- Who are OceanLED?
- Whose got the brightest lights?
- What's the difference between the 50 degree and the 180 degree lens option?
- Can I run with my lights on?
- How does an LED work?
- Why LED?
- Why don't OceanLED use polycarbonate for the lens?
- Why do my new lights interfere with my FM radio?
- How long do OceanLED lights last?
- What is the light beam length?
- What’s the cost advantage?
- Why do so many H.I.D lamps fail well before their rated life?
- Does switching on and off OceanLED lights shorten the LED life?
- Is LED a proven technology?
- How do OceanLED lights compare overall with traditional underwater lighting?
- Could you please supply us with the various light output ratings on the various models so we can better make adequate judgements as to what we need. Specifically, LUMENS.
- What happens if the lights over heat?
- How hot do the Lights get?
- How do I change a bulb?
- Are the electronics reverse polarity protected?
- Can I extend the cabling between the light and the electronic driver?
- What are the new Series numbers for?
- When will the Fish Strobe be released?
- How easy is the installation?
- What is the recommended installation depth?
- Are OceanLED lights safe?
- Are OceanLED lights approved?
- Are the lights totally waterproof from behind?
- What is the connector system?
- Who / What are Tritonium Optical Technologies?
- Do Ocean LED lights get hot like conventional lights?
- Is there a wait for the lights to get warm?
- What is the hole cut out size for the OceanLED Thru-Hull model?
- Should the lights be bottom painted with anti – foul paint? And should I bond them?
- Why do you use Aluminium Bronze for the housing?
- Where can I purchase the lights?
- What is the OceanLED warranty statement.
- How many lights and what size/series should I get?
- What color is best?
- I currently have 80 watt halogen underwater lights on my boat– what size should I get to upgrade?
- I currently have 35 watt Xenon underwater lights on my boat– what size should I get to upgrade?
- I currently have 50 watt Xenon underwater lights on my boat– what size should I get to upgrade?
- I currently have 150 watt HID underwater lights on my boat– what size should I get to upgrade?
- I currently have 150 watt HID underwater lights on my boat– but I want the brightest lights around – do you have one that has no competition in terms of light output?
- I have a metal hull but don't want to use a Weld-IN model. What can I use?
- I have a superyacht. I want to use underwater lighting, but if the lens gets damaged I have to haul the boat to replace the light, is there a quick release system, so I can change them in the water?
- What are the lens options?
- What voltage do the OceanLED fixtures run on?
- Are the AC units brighter?
- What is the power consumption?
- What is the warranty period?
- Who invented the light bulb?
- The history of the LED
- What is the piece of paper inside the light?
- Do OceanLED make nameboards?
1. Who are OceanLED?  Top
OceanLED was founded in December 2004 by Nigel and Lee Savage to research and develop all types of LED lighting for the Marine and Architectural markets. The company has a highly skilled team pushing the technological boundaries of LED lighting and the electronics to run them, with all products being designed and produced in-house.
Click here to learn more about us
|
 |
2. Whose got the brightest lights? Top
It is no longer a simple case of power. It comes down to design, technology and size. OceanLED offers lights that compare in light output to every competitors models, however always using less power, with much longer life spans and with far better color retention in water. For a full understanding of OceanLED technology versus the traditional, go to our – ‘Be an educated consumer’ page.
What works best - a 1000 watt speaker under your TV? Or 6 individual speakers around the room? Surround sound is the answer to clever sound, clever lighting design by the introduction of more individual lights is the answer to even surround lighting.
For quick reference, below we rank our sizes/series versus traditional bulb underwater lights
X520 and 1010 series are equivalent to an 80 watt Halogen underwater light
1520 series are equivalent to a 35 watt Xenon underwater light
2010 series are equivalent to a 50 watt Xenon underwater light
3010 series are equivalent to a 150 HID/ Metal Halide underwater light
4010 series has no current equivalent competitor.
|
 |
3. What's the difference between the 50 degree and the 180 degree lens option? Top
The 50 degree is the standard lens which is available with all OceanLED lights. This lens allows the light to penetrate the farthest out into the water i.e. if you want the biggest effect.
This lens is also the best option for when a swim platform will obstruct the view the first few feet of the light.
The 180 degree lens is an exclusive to OceanLED. The lens is sandblasted, giving the light a hazed effect. When putting these lights together on a boat the light beams mix which eliminates dark patches. This lens is perfect for use on a transom where the lights are not hidden by a swim platform, and perfect for use down the sides of a boat.
