On Sep 5, 2016, at 12:22 PM, joedoakes66@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

Since we bought our SM last year (Feb 2015) we've  replaced the anchor light bulb 5 times.  The boat was little used - fewer than 800 hours on engine and generator - and we've  had only the usual maintenance issues which makes this issue most perplexing.  We're trying to determine what could cause premature bulb failures.  I've suspected a bad batch of bulbs; a surge in the electrical when running the generator; or perhaps corroded fitting causing an on/off for the bulb thereby shortening their life. 

Has anyone had a similar experience?  Also it would wonderful to have a source for high quality bulbs.

Thanks

Ben and Gayle

La Bella Vita

SM 347

Port Louis, Grenada

 

Ben and Gayle,

  That is an odd problem.  It seems that if you were having a large voltage surge that it would affect other bulbs as well.  Could it be that you have a resonant vibration atop the spar when running the engine at a certain RPM’s and the vibration is causing the bulb to fail?  This is just a guess of course.

Best,

James

Sueno, Maramu #220

On Sep 5, 2016, at 12:22 PM, joedoakes66@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

Since we bought our SM last year (Feb 2015) we've  replaced the anchor light bulb 5 times.  The boat was little used - fewer than 800 hours on engine and generator - and we've  had only the usual maintenance issues which makes this issue most perplexing.  We're trying to determine what could cause premature bulb failures.  I've suspected a bad batch of bulbs; a surge in the electrical when running the generator; or perhaps corroded fitting causing an on/off for the bulb thereby shortening their life. 

Has anyone had a similar experience?  Also it would wonderful to have a source for high quality bulbs.

Thanks

Ben and Gayle

La Bella Vita

SM 347

Port Louis, Grenada

 

I don't see how you could have a voltage surge when running the generator that would affect the masthead lamps.

The generator produces 220VAC that powers the battery chargers which are connected to your big house bank of batteries. The generator has no other connection to the 24VDC system.

The chargers slowly raise the voltage of the batteries to the absorption voltage which is maintained for a while and then dropped slowly to a stabilised float voltage.

That bank of batteries has to be the biggest voltage stabiliser ever.

Unless there is something seriously wrong with your battery chargers, how can you get a voltage surge?

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437

 

No I don't think so....you can't get voltage surges with a big battery bank.

IF it could possibly happen you'd be having all sorts of issues with lamps and other 24VDC devices.

The ONLY way you MIGHT have an issue with this would be if you used the EQUALISE cycle on your battery charger while the masthead light was on. The EQUALISE cycle raises the voltage to around 32VDC for a while, but that is something you would rarely do, possibly only if you had flooded batteries that you suspected of being sulphated, and if you know about equalising batteries, you would also know to turn off anything on the DC circuit before starting to do it.

Its much more likely that you have bad connections, salt water ingress into the lamp holder.....

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437

 

I believe that the charging voltage is, 28.8 absorption and 32+ equalization, transmitted to the Masthead lights.

Kent

SM243

Kristy 

On Sep 7, 2016, at 4:14 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

No I don't think so....you can't get voltage surges with a big battery bank.

IF it could possibly happen you'd be having all sorts of issues with lamps and other 24VDC devices.

The ONLY way you MIGHT have an issue with this would be if you used the EQUALISE cycle on your battery charger while the masthead light was on. The EQUALISE cycle raises the voltage to around 32VDC for a while, but that is something you would rarely do, possibly only if you had flooded batteries that you suspected of being sulphated, and if you know about equalising batteries, you would also know to turn off anything on the DC circuit before starting to do it.

Its much more likely that you have bad connections, salt water ingress into the lamp holder.....

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437

On Sep 7, 2016, at 5:33 PM, Kent Robertson karkauai@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

I believe that the charging voltage is, 28.8 absorption and 32+ equalization, transmitted to the Masthead lights.

Kent

SM243

Kristy 

On Sep 7, 2016, at 4:14 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

No I don't think so....you can't get voltage surges with a big battery bank.

IF it could possibly happen you'd be having all sorts of issues with lamps and other 24VDC devices.

The ONLY way you MIGHT have an issue with this would be if you used the EQUALISE cycle on your battery charger while the masthead light was on. The EQUALISE cycle raises the voltage to around 32VDC for a while, but that is something you would rarely do, possibly only if you had flooded batteries that you suspected of being sulphated, and if you know about equalising batteries, you would also know to turn off anything on the DC circuit before starting to do it.

