[Amel Yacht Owners] Masthead lights do not last
James Alton
Ben and Gayle,
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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
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This failure is anchor light only; only motor running is genset. My suspicion is voltage surge while generator is running or an issue with fixture. Ben Driver La Bella Vita SM #347
On Sep 5, 2016, at 9:05 AM, James Alton lokiyawl2@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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Bill & Judy Rouse <yahoogroups@...>
Ben, When you measure the voltage, measure it at the mast top and at the junction located outside the forward berth behind the Velcro'd panel. It should be the same. I would guess that the set screws clamping the wire to the fixture might be the source of corrosion issues, rather than the wire. Amel uses some really good wire in the mast that will likely last 25 years or more. Bill BeBe 387 On Wed, Sep 7, 2016 at 10:14 AM, Ben Driver/YAHOO joedoakes66@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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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
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I run then generator to charge the batteries when at anchor so I was thinking it possible that the charger is creating too much DC that is somehow getting through that huge stabilizing battery bank to lamp circuit. You think this not possible?
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On Wednesday, September 7, 2016, 12:53 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] wrote:
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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
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Thanks Alan. I'm inclined to agree; that is, it is most probably an issue with masthead lamp holder. My charger has manual equalization which has not been used; settings are appropriate for my battery type. Ben Driver La Bella Vita SM #347
On Sep 7, 2016, at 1:14 PM, divanz620@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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Alexandre Uster von Baar
I know that when I start my battery chargers (genset or shore), the voltage goes much higher.
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I actually stop the 24 volt fan until the voltage stabilize. Did you measure how many volt you are getting? Sincerely, Alexandre SM2K #289 NIKIMAT Club Nautico de San Juan, Puerto Rico --------------------------------------------
On Wed, 9/7/16, Ben Driver/YAHOO joedoakes66@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
Subject: Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Masthead lights do not last To: amelyachtowners@... Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2016, 3:28 PM Thanks Alan. I'm inclined to agree; that is, it is most probably an issue with masthead lamp holder. My charger has manual equalization which has not been used; settings are appropriate for my battery type. Ben DriverLa Bella VitaSM #347 Sent from my iPad On Sep 7, 2016, at 1:14 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.....CheersAlanElyse SM437 #yiv3241421910 #yiv3241421910 -- #yiv3241421910ygrp-mkp { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:10px 0;padding:0 10px;} #yiv3241421910 #yiv3241421910ygrp-mkp hr { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;} #yiv3241421910 #yiv3241421910ygrp-mkp #yiv3241421910hd { color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:700;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0;} #yiv3241421910 #yiv3241421910ygrp-mkp #yiv3241421910ads { margin-bottom:10px;} #yiv3241421910 #yiv3241421910ygrp-mkp .yiv3241421910ad { padding:0 0;} #yiv3241421910 #yiv3241421910ygrp-mkp .yiv3241421910ad p { margin:0;} 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Some newer chargers have an automatic equalizing cycle that kicks in after the absorption phase. I have that turned off on Christie because I want to be able to turn off all 24 V equipment before equalizing. Kent SM243 Kristy On Sep 7, 2016, at 6:08 PM, Alexandre Uster von Baar uster@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote: I know that when I start my battery chargers (genset or shore), the voltage goes much higher.
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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
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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:
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I doubt that 29V is a problem.
We have AGM batteries and the absorption voltage is specified to be 29.2, which is what is set on both chargers and the alternator regulator. We don't blow lamps. think about it...if 29V was a problem you'd be blowing other lamps as well its your anchor light that is the problem. Cheers Alan Elyse SM437....Presqu'ile de Uitoe...blowing 30+ knots at anchor...
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svperegrinus@yahoo.com
Hello Ben,
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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@..., <joedoakes66@...> 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:
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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@...> wrote:
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Bill & Judy Rouse <yahoogroups@...>
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:
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OK thanks. I do not have that display. Ben Driver La Bella Vita SM #347 On Sep 8, 2016, at 8:45 AM, 'Bill & Judy Rouse' yahoogroups@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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When underway and Gayle at helm, I can view Zeus readings from aft cabin on my iPad via wireless. I can even navigate screens although it is distracting to Gayle to see screens change without her input. Ben Driver La Bella Vita SM #347 On Sep 8, 2016, at 8:45 AM, 'Bill & Judy Rouse' yahoogroups@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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Patrick McAneny
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] To: 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
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
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Bill Kinney <greatketch@...>
Pat,
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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.
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Richard03801 <richard03801@...>
Bill very well put. Fair Winds Smooth Sailing Capt Richard Piller Newport RI Cell 603 767 5330
On Sep 13, 2016, at 09:42, Bill Kinney greatketch@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
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