The ultimate goal is to achieve a perfect halo of light around a boat. Many setups use 50 degree lenses on the transom, and 180 degree lenses on the sides.
Speak with you local OceanLED representative for specific requirements for your boat.
The picture to the right shows M/Y Island Time, a 110' Broward with 5 50 degree lens lights on the transom and 26 180 degree lens lights up both port and starboard - the result ' perfect unbroken halo of light'.
|
 |
4. Can I run with my lights on? Top
Absolutely, LEDs are a solid state light source, therefore are vibration proof. All lights are fitted with a thermal cut out, so if the light does overheat it will turn itself off as a precaution.
Running with traditional lights will put the bulbs at risk, so do at your own, knowing to replace 1 bulb will cost in excess of $150. If an underwater light does not have thermal protection, then it should as the enclosures are not ventilated, bulbs will overheat, putting stress into them, reducing life expectancy and light output.
|
 |
5. How does an LED work? Top
Like a normal diode, an LED consists of a chip of semiconducting material impregnated, or doped, with impurities to create a positive-negative (p-n) junction. As in other diodes, current flows easily from the p-side, or anode, to the n-side, or cathode, but not in the reverse direction. Charge-carriers—electrons and holes—flow into the junction from electrodes with different voltages. When an electron meets a hole, it falls into a lower energy level, and releases energy in the form of a photon, i.e. Light.
LED development began with infrared and red devices made with gallium arsenide. Advances in materials science have made possible the production of devices with ever-shorter wavelengths, producing light in a variety of colors.
Small, bright LEDs of almost any wavelength may be purchased for a dollar or less. Recently even UV emitting LEDs have become available. A typical LED is fairly monochromatic; most radiate in a band about 30 nm wide around the maximum emission. 'White light' LEDs that have three or more color elements are also available.
LEDs are almost 100% efficient in converting electric energy into light of a desired wavelength. If treated well, they will last almost indefinitely. They can be zapped if too much voltage is applied in either direction.
|
 |
6. Why LED? Top
"Industry experts predict that LEDs are set to be the future lighting source of almost all lighting applications!"
OceanLED only uses LEDs in the products it produces. After almost 5 years of continuous research, OceanLED has a product line that is envied and admired by industry experts worldwide.
LEDs for underwater lighting applications are the ultimate solution as they use minimal power, have great color retention in water, are extremely robust i.e. shock and vibration proof and offer exceptionally long life spans, opposed to bulbs which offer almost the total opposite!
The key benefits to an OceanLED underwater light compared to the traditional bulb varieties are:
Never change a bulb - up to 10 year life
All OceanLED lights utilize the latest state of the art LED technologies. We design and manufacture every part of the product in house, guarantying quality, reliability and optimum performance which in turn ensures life expectancy of up to almost 10 times that of any current underwater lighting technology. At $150 a bulb, the savings can be huge.
No power surge on startup
Unlike traditional bulb underwater lighting, LEDs do not require additional power to get them started. Xenon and HID lamps require massive currents to arc the lamp, on some lights this can be as high as 18 amps! OceanLED underwater lights however, have almost no power surge on startup, meaning they light up immediately and conserve precious battery power.
Minimal power consumption - available in both DC and AC
LEDs require very little power to operate which is perfect for boating, saving critical battery power onboard. All OceanLED lights operate from low voltage DC power, offering great flexibility for small and large vessels. The larger OceanLED lights are also available with AC/ mains voltage driver systems.
No filaments to break - can run with lights on
LEDs are a solid state light source, i.e. they can't break unlike bulbs which require special handling. We all know boats can take a beating at sea so LEDs are the only sensible option for marine lighting, and all lighting companies are starting to realize this. OceanLED started development over 5 years ago, so we have the lead and always will. As an added protection all OceanLED can operate out of water for a period of time depending on the model. When and if they get too hot they automatically turn off to protect themselves, only turning back on when the system has cooled sufficiently, and in this way you can have total piece of mind when running the boat that your lights are safe.
Fish Strobe has 9 variable strobe patterns - for use day and night
Introduced late last year the Fish Strobe from OceanLED is proving to be one of the hottest new items on the fishing scene. For use both during the day and night, the hypnotic variable strobe patterns mimic baitfish and fishing lures with awesome results. Check our website for details on our sponsored fishing teams and their triumphs in 2007.