Its much more likely that you have bad connections, salt water ingress into the lamp holder.....

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437

 

Hello Ben,

Peregrinus never had a Hydra processor but its B&G Zeus2 is able to measure supply voltage.  

We have alarms set on the Zeus2 at 23V for low and at 30V for high; the only problem is that the Zeuses must be on for this to work.

A half-workaround is to have the Furuno RD-30 that came with the boats of our generation permanently display the voltage; the voltage measurement is native to the Furuno, so nothing else has to be on. I have set mine to display voltage, depth, and windspeed, and I like its big, easy to read numbers over the Mastervolt display, which is somewhat dim.

Cheerio,

SM2K No. 350 (2002)

At anchor, Sant'Angelo – Ischia

---In amelyachtowners@..., wrote :

As you may know the B&G Hydro 2000 can measure voltage.  And my 2000 inputs into Zeus II which has alarms set to 23 and 29 volts.  I often trip low voltage alarm when using the bow thruster.  However, on two occasions I tripped high voltage - 29 volts - momentarily. The generator was running and charger operating.  Perhaps this occasional higher voltage can shorten bulb life?  But so far only one bulb - the anchor light - is short-lived.  It makes me think it must be the fixture.  

Ben Driver

La Bella Vita

SM #347

On Sep 7, 2016, at 5:33 PM, Kent Robertson karkauai@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

I believe that the charging voltage is, 28.8 absorption and 32+ equalization, transmitted to the Masthead lights.

Kent

SM243

Kristy 

On Sep 7, 2016, at 4:14 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

No I don't think so....you can't get voltage surges with a big battery bank.

IF it could possibly happen you'd be having all sorts of issues with lamps and other 24VDC devices.

The ONLY way you MIGHT have an issue with this would be if you used the EQUALISE cycle on your battery charger while the masthead light was on. The EQUALISE cycle raises the voltage to around 32VDC for a while, but that is something you would rarely do, possibly only if you had flooded batteries that you suspected of being sulphated, and if you know about equalising batteries, you would also know to turn off anything on the DC circuit before starting to do it.

Its much more likely that you have bad connections, salt water ingress into the lamp holder.....

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437

 

Ben,

He is referring to a Furuno RD30 multi-functional display. Some Furuno GPS units, like the GP30, GP31, GP32, GP33 and GP36 display voltage. BTW, I mounted a GP30 in the aft berth so that when underway and Judy at the helm, I can open one eye and see course, speed and voltage. Also, it is great to have there to use as an anchor alarm.

I bought it used on ebay for about $125.

Bill

BeBe 387

On Thu, Sep 8, 2016 at 10:32 AM, Ben Driver/YAHOO joedoakes66@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

Excellent solution.   I did not know our radars displayed voltage.  It seems your radar is networked into wind instruments via 0183 bus.  I don't believe mine is but still should display voltage.  Is it difficult to navigate to voltage setting?  

Ben Driver

La Bella Vita

SM #347

On Sep 8, 2016, at 8:15 AM, svperegrinus@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hello Ben,

Peregrinus never had a Hydra processor but its B&G Zeus2 is able to measure supply voltage.  

We have alarms set on the Zeus2 at 23V for low and at 30V for high; the only problem is that the Zeuses must be on for this to work.

A half-workaround is to have the Furuno RD-30 that came with the boats of our generation permanently display the voltage; the voltage measurement is native to the Furuno, so nothing else has to be on. I have set mine to display voltage, depth, and windspeed, and I like its big, easy to read numbers over the Mastervolt display, which is somewhat dim.

Cheerio,

SM2K No. 350 (2002)

At anchor, Sant'Angelo – Ischia

---In amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com, wrote :

As you may know the B&G Hydro 2000 can measure voltage.  And my 2000 inputs into Zeus II which has alarms set to 23 and 29 volts.  I often trip low voltage alarm when using the bow thruster.  However, on two occasions I tripped high voltage - 29 volts - momentarily. The generator was running and charger operating.  Perhaps this occasional higher voltage can shorten bulb life?  But so far only one bulb - the anchor light - is short-lived.  It makes me think it must be the fixture.  

Ben Driver

La Bella Vita

SM #347

On Sep 7, 2016, at 5:33 PM, Kent Robertson karkauai@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

I believe that the charging voltage is, 28.8 absorption and 32+ equalization, transmitted to the Masthead lights.

Kent

SM243

Kristy 

On Sep 7, 2016, at 4:14 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

No I don't think so....you can't get voltage surges with a big battery bank.

