Upside Down Light - comes on when inverted

[DavefromNZ]

I searched the internet and could not find a light that would switch on should my catamaran become inverted - not that that can ever happen :-) So I made a light with a ball switch to turn on if inverted. Please see youtube video. Is anyone interested if I make more of these? Dave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1NccwW1r78

[Lodesman]

There are several battery-powered man-overboard markers that turn on when turned upright; buoyant, but weighted on the bottom; they're stored on a rack inverted: eg: ACR Crew Overboard Marker Strobe

[DavefromNZ]

Certainly but I am not so sure how unobtrusive they would look in my cabin?

[wingless]

Very clever!

[guyrj33]

in normal use is the light mounted on the floor or the ceiling?
Can you make it waterproof? If you're upside down there will probably be some water in the cabin.

[knockabout]

waterproof torch attached to your clothing / when it is too dark to see anything you automatically turn it on / works anyway up

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by DavefromNZ

I searched the internet and could not find a light that would switch on should my catamaran become inverted - not that that can ever happen :-) So I made a light with a ball switch to turn on if inverted. Please see youtube video. Is anyone interested if I make more of these? Dave

I'm not familiar with ball switch. I would guess a mercury switch would do the job.

[jmschmidt]

You only rotated it 90 degrees, wouldn't a complete flip in your cat be a 180 degree event?

[DavefromNZ]

The light has a sticky back so I intend to stick it low down but by the break out window. It was cheap to modify the light with a ball switch soldered in so can't water proof. But in the instant when inverted it will be dry for a while and this buys time to get your bearings and a torch. I have no intention of sleeping with a torch strapped to me.

The ball tilt switch is tiny, 10mm long, with a ball that slides to make a contact. Mercury is dangerous.

Yes I do rotate it 180 deg in the video.

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by DavefromNZ

I searched the internet and could not find a light that would switch on should my catamaran become inverted - not that that can ever happen :-) So I made a light with a ball switch to turn on if inverted. Please see youtube video. Is anyone interested if I make more of these? Dave

David--

Your realize, I'm sure that having been made in NZ, should you travel very far north of the Equator you will be, from an NZ perspective, upside down and the darned lights may never go off, eh?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by DavefromNZ

The light has a sticky back so I intend to stick it low down but by the break out window. It was cheap to modify the light with a ball switch soldered in so can't water proof. But in the instant when inverted it will be dry for a while and this buys time to get your bearings and a torch. I have no intention of sleeping with a torch strapped to me.

The ball tilt switch is tiny, 10mm long, with a ball that slides to make a contact. Mercury is dangerous.

Yes I do rotate it 180 deg in the video.

I seriously doubt the amount of Mercury in a switch is dangerous. it is totally contained it the glass.

[44'cruisingcat]

As I've learned here, Cats flip so often the batteries would go flat in a week.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

As I've learned here, Cats flip so often the batteries would go flat in a week.

Nah, they only flip once but yes, the batteries will be flat in a week.

[44'cruisingcat]

Only once? That can't be right. There are so many posts about cats flipping, they must do it constantly.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Only once? That can't be right. There are so many posts about cats flipping, they must do it constantly.

to your greater knowledge and experience re cats.