Simple Plug & Play installation
All OceanLED lights are factory sealed, meaning there are only 3 parts to a system. The Light, connection cable and driver all connected together using state of the art Nasa approved plug & play connectors - making installation easy and fool proof.
Only 1" hole cutout for Thru-Hull models
The revolutionary Thru Hull is the best selling light in the OceanLED range. Requiring a 1" hole only for fitment through the hull, the majority of the light sits on the outside of the hull. This not only minimizes the hull penetrations, but results in easier placement and positioning.
|
7. Why don't OceanLED use polycarbonate for the lens? Top
For the same reason divers goggles are not made from plastic or polycarbonate lenses neither do we. From results of extensive long term testing we have found that although it does offer great strength but clouds/yellows overtime in salt water and can be very easily scratched diminishing the light output. It is impossible to polish the surface back to new, unless a flame is applied which should only be done by a plastics specialist.
|
8. Why do my new lights interfere with my FM radio? Top
With regards to the FM radio interference; this may rarely occur from a number of sources. Since our LED lights are fairly high current, they should ideally have their own power feeds direct from the battery, independant of the FM radio. Also the interlink cables between the LED driver and the light, should not be positioned near to the FM antenna.
Our interlink cables and driver units both have shielding built into them to prevent switching and interference, but if they are in close proximity then there is also a scope for this problem. Our cables are twisted pair to prevent switching interferance, and the power feed on the driver is also filtered.
If you come across this problem again, first try to move the interlink and power cables away from the FM radio power feeds and antenna. If this does not correct the fault, you will need to try and shield/filter the power source feed, from the breaker to the driver.
Of course the simplest solution would be to switch radio frequencies on the radio, as the driver may only slightly interfere on a certain radio band, if the faults with the installation above exist.
|
9. How long do OceanLED lights last? Top
The best LED manufacturer in the world (who incidentally makes our LEDs) claims 100,000 hours, however we limit this statement to 40,000 hours. This is due to our policy of half and double e.g. if someones or something states 20 we say 10, if something needs to be made at 10 we make it 20. The LEDs are run at half the recommended maximum temperature and run at half the input voltage, in addition to this all the electronics are designed to be overrated by a factor of x2.
The human eye can only perceive a 30% drop in light, which for the LED will be at 40,000 hours and this is when we say the useful light has ended – however you can expect the fixture to last for a further 60,000 hours at ever diminishing output. This still gives at 8 hours a night, 13.5 years at peak performance.
|
 |
10. What is the light beam length? Top
There are a number of factors regulating how far the lights will shine out, #1 being how big is the light? #2 What color are you using? #3 How clear is the water? Introducing a colored light to a colored substrate works best when they match.
In the picture the largest boat is 70', therefore the lights being shown reach out way beyond 100'.
From our own experience, the Super Blue LEDs in clean / murky salt water work best.
Super White LEDs work extremely well in clean salt water.
Super Green LEDs on the other hand appear to work the best in fresh water due to the nature of the color.
The best advice is to choose the color for where the boat is to be moored the majority of the time.
Keep checking in for further updates.
|
 |
11. What’s the cost advantage? Top
Some conventional lights are cheaper, but by the time you have replaced a few Xenon or HID bulbs, and one or two ballasts, conventional lights can turn out to be a lot more expensive than OceanLED lights.
Typical life expectancy of bulbs are as follows:
Halogen = approx.500 - 1000 hours
Xenon = approx. 1000 - 3000 hours
HID = approx. 3000 - 5000 hours
Ocean LED = approx. 40,000 - 60,000 hours
The longest life of a Xenon or HID lamp can only achieved when left on for more than 10 hours at a time in a cool environment. The more they are used for shorter periods, the less time they will last.
On average, Xenon and HID will have lost 50% of their light output, by the time they have reached their half life. If there are Xenon or HID lights on a boat and one bulb blows, all bulbs will need to be changed in every light to maintain a matching color temperature and brightness.
|
12. Why do so many H.I.D lamps fail well before their rated life? Top
Some facts taken from a Xenon and HID bulb manufacturer.
According to Osram (www.osram.co.uk), H.I.D lamps need to be run for at least 10 hours at a time to reach their estimated lamp life. The more times they are switched on and off, the shorter the lamp life. In addition, if the bulb is turned on for less than 15 minutes from switch off, its life is yet again shortened.
If the light is only used for:
5 hours at a time then the bulb life is shortened by 25%.