IF it could possibly happen you'd be having all sorts of issues with lamps and other 24VDC devices.

The ONLY way you MIGHT have an issue with this would be if you used the EQUALISE cycle on your battery charger while the masthead light was on. The EQUALISE cycle raises the voltage to around 32VDC for a while, but that is something you would rarely do, possibly only if you had flooded batteries that you suspected of being sulphated, and if you know about equalising batteries, you would also know to turn off anything on the DC circuit before starting to do it.

Its much more likely that you have bad connections, salt water ingress into the lamp holder.....

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437

 

Ben,

He is referring to a Furuno RD30 multi-functional display. Some Furuno GPS units, like the GP30, GP31, GP32, GP33 and GP36 display voltage. BTW, I mounted a GP30 in the aft berth so that when underway and Judy at the helm, I can open one eye and see course, speed and voltage. Also, it is great to have there to use as an anchor alarm.

I bought it used on ebay for about $125.

Bill

BeBe 387

On Thu, Sep 8, 2016 at 10:32 AM, Ben Driver/YAHOO joedoakes66@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

Excellent solution.   I did not know our radars displayed voltage.  It seems your radar is networked into wind instruments via 0183 bus.  I don't believe mine is but still should display voltage.  Is it difficult to navigate to voltage setting?  

Ben Driver

La Bella Vita

SM #347

On Sep 8, 2016, at 8:15 AM, svperegrinus@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hello Ben,

Peregrinus never had a Hydra processor but its B&G Zeus2 is able to measure supply voltage.  

We have alarms set on the Zeus2 at 23V for low and at 30V for high; the only problem is that the Zeuses must be on for this to work.

A half-workaround is to have the Furuno RD-30 that came with the boats of our generation permanently display the voltage; the voltage measurement is native to the Furuno, so nothing else has to be on. I have set mine to display voltage, depth, and windspeed, and I like its big, easy to read numbers over the Mastervolt display, which is somewhat dim.

Cheerio,

SM2K No. 350 (2002)

At anchor, Sant'Angelo – Ischia

---In amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com, wrote :

As you may know the B&G Hydro 2000 can measure voltage.  And my 2000 inputs into Zeus II which has alarms set to 23 and 29 volts.  I often trip low voltage alarm when using the bow thruster.  However, on two occasions I tripped high voltage - 29 volts - momentarily. The generator was running and charger operating.  Perhaps this occasional higher voltage can shorten bulb life?  But so far only one bulb - the anchor light - is short-lived.  It makes me think it must be the fixture.  

Ben Driver

La Bella Vita

SM #347

On Sep 7, 2016, at 5:33 PM, Kent Robertson karkauai@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

I believe that the charging voltage is, 28.8 absorption and 32+ equalization, transmitted to the Masthead lights.

Kent

SM243

Kristy 

On Sep 7, 2016, at 4:14 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

No I don't think so....you can't get voltage surges with a big battery bank.

IF it could possibly happen you'd be having all sorts of issues with lamps and other 24VDC devices.

The ONLY way you MIGHT have an issue with this would be if you used the EQUALISE cycle on your battery charger while the masthead light was on. The EQUALISE cycle raises the voltage to around 32VDC for a while, but that is something you would rarely do, possibly only if you had flooded batteries that you suspected of being sulphated, and if you know about equalising batteries, you would also know to turn off anything on the DC circuit before starting to do it.

Its much more likely that you have bad connections, salt water ingress into the lamp holder.....

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437

On Sep 13, 2016, at 08:47, Patrick Mcaneny sailw32@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

I have had all new instruments installed on my boat . Without  being consulted the electrician removed the 24 to 12v converter next to the head and installed 24v bulbs in mast head fixture. Thinking it was something the previous owner installed , I did not object , not knowing it stabilized the current as well as converted it. From the beginning , Joel advised me not to change things electrically, I value his opinions and tried to follow them. When I brought this up to the electrician , he asked me why all boats don't have a stabilizer if necessary. I want to discuss this further with him , but how do I answer the logical question . Other boats have generators and engines that increase voltage , how is that they don't require a stabilizer ? Secondly , they powered all my new instruments with 24v . Are they going to be prone to failure ? I want to have any changes done , if necessary before getting my boat back within the next week or so.

