"Bill McKee" wrote in message
.net...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
news

wrote in message
ups.com...
First version, otherwise why use 6 resistors instead of one single
lower ohmage one of higher power.


I was trying to roughly calculate the power requirements. You said 600
ohm resistors, correct? The voltage drop on the LED will be minimal when
forward biased or "on", so each branch must be about .02 amps, times six
equals .12 amps, so the power must be about 12v times .12 or about 1.4
watts. Probably a bit more when you factor in the LED drop, whatever it
is. Significantly less than a regular light bulb!

Eisboch


Most LED's are in the 400mw range.


How about the standard 12v bulb used for anchor lights?

" JimH" wrote in message
...

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
.net...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
news

wrote in message
ups.com...
First version, otherwise why use 6 resistors instead of one single
lower ohmage one of higher power.


I was trying to roughly calculate the power requirements. You said 600
ohm resistors, correct? The voltage drop on the LED will be minimal
when forward biased or "on", so each branch must be about .02 amps,
times six equals .12 amps, so the power must be about 12v times .12 or
about 1.4 watts. Probably a bit more when you factor in the LED drop,
whatever it is. Significantly less than a regular light bulb!

Eisboch


Most LED's are in the 400mw range.


How about the standard 12v bulb used for anchor lights?

I don't know what their wattage rating typically is. My guess would be
somewhere between 10 - 20 watts, given that they are required to be seen,
what, 2 miles away at night?

Eisboch

For the sake of comparison, a normal anchor light is 12 watts. These
LEDs are seriously bright, ordered em from Digi-Key.

I'll admit, half the stuff I try doesnt work but i suspect this will.
Anothetr thing I am trying is to wire my solar panel as a way to turn
off the anchor light at night. I got the idea from a web site I saw so
I lay no claim to it. They connect a NC relay across the solar panel.
When it generates power, it powers the relay (30 mWatt) which turns off
the anchor light. Of course I'll incorporate a switch to turn off the
entire thing, relay incluided. Radio Shack did have the relay.

wrote in message
oups.com...

I'll admit, half the stuff I try doesnt work but i suspect this will.
Anothetr thing I am trying is to wire my solar panel as a way to turn
off the anchor light at night. I got the idea from a web site I saw so
I lay no claim to it. They connect a NC relay across the solar panel.
When it generates power, it powers the relay (30 mWatt) which turns off
the anchor light. Of course I'll incorporate a switch to turn off the
entire thing, relay incluided. Radio Shack did have the relay.


You have a great attitude. People get smart not by always knowing what
works, but rather what doesn't. You never know until you try.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

" JimH" wrote in message
...

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
.net...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
news
wrote in message
ups.com...
First version, otherwise why use 6 resistors instead of one single
lower ohmage one of higher power.


I was trying to roughly calculate the power requirements. You said 600
ohm resistors, correct? The voltage drop on the LED will be minimal
when forward biased or "on", so each branch must be about .02 amps,
times six equals .12 amps, so the power must be about 12v times .12 or
about 1.4 watts. Probably a bit more when you factor in the LED drop,
whatever it is. Significantly less than a regular light bulb!

Eisboch


Most LED's are in the 400mw range.


How about the standard 12v bulb used for anchor lights?

I don't know what their wattage rating typically is. My guess would be
somewhere between 10 - 20 watts, given that they are required to be seen,
what, 2 miles away at night?

Eisboch



What is the benefit for a boater on the hook overnight besides having a
brighter anchor light? Is there a significant less draw on the house
battery over a 10 hour period?

Less than half the draw on the house battery.

There is a commercially available LED anchor light that sells for about
$113 but for some strange reason I had to try to make it myself. The
difference in cost is not significant when you consider what most of us
get paid/hr and the time it will take me. In fact, I'll probably lose
money so I am not sure why I am making it myself.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Less than half the draw on the house battery.


Thanks.

I take it this is not a cost effective thing for the casual night boater to
do, unless a brighter light and more visibility is wanted.

" JimH" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Less than half the draw on the house battery.


Thanks.

I take it this is not a cost effective thing for the casual night boater
to do, unless a brighter light and more visibility is wanted.


Brighter, they are, and that's not a bad thing. They also have a long life
when compared to a regular bulb. It would take a while to recover the
initial cost compared to the cost of replacement bulbs however.

Eisboch