Our anchor lights are made from 3 chip flux LED.
Don't be fooled by cheap imitations like those on eBay.
Look for a amber dot in the centre of the LED - that's 3 chip.
If they're clear - they're a single layer and shouldn't be used in marine applications.
When shopping for flat panel LED - ask for clarification of LED type !

"Can these bulbs be used in every boats masthead?"
These are not more used for masthead lights - only anchor lights
Our new SMT LED masthead lights provide 50% more light output than the FLUX LED
The new SMT masthead lights are available here -> in BA15D and BAY15D fittings
they are voltage adaptable from 8-30VDC

 

 

Unfortunately not - there are various standards for fittings for masthead lights in boats.
The most common is the BAY15D type although there are some BA15D versions and indeed some 1156 versions around also.
Please see the special mention about BAY15D (staggered pin bulbs) at the item itself
The BA15D (parallel pins version) incidentally is the same bulb as the B15 240v bulb - in other words you can convert a 240v B15 lamp to run on 12v DC BA15D bulbs - in most cases you can simply cut off the 240v plug and hook it straight up to 12v DC.

The BAY15D bulb is suitable for most Aqua Signal and Hella Masthead / Tower type lamps.

Our SMT masthead bulbs are suitable for tricolour lamps.
Suitable for vessels up to 50 m

The FLUX LED bulbs are not more used for masthead lights - only anchor lights
Our new SMT LED masthead lights provide 50% more light output than the FLUX LED
The new SMT masthead lights are available in BA15D and BAY15D fittings and the are voltage adaptable from 8-30VDC

For anchor lights the lightoutput of the BA15S FLUX LED bulbs should suffice

We've had considerable feedback and some (only some fortunately) Hella Tower lamps have been known to be a bit tight for the total length of our bulb.
This bulb has a total length of 60.1 mm with 40 mm protruding out of the socket
Some customers have filed off the top 3 LEDs to make the lamp fit.

"Do the flux anchor meet current marine standards?"
If there is any LED bulb currently meeting those standards this bulb will exceed them.
Currently we're seeking approval for our bulbs from the US Coast Guard.
They can easily be seen at the standard 3 and 5 mile range.

Being 3Chip type - they're better than standard LED by a country mile.
Dont be fooled by imitations - look for the amber dot in the centre of the LED.
If you don't see it - it's a single chip type and unsuitable for marine use.

 

BAY15D customers please read this before purchasing.
LED bulbs are diodes - unlike standard bulbs they are "polarity conscious".
This means that they will only work if connected with the correct positive/negative.
OK so due to the fact that the BAY15D versions have staggered locating pins the bulb can only be placed in one way around.
This makes it critical that the bulb has the same positive/negative as the fitting its going into.
So we made our anchor lights with the same polarity as some standard Marine light fittings like the Aqua Signal range and some other well known brands that we could get polarity information from.
Being that standard filament bulbs aren't polarity conscious - some manufacturers didn't specify what poles were positive and negative in the fitting.
So if your bulb doesn't work you may have to change the polarity to that light fitting.
(Switch the positive and negative wires around)

 

BAY15D Navigation lights

Available in White, Red and Green

 

 

FLUX festoon bulbs (barrel end festoon)
Available in White, Blue, Red and Green
Usage: dome lights in cars, cabin lights, indicator lights in older trailers & tractors, Navigation lights on boats

"How bright are the flux festoons and how do they compare to normal incandescent festoons bulbs?"
Way brighter than normal incandescent festoons with an intense pure white light output.
There is the faintest tinge of blue in its colour temp of around 6500k

 

"Do they shine light in all directions?"
The FLUX festoons will shine only 180°
but our SMT anchor/masthead light shines 360° and is the brightest LED anchor/masthead light available on the market !

 

"Do they lose their brightness after a while?"
As all things do they will degrade initially up to 10% over the first 1000hrs of operation followed by a slower rate of decline to 30% loss after 50000hrs.

How do I put a dimple in the end of the barrel festoon to make it hold the bulb more securely?
It's easy to put a depression in the barrel ended festoon by placing the bulb in a vice or vice grips.
Punch a little dent and drill a small hole to just pierce the end cap.
Then recess the ends with a larger (5mm) drill to form a depression just like a countersink does in wood.
The bulb then stays nicely in place.

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Festoon bulbs
Usage: dome lights in cars, cabin lights, indicator lights in older trailers & tractors, Navigation lights on boats

These are more your standard type of festoon.
Eg.. Most suited to door and glovebox lighting in cars and port/starboard lighting on boats.
They can be seen quite clearly from a distance but are a poor second cousin to the flux type bulbs.