Thanks,

Pat SM123

-----Original Message-----
From: Kent Robertson karkauai@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...>
To: amelyachtowners <amelyachtowners@...>
Sent: Wed, Sep 7, 2016 8:33 pm
Subject: Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Masthead lights do not last

 

I believe that the charging voltage is, 28.8 absorption and 32+ equalization, transmitted to the Masthead lights.

Kent

SM243

Kristy 

On Sep 7, 2016, at 4:14 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

No I don't think so....you can't get voltage surges with a big battery bank.

IF it could possibly happen you'd be having all sorts of issues with lamps and other 24VDC devices.

The ONLY way you MIGHT have an issue with this would be if you used the EQUALISE cycle on your battery charger while the masthead light was on. The EQUALISE cycle raises the voltage to around 32VDC for a while, but that is something you would rarely do, possibly only if you had flooded batteries that you suspected of being sulphated, and if you know about equalising batteries, you would also know to turn off anything on the DC circuit before starting to do it.

Its much more likely that you have bad connections, salt water ingress into the lamp holder.....

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437

 

Pat,

First, do not worry about your instruments.  Modern sailing instruments are designed to run on normal system voltages from 10 to 30 volts and will have no problem with running off the 24V side of the Amel electrical system--unless your charging system is seriously out of whack.  

As I upgrade my instruments from the 70’s era “vintage” models, fewer and fewer things are connected to the 12V converters. Remember, those converters were installed because 24 volt instruments of a quality that Amel wanted were not available back in the mid 70’s when 24 volts boats were much rarer than then are today. They are never quite going to go away, because I still need a 12V source for my NMEA2000 network backbone, if for nothing else.

There is one place where the converter is a great solution:  running an SSB off it’s own dedicated converter. Boats with 12 Volt only systems can have a lot of trouble keeping the voltage up high enough (13.4V) to properly drive an SSB during transmissions without a charging source running.  That big converter makes our SSB installations work better than a lot of other boats.

If you have batteries that require occasional high voltage equalization, it is just good practice to turn everything off while that process is going on, including your 24 to 12 volt converters.  

Not all Amel’s have the navigation lights run off the converter.  Mine does not. They have always run directly off 24 volts, and work fine. 

To be honest, I am mystified why anybody would still be fussing with incandescent lamps on the top of the mast.  For me at least, the hassle of changing a masthead light is well worth the cost and effort of a well made, internally voltage stabilized, waterproof, LED fixture. Even if I wasn’t concerned about power draw at all, (and I am!) the mast head would be an LED fixture. It is mature technology these days, and well made ones do not require separate, external, voltage regulators. 

Bill Kinney

SM #160, Harmonie

Newport, RI, USA

“Ships and men rot in port."

http://fetchinketch.net

On Sep 13, 2016, at 08:47, Patrick Mcaneny sailw32@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

I have had all new instruments installed on my boat . Without  being consulted the electrician removed the 24 to 12v converter next to the head and installed 24v bulbs in mast head fixture. Thinking it was something the previous owner installed , I did not object , not knowing it stabilized the current as well as converted it. From the beginning , Joel advised me not to change things electrically, I value his opinions and tried to follow them. When I brought this up to the electrician , he asked me why all boats don't have a stabilizer if necessary. I want to discuss this further with him , but how do I answer the logical question . Other boats have generators and engines that increase voltage , how is that they don't require a stabilizer ? Secondly , they powered all my new instruments with 24v . Are they going to be prone to failure ? I want to have any changes done , if necessary before getting my boat back within the next week or so.

Thanks,

Pat SM123

-----Original Message-----
From: Kent Robertson karkauai@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...>
To: amelyachtowners <amelyachtowners@...>
Sent: Wed, Sep 7, 2016 8:33 pm
Subject: Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Masthead lights do not last

 

I believe that the charging voltage is, 28.8 absorption and 32+ equalization, transmitted to the Masthead lights.

Kent

SM243

Kristy 

On Sep 7, 2016, at 4:14 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

No I don't think so....you can't get voltage surges with a big battery bank.

IF it could possibly happen you'd be having all sorts of issues with lamps and other 24VDC devices.

The ONLY way you MIGHT have an issue with this would be if you used the EQUALISE cycle on your battery charger while the masthead light was on. The EQUALISE cycle raises the voltage to around 32VDC for a while, but that is something you would rarely do, possibly only if you had flooded batteries that you suspected of being sulphated, and if you know about equalising batteries, you would also know to turn off anything on the DC circuit before starting to do it.

Its much more likely that you have bad connections, salt water ingress into the lamp holder.....

Cheers

Alan

Elyse SM437