually suck. Poor quality (I had multiple fail) and had RF noise.
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24-11-2017, 12:06
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,521
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Re: Recommend a low RF LED Tricolor
I have a marinebeam anchor light at the top of the mast. No change in AIS or VHF when it's on.
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