Well, the first one was a dud but they replaced it without question and I finally got myself up the mast today and installed the replacement.
It's brighter than the 25W bulb it replaced. 4Watt 240ma power consumption.
It can cope with 9v - 28v allegedly, so overvoltage should not be a problem, and it looks like a pretty industrial piece of kit.
HERE
Ultraleds LED tricolour replacement bulb (Aquasignal fitting
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Nick
- Admiral of the Blue
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UPDATE - DONT fit if you have a masthead VHF aerial!!!!
First night out from La Graciosa heading for Madeira we discovered that the bulb puts out enormous VHF interference, rendering it impossible to use the radio with the bulb on.
It seems a bit poor that Ultraleds don't mention this as most yachts have a masthead VHF aerial very close to the tricolour.
Am emailing them and will post their reply here.
It seems a bit poor that Ultraleds don't mention this as most yachts have a masthead VHF aerial very close to the tricolour.
Am emailing them and will post their reply here.
- Nick 
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Silkie
- Admiral of the Fleet
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I'm just guessing here but
did Ultraleds express no interest in taking ownership of this problem then?
different colours made of tears
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Nick
- Admiral of the Blue
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Well . . .
I haven't asked them yet - but I would be surprised if they are interested. Will email them now and report any reply back here.
- Nick
It's ironic...
that an Ultraleds advert appears at the foot of the page as I read about your problem.
I notice the link you gave doesn't work - have they withdrawn that product already? Or just redesigned the website.
Derek
I notice the link you gave doesn't work - have they withdrawn that product already? Or just redesigned the website.
Derek
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Nick
- Admiral of the Blue
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Interesting . . .
The actual Aquasignal (pins different heights) fitting bulb doesn't appear to be anywhere on the site any more, but the equivalent bulb in the pins same height fitting is.
However . . . there is no mention of the word tricolour, or suggestion that the bulb can be used for this - and searching for tricolour brings up no results.
So - maybe they are aware of the problem now.
FWIW, both the bayonet fitting bulbs I bought for the forecabin have gone on the blink now as well . . . but the anchor light is still working well and causes no radio interference.
Re. the ads at the bottom of the page - I can stop specific ads appearing and will do so if I think they are promoting dodgy items or services, but I am waiting to see what Ultraleds' response to my email is before I take any further action.
However . . . there is no mention of the word tricolour, or suggestion that the bulb can be used for this - and searching for tricolour brings up no results.
So - maybe they are aware of the problem now.
FWIW, both the bayonet fitting bulbs I bought for the forecabin have gone on the blink now as well . . . but the anchor light is still working well and causes no radio interference.
Re. the ads at the bottom of the page - I can stop specific ads appearing and will do so if I think they are promoting dodgy items or services, but I am waiting to see what Ultraleds' response to my email is before I take any further action.
- Nick
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Nick
- Admiral of the Blue
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Ultraleds update
They say this is the first report of VHF interference in over 100 bulbs sold and they will ask the manufacturer.
Watch this space . . .
Watch this space . . .
- Nick
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Nick
- Admiral of the Blue
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Update on the problem
The problem is worse than we had originally thought - the bulb appears to
have broken the radio. I know it sounds incredible, but there is no other
logical explanation for what has happened.
When we first noticed it we switched off the tricolour and the interference
stopped. (The radio was, of course, on Ch16, the default) . When we switched the bulb back on the interference started again. It is sufficiently loud at all volume and squelch settings to render the radio unuseable.
However . . . I just tried it again and now there is the same interference
on Ch16, but it is permanent with nothing else switched on, and switching
the tri on and off makes no difference. However, other channels (6, 8, 66
etc) seem to be OK - no interference - until you switch the tricolour on,
then the same interference starts up on that channel, sounding the same as the (now permanent) interference on Ch16.
It looks like the last time we switched the light on it with the radio on
CH 16 did permanent damage to a circuit in the radio and Ch. 16 is now U/S, rendering the radio a bit useless. I have written to McMurdo telling them about the problem with Ch16 (but not mentioning the bulb) and maybe they will know what is wrong with it.
It is of course possible that there are two separate problems here, but it
is all a bit strange and disappointing.
I hardly feel I can blame Ultraleds for this, but have asked themif they have any ideas.
A friend has just fitted one of these bulbs - he has a NASA DSC - and there is no problem at all, so it might be a weakness in the radio, or could it be a rogue bulb or what? All theories listened to with interest.
In the meantime we will just have to use the handheld for our trip from here to the Azores. It should provide enough power to shout at anyone who doesn't see our bright new nav light.
- Nick
Yacht 'Fairwinds'
Calheta, Madeira
have broken the radio. I know it sounds incredible, but there is no other
logical explanation for what has happened.
When we first noticed it we switched off the tricolour and the interference
stopped. (The radio was, of course, on Ch16, the default) . When we switched the bulb back on the interference started again. It is sufficiently loud at all volume and squelch settings to render the radio unuseable.
However . . . I just tried it again and now there is the same interference
on Ch16, but it is permanent with nothing else switched on, and switching
the tri on and off makes no difference. However, other channels (6, 8, 66
etc) seem to be OK - no interference - until you switch the tricolour on,
then the same interference starts up on that channel, sounding the same as the (now permanent) interference on Ch16.
It looks like the last time we switched the light on it with the radio on
CH 16 did permanent damage to a circuit in the radio and Ch. 16 is now U/S, rendering the radio a bit useless. I have written to McMurdo telling them about the problem with Ch16 (but not mentioning the bulb) and maybe they will know what is wrong with it.
It is of course possible that there are two separate problems here, but it
is all a bit strange and disappointing.
I hardly feel I can blame Ultraleds for this, but have asked themif they have any ideas.
A friend has just fitted one of these bulbs - he has a NASA DSC - and there is no problem at all, so it might be a weakness in the radio, or could it be a rogue bulb or what? All theories listened to with interest.
In the meantime we will just have to use the handheld for our trip from here to the Azores. It should provide enough power to shout at anyone who doesn't see our bright new nav light.
- Nick
Yacht 'Fairwinds'
Calheta, Madeira
- Nick
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stevebirch2002
- Able Seaman
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- Contact:
VHF
Hi Nick, I very much doubt if the LED light has caused the VHF problem. To make sure I would need to have the VHF radio to test which I know is impossible. Have you tried using teh handheld connected to your main aerial? I use BNC connectors on the aerial cable and an adaptor on the main VHF so I can use either VHF with the main aerial.
Cheers
Steve B
Cheers
Steve B
Re: Interesting . . .
[quote="Nick"]The actual Aquasignal (pins different heights) fitting bulb doesn't appear to be anywhere on the site any more, but the equivalent bulb in the pins same height fitting is.
only mention of different height pins ( plus the warm white & bulk buys ) I could find
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/ub20cw-light ... p-968.html
T
only mention of different height pins ( plus the warm white & bulk buys ) I could find
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/ub20cw-light ... p-968.html
T
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Nick
- Admiral of the Blue
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Handheld connected to main VHF aerial
Incompatible connectors unfortunately Steve.
If they were compatible or I had an adaptor, then I would be slightly worried about buggering up the handheld wwhen I switched on the tri, but would be prepared to give it a go. Might try to get the relevant bits and solder up an adaptor when we get to Horta.
Can you tell me the technical terms for the bits I need to do this?
If they were compatible or I had an adaptor, then I would be slightly worried about buggering up the handheld wwhen I switched on the tri, but would be prepared to give it a go. Might try to get the relevant bits and solder up an adaptor when we get to Horta.
Can you tell me the technical terms for the bits I need to do this?
- Nick