How to Make an LED Boat Light
Boats need lights on them that last a long time and provide for a bright light. Incandescent bulbs are subject to the stress of the waves and so not the best choice for use on a boat. Converting an existing boat light into an LED light can be done within a few hours and will provide for a better and more efficient light in the darkness. It will also last longer and be more durable than a conventional bulb.
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Things You'll Need
- Clean cloth
- Garbage bag
- Masthead anchor light
- Soldering iron
- Current limiting resistor
- LED lamp
- Hammer
- Aluminum foil
- Silicon paste
- Flat edged screwdriver
- Bonding glue
Instructions
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1
Put the clean cloth down on a work surface.
Remove the masthead anchor light from its position on the boat and lay it down on the clean cloth.
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2
Separate the casing of the masthead anchor light using the flat edged screwdriver. Unscrew the incandescent bulb.
Desolder and remove the wires connected from the casing to the incandescent bulb.
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3
Hold the incandescent bulb by the socket at the bottom and place the bulb into the garbage bag. Smash the bulb with the hammer.
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4
Remove the bulb from the garbage bag and throw the garbage bag away. Remove all of the fragments of the bulb that are still in the bulb's socket.
Remove any ceramic insulators that might still be in the bulb's socket.
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5
Solder the LED light to the current limiting resistor. Solder the LED light to the wires in the casing in the same manner as they were attached to the incandescent bulb.
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6
Place the LED light into the incandescent bulb's socket.
Crumble some aluminum foil. Place the crumpled foil around the LED light so as to form a cone.
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7
Secure the LED light to the incandescent bulb's socket with the silicon paste. Let the paste dry.
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8
Place the socket with the LED light back into the casing of the masthead anchor light.
Secure the casing with the bonding glue.
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9
Reassemble the casing of the masthead anchor light. Return the masthead anchor light to its position on the boat.
Turn the masthead anchor light on and enjoy the light from the LED lamp.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear goggles and work gloves when breaking the glass bulb and removing glass fragments.
No repair work should be done when the boat is at sea.
