The problem arises when boaters try to retrofit basic LEDs into a navigation light housing without understanding how LEDs can affect the arc of visibility. Unlike incandescent bulbs which radiate light in a 360 degree pattern, and thus the housing is designed to work with this pattern, LEDs are highly directional. If you install LEDs into a nav light fixture designed for incandescent bulbs, you can severely alter the viewing arc the light produces, making it difficult for other boaters to correctly determine your course and position, and thus creating a potential situation where a collision could occur. Additionally, it is possible the colors could even blend together, making the light entirely useless for navigation purposes. Perhaps most importantly of all, replacing the bulb in an incandescent unit will most likely void the lights USCG approval, opening you up to possible citations and fines if it fails to pass an impromptu inspection. The best bet here is to avoid trying to retrofit LEDs into existing navigation light fixtures, and instead install new dedicated LED fixtures that carry the proper USCG approvals.
#2. Do I have to change my boats existing wiring when installing LED lights?
Some boaters are wary of using existing wiring harness and lines when switching to LEDs. They've heard of the LEDs' sensitivity to current changes and led skyltar low voltage conditions and worry that their existing harnesses won't be up to the job. This is rarely if ever a cause for concern though when replacing existing incandescent fixtures with LED units. Because LED fixtures can produce so much more light, but do it using less power, the actual load capacity of the wire feeding the lights can be lower as well. This is not to say you need to use smaller wire, but that your existing wiring is probably already more than capable of supplying LEDs. Most incandescent light fixtures on boats pull at least 1 to 5 amps depending on their size and wattage. If your current lighting is not displaying any issues associated with a low current condition, replacing them with LEDs of comparable output will be quite safe using the existing wiring. Since the LED will likely draw around a third or half as much current as the incandescent it replaces, the existing wiring will actually be able to supply more current than the LED will ever pull.