2.5 hours at a time then the bulb life is shortened by 45%.
1.25 hours at a time then the bulb life is shortened by 60%!
This last figure would give an H.I.D lamp life of only 2400 hours.
By half the bulbs life, the H.I.D lamp (and Xenon technology) has lost half its light output.
OceanLED lights can be turned on and off for any length of time with no harm to any part of the light, there is no cool down period and no reduction of life expectancy.
|
 |
13. Does switching on and off OceanLED lights shorten the LED life? Top
No, you can turn the lights on and off a million times an hour with absolutely no effect to the LEDs
In addition OceanLED lights have no warm up time and no startup power surges unlike HID, which take at least 2 minutes to achieve full brightness and 20 minutes cooling time if the light is switched off and needs turning back on. This is a major advantage when integrating underwater lighting with an onboard security system.
|
14. Is LED a proven technology? Top
We have fitted over 6,000 LED underwater lights to boats over the past 2 years. Working alongside some of the most prestigious boating companies in the world, such as Feadship, Blohm & Voss, Benetti, Viking, Kuipers Woudsend, Fairline, Sunseeker, Tribute, Oyster and many others to go to prove that our technology is now firmly here to dominate.
As with all products, there were issues with earlier models. Initially we used electronics from some of the most respected companies in the world, however their focus was on minimising the size and cheapening the manufacture - and as we all know, this in a marine environment does not work well. Consequently all OceanLED products now have our own in house designed electronics, every component overrated for its function to cope with the harsh marine environment.
Interesting Trivia
So far well over 1,000,000 traffic signal lights in the USA have been converted from old technology bulbs, to LEDs saving huge amounts of energy and maintenance. When New York switches over, its $20 million electric bill for traffic lights alone will be cut by over 90%.
Sony switched to using LEDs in all their LCD televisions in 2004, as they offer a solid state light source i.e. very robust, exceptionally long life spans and a reliable color for accurate color rendition on screen.
Electricity to power standard christmas lights for 5 hours a night over the holiday season will cost $9.07. For the same effect with LEDs, the cost would be just 11 cents, not to mention they will last at least 10 years without a bulb change!
Lexus, Audi, Porsche and BMW are amongst the first car manufacturers to introduce some of their 2007 models with LED headlights!!
LEDs were invented almost 50 years ago and are the most reliable lighting source on the planet, provided they are manufactured responsibly and used in the correct manner.
|
 |
15. How do OceanLED lights compare overall with traditional underwater lighting? Top
Go to our ‘Be an educated consumer page’ for a complete understanding.
|
16. Could you please supply us with the various light output ratings on the various models so we can better make adequate judgements as to what we need. Specifically, LUMENS. Top
I can give exact Lumen outputs of our fixtures, but you must be aware of the differences when comparing LED to conventional bulb technologies. At present, the total lumen output of LED's will be considerably lower than some bulbs. This however does NOT mean though the total light output is less.
The term 'Lumen' refers to the total amount of light produced at the source i.e. the bulb or the LED. Our LED products, whilst lower in Lumen value, use patented optical lenses placed over each LED to focus and magnify the light produced by upto 500%. Therefore, by emitting a lower value of Lumens, the product still emits a very high value of LUX. LUX is the total amount of light falling on a surface at a set distance from the light. Therefore this is what we consider the USEFUL light output. Unfortunately our competitors blindly quote the bulb manufacturers figures rather than testing their own fixtures and this does not help when trying to accurately compare like for like.
To give an example of how Lumen figures can be mis-interpreted; a bulb rated to 10000 Lumens, is placed in a fixture, and the lens is then painted black so no light exits the fixture at all. The fixture is still rated to 10000 Lumens, even though no light is being produced from the fixture.
For you to make a better judgement on comparisons to bulb technology, we have tested and compared all of our products against coventional lighting technologies. For example, our best seller, the 2010 series in white, is equivalent to a 50w HID Xenon lamp. The same series in blue, completely blows away the competition in blue, since we dont utilize filters, which as stated in a previous thread, dramatically cuts down on the light output by filtering out all the colors of the spectrum apart from the blue!
One competitor has sent their lights for testing against ours to a test laboratory in Florida we both use, called Imanna. A number of light tests were conducted but this particular competitor has chosen to only publish 1 set of figures that puts their fixture, forgive the pun, 'in a better light'. These results give an output reading for a single light source. However OceanLED lights have multiple light sources, so when using these test results it does not help to understand who is brighter. There are over 20 ways of measuring light accurately, all valid to understand and evaluate light for certain purposes but rather than try to baffle brains, OceanLED decided to test their lights in a simple test that our customers could easily understand and make it possible for competitors to do the same.
