John E3
Active Member
I want to replace the old, tired & dim lights in my engine room with bright LED fixtures, but the price on ones that have "marine" in the name start at 5x the price of ones without marine in the name. A never ending saga.
I know from many years ago on and around -many- old wooden boats that explosion proof light fixtures were the norm in the engine room. I know that incandescent bulbs can sometimes create a spark when they blow (or get broken), so I assume that is the concern in an engine room. However, those boats, and any boat potentially, has other opportunities for a errant spark to happen in the engine room, so protecting the bulbs seems like overkill.
Take my generator for example, there are switches and relays - are they explosion proof? I have no idea. Then, there is the control board with it's absolutely not explosion proof diodes that can fry. There were 3 more boards onboard that were burnt to a crisp, when we got it.
And on those old boats, the DC Generator has brushes that are a non-stop spark source, and no protection. Every boat explosion that I've read about, as far as I recall, occurred when an engine was started, suggesting the starters are not protected. Alternators and generators generally do have spark arrestors, and I believe by regulation. I retrofitted some automotive alternators when I rebuilt the motors in an old Chris Craft, with available kits.
So, am I being overly cautious with my concerns over LED fixtures? Might there be regulations that address this?
I'd sure like to use $12 LEDs, and help plug that "hole in the water....".
John
I know from many years ago on and around -many- old wooden boats that explosion proof light fixtures were the norm in the engine room. I know that incandescent bulbs can sometimes create a spark when they blow (or get broken), so I assume that is the concern in an engine room. However, those boats, and any boat potentially, has other opportunities for a errant spark to happen in the engine room, so protecting the bulbs seems like overkill.
Take my generator for example, there are switches and relays - are they explosion proof? I have no idea. Then, there is the control board with it's absolutely not explosion proof diodes that can fry. There were 3 more boards onboard that were burnt to a crisp, when we got it.
And on those old boats, the DC Generator has brushes that are a non-stop spark source, and no protection. Every boat explosion that I've read about, as far as I recall, occurred when an engine was started, suggesting the starters are not protected. Alternators and generators generally do have spark arrestors, and I believe by regulation. I retrofitted some automotive alternators when I rebuilt the motors in an old Chris Craft, with available kits.
So, am I being overly cautious with my concerns over LED fixtures? Might there be regulations that address this?
I'd sure like to use $12 LEDs, and help plug that "hole in the water....".
John