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As one with no knowledge of the acutal decision making process, I suspect two reasons Roger does not install a masthead anchor light are; the cost of the light and the limited electrical panel he uses. Having to add an additional circuit would fill the cheapo fuse panel.

My $.02.

There is a simple masthead/LED anchor light mod that uses existing wire up to the masthead light and a double throw switch and a couple of steering diodes. Basically by flipping the hot and neutral around with a double throw switch you can use the diodes to steer the current to the light or LED you want. Remember LEDs are also dependant upon the polarity.

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There is a simple masthead/LED anchor light mod that uses existing wire up to the masthead light and a double throw switch and a couple of steering diodes

Huh?
I am no electrician, but that sounds interesting. Could you please elaborate on this mod?

Tks

G

beene wrote:

There is a simple masthead/LED anchor light mod that uses existing wire up to the masthead light and a double throw switch and a couple of steering diodes

... Could you please elaborate on this mod?

Geoff,
Search on diode, then scan the list for anchor lighting or mast lighting topics.

WILCO Frank


Tks

G

Assuming that you understand that voltage is the pressure that causes the current to flow but it is the current that "does" the work then, I will explain this from current flow. VERY basically:
- current (electrons) flow through a conductor from negative to positive
- (as opposed to the holes or positive charges which flow from positive to negative)
- and, a diode will allow current to flow in only one direction
then you can use a double pole double throw switch..... ModEdit: for formatting ~fc

wire the switch so that when side one/two is selected the center will have 5 positive and 6 negative. when side three/four is selected the center "will flip" and 5 will be negative and 6 positive. (the back of the switch will have 6 connections, I have chosen to call the ones on one side 1/2 and the other side 3/4 and the center 5/6 - I tried to draw a text image but the formating was awful)

you can then use a diode wired in series with the light to determine if it will get current or not, that is if the center 5 is positive and you connect the diode going to the mast light so that it will allow current to flow (black bar side connected to wire from switch) then the light will light. Reverse the diode direction in the connection to the anchor light and it will turn on when the switch is flipped and the mast light will turn off, get a switch that is on/off/on and leave it in the center off position when you want no lights.

Some final notes: doides have usually .6 volts or more drop across them and lots of circuits such as this will call for 2 doides in each leg. This is a 1+ volt drop, along with the inherrant losses in the wiring and corrosion filled connectors can mean that the light is not getting the full battery voltage.
LEDs are diodes so they must have the current flowing in the correct direction, you can use this feature to accomplish the same as above without the additional diodes, unless the LED is really a cheepie and can not deal with reverse currents applied.

I just reread what I wrote and it is as clear as mud - if you think so also and still want to do this send me a e-mail and I will make you a picture and wiring outline.

ModNote . . . tangentair: Not quite clear to me, but seems a good first draft. Others have explained same thing, with less detail. Maybe you could try reading some prior threads (search on diode), then try polishing this into a very specific Mod?? In fact, if you have a good drawing, we might try to use it as a Feature. ~fc