For an easy relatively easy to understand example, a Ferrari goes 0-60 slower than a Motorbike, but the bike uses less power. OceanLED uses the motorbike methodology, in otherwords, by using a smaller engine and better aerodynamics the bike goes faster more efficiently. OceanLED uses less light more efficiently for the same, if not better results.
OceanLED underwater light recommended comparisions are as follows;
X520 and 1010 series are equivalent to an 80 watt Halogen underwater light
1520 series are equivalent to a 35 watt Xenon underwater light
2010 series are equivalent to a 50 watt Xenon underwater light
3010 series are equivalent to a 150 HID/ Metal Halide underwater light
4010 series has no current equivalent competitor.
|
17. What happens if the lights over heat? Top
All OceanLED lights have thermal protection cut outs as a precaution. If the light or electronic driver overheats due to whatever reason, the light will turn off. Once the unit has cooled down the light will turn back on or depending on the switching system on board, it may be necessary to recycle the power.
|
18. How hot do the Lights get? Top
The running temperature of the light body inside the boat on a typical air cooled unit such as the Flush Mount will range from 30 - 42 degrees centigrade (86 - 108 degrees Fahrenheit) depending on the which size of light and the ambient conditions.
On a Thru hull and Surface Mount models, the light body runs typically at 4 - 10 degrees centigrade (39 - 50 degrees Fahrenheit) above the ambient water temperature.
|
19. How do I change a bulb? Top
You don’t. LEDs are extremely reliable and have been totally over engineered in all OceanLED products thus adding more status to their reliability. An LED will never fail, it will only ever gradually die over time. If there is a problem there will never be a catastrophic failure as with traditional bulbs. In the rare circumstance there is a fault, the entire fixture needs to be replaced. OceanLED designed their lights with this in mind, so reliability has always been our main aspect when designing and manufacturing the product.
|
20. Are the electronics reverse polarity protected? Top
Yes, all lights have reverse polarity protection. Red is positive, black is negative.
|
21. Can I extend the cabling between the light and the electronic driver? Top
Yes, we have extension cables available in 2, 4, 6 and 9 meter lengths. It is possible to centrally locate all electronic drivers in one location and run off to the lights up to 500 meters away! For custom installations we provide cabling on a drum which can be laid and custom lengths can then be terminated.
We also offer a Driver Cabinet which centrally locates all electronic drivers in one location for Super Yachts, and we also now offer a custom made Junction box allowing 1 feed to power upto 4 separate lights, reducing installation times.
|
 |
22. What are the new Series numbers for? Top
Last year we upgraded all our underwater lights to a newer, brighter and whiter LED plus updating all the electronics to our own new custom designs.
For example the old 2000 Series is now the 2010 Series to mark this change, and the series is up to 30% brighter and 2,000 Degrees Kelvin whiter resulting in a much more penetrative and effective underwater light.
The 1520 Series is a combination of our collaboration between OceanLED and Tritonium Optical Technologies, by using the very latest optical designs and electronics the 1520 bridges the gap between the 1010 and 2010 Series offering a very competitive light against its' 35w Xenon competitor.
4010 Series is the most powerful underwater light commercially available. It is almost twice as bright as the 3010 Series and truly is an awesome fixture.
|
23. When will the Fish Strobe be released? Top
NOW! OceanLED is proud to announce the release of the long awaited Fish Strobe Series taking you to the next level of fishing.
The Fish Strobe Series strobe light features a choice of 9 strobing patterns controlled by a panel mounted switch. Choose from a rapid to a slow strobe pattern to intermittent flashes to elongated bursts.
The depth of the water, the type of fish, the time of day or night and the strobe pattern will all play into the thrill of the hunt.
|
 |
24. How easy is the installation? Top
As all OceanLED lights are totally factory sealed and essentially only consist of 3 components (light, driver and connection cable) the installation is effortless and designed to be fool proof with illustrated installation instructions and clear ‘on product’ labelling.
|
25. What is the recommended installation depth? Top
Under normal circumstances OceanLED would recommend the following installation depths to achieve the best lighting effect:
1010 Series - 150-200mm (6-8") below the waterline
1520 Series - 150-200mm (6-8") below the waterline
2010 Series - 200-250mm (8-10") below the waterline
3010 Series - 250-300mm (10-12") below the waterline
4010 Series - 300-500mm (12-20") below the waterline
Our lights can operate out of the water for brief periods, but the lights are designed to be underwater.
|
26. Are OceanLED lights safe? Top
With our LEDs you will gain increased safety as a result of lower operating voltages and on average 50 percent less heat exposure. All connections are all made with sealed, over molded plugs which comply with ABYC, E11 regulations.
All lights have thermal protection cut outs as a precaution.
All lights are totally resin sealed as the technology does not need to facilitate bulb change, including the electronic drivers, to IP68 water ingress protection offering the ultimate in protection. Competitors bulb style fixtures are vulnerable to leaking at the rear seals where bulb changing is necessary especially when a lens has been broken, as the fixture is essentially hollow. All OceanLED lights are solid, resulting in a quadruple protection barrier.
|
27. Are OceanLED lights approved? Top
Yes, all OceanLED underwater lights have passed the internationally recognized approvals Lloyds Type Approval, RINA and ABS.
In addition to this all lights have passed USGC Ignition Protection standards meaning the electronics can be safely mounted in the engine room with complete peace of mind. Having this approval is essential for OEMs to conform with boat building standards which in turn validate insurance.
All OceanLED lights have also passed the ABYC H-27 Side load test compulsory for all through hull units on boats. All componenets that penetrate a hull should have been tested to the H-27 standard. Essentially this test is a 500lb force applied to the end of the fixture for 1 hour. This ensures that if someone for instance steps on the light in the bulge or engine room, it will not break and therefore make the boat sink. OceanLED light are the only underwater lights with this approval, which make OceanLED the most approved underwater lighting company in the world.
See individual products for test and approval documentation.
|
 |
28. Are the lights totally waterproof from behind? Top
Yes 100%, all lights from the smallest to the largest, DC or AC powered are totally resin sealed, meaning they can operate underwater – this includes the electronic driver
For permanent installation however always mount the electronics in a dry location.
|
29. What is the connector system? Top
A request from a major production boat company in 2005, all OceanLED lights are fitted with Plug & Play connectors from the world renowned connector manufacturer Deutsch. All connectors are IP68 rated and comply with ABYC regulations, E11.
We also recommend a synthetic connector grease to maximise connector performance, check the accessories page for further details.
These connectors have been used and approved by NASA on the shuttle, in missiles, submarines, oil rigs and so on, providing the best sealed connectors in the world.
|
 |
30. Who / What are Tritonium Optical Technologies? Top
Tritonium Optical Technologies is a small research laboratory located in England specialising in optical systems mainly for the Military and the Aerospace industries.
12 months of research and development between the 2 companies has resulted in a world beating optical lensing system, not only for underwater lighting but indeed lighting in general. From the outset, three main problem areas plaguing the optical efficiency on traditional underwater lights were identified:
Optical Clarity
OceanLED lenses are nearly optically perfect transmitting over 30% more light than traditional borosilicate glass. See Fig. A
Strength
As OceanLED lights do not get hot as traditional lights, considerations of heat are not a factor when selecting glass. Tritonium glass does not have the thermal shock characteristics used on traditional lights but because of this when the lens is toughened it does so quicker and easier, therefore it is stronger when the process is completed.
Sea life Contamination
Abrasive scrubbing to remove sea life will damage the lens creating a more attractive surface for future sea life growth. All OceanLED Tritonium lenses are treated with a unique anti-fungal polymeric resin that cross links with the glass, forming a strong chemical bond, helping to reduce sea life build-up requiring only a light brush to remove debris.
In Fig. B opposite, illustrating the power and durability of Tritonium lenses applied as standard to all OceanLED lights.
This light had been left unattended (not turned on) for 2 months in the Arabian gulf in ambient water
temperatures upto 39 degrees Centigrade / 102 degrees fahrenheit! Sealife growth was excessive,
worse than anywhere else we had witnessed.However with a cloth and a few wipes the buildup on the lens easily fell away and left an absolutely
flawless lens, with no degredation to the light output. Summer 2007
Traditional underwater lights can only rely on extreme temperatures on the lens to ward off contamination. However if the light is off for a period of time this negates it, and if the lights are left on all the time then bulb change would be excessive. Use of a clear anti-fouling will work on a the lens, but it is not optically perfect having a slight yellow tinge to it and is hugely dependant on the technician applying it. All OceanLED lights are factory treated, offering a perfect system every time.
We do not use plastic or polycarbonate lenses for several reasons. Yes they do offer great strength but will cloud overtime in salt water and can be very easily scratched diminishing the light output, in addition to this they do not ward off barnacle growth and once remove it is impossible to polish the surface back to new, unless a flame is applied which should only be done by a plastics specialist.
All OceanLED lights are supplied with a Lens Masking disc. This allows the light to be anti-fouled without painting the lens, and when ready the disc can be removed, in a similar way to a racing drivers visors.
We do believe we have obtained the ultimate solution.
|
 |
31. Do Ocean LED lights get hot like conventional lights? Top
No, with our LEDs you will gain increased safety as OceanLED light bodies run on average 75 percent less in heat exposure compared to competitors underwater lights.
The running temperature of the body inside the boat on a typical air cooled unit such as the Flush Mount will range from 30 - 42 degrees centigrade (86 - 108 degrees Fahrenheit) depending on the size of light and the ambient conditions. All lights have thermal protection cut outs as a precaution.
Thru Hull and Surface Mount models run typically at 8 degrees centigrade (46 degrees Fahrenheit) above the ambient water temperature, as they are truely water cooled. No heat is percievable inside the boat.
|
32. Is there a wait for the lights to get warm? Top
Unlike traditional high powered underwater lights which can take up to 2 minutes to reach full brightness, OceanLED lights are instantly at full brightness with no power surges, which on some lights can be as high as 18 Amps, creating a huge strain on batteries and generators.
|
 |
33. What is the hole cut out size for the OceanLED Thru-Hull model? Top
For the 1010, 1520, 2010 and 3010 Series it is only 1".
For the 4010 Super Nova it is 1 1/2".
With such a small hole cut out, concerns over weakening hulls etc can now be addressed, and areas where space was once impossible to fit a traditional thru hull light can now be achieved.
|
 |
34. Should the lights be bottom painted with anti – foul paint? And should I bond them? Top
Yes, it is highly recommended to anti-foul the entire bronze flange of the light that is exposed to the water. All OceanLED lights are now supplied with a Lens Masking Discs to help prevent anti fouling paint sticking to the lens whilst painting - this innovation was developed from customers feedback received over the past year.
All metal parts on the exterior of a hull should be connected to the vessels cathodic protection system. A bonding point is available on every model.
The new X-520 however is made from polyacetal which does not require antifouling or bonding.
|
 |
35. Why do you use Aluminium Bronze for the housing? Top
Props and propellers are made from the same material for a very good reason – it is one of the most robust metals underwater. Stainless Steel is very good out of water as its top layer oxidizes, however underwater this does not occur and therefore will corrode. Aluminium Bronze, is expensive but has great resilience to salt water corrosion as well as having great thermal characteristics to help keep the light and LEDs cool.
|
36. Where can I purchase the lights? Top
Check our Dealer Locator on this site for a dealer or distributor in your area.
We are currently expanding worldwide to be able to offer a next day service globally.
We have offices in the UK, USA and Middle East and soon in Australia. Go to our contact us page for details.
OceanLED contact information
|
37. What is the OceanLED warranty statement. Top
WARRANTY
Ocean-LED stands by its products. In general terms, the company gives a 2 year warranty on its products – to claim, please contact us and return the product to us; the detailed terms and conditions of this warranty are set out below.
However please specifically note that all metal parts corrode in salt water. The primary factors affecting corrosion are not related to our products and accordingly we cannot be responsible for corrosion-related defects. Please note, in any event, that corrosion will be particularly aggressive if installation and/or bonding has not been undertaken properly, or if stray currents are active in the vicinity of a boat.
1. WARRANTY OF QUALITY
1.1 In the case of goods manufactured and sold by Ocean-LED Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales (registered number 5310852) and whose registered office is at 10 Station Road, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire LE9 7GA (the “Goods” and the “Company”, respectively), the Company warrants to the purchaser of the Goods (the “Buyer”) that (subject to the other provisions of these Conditions and unless otherwise notified) upon delivery, and for a period of 24 months from the date of delivery, the said Goods supplied shall be of satisfactory quality within the meaning of the Sale of Goods Act 1979.
1.2 The Company shall not be liable for a breach of the warranty in Condition 1.1 unless:
1.2.1 the Buyer gives written notice of the defect to the Company, and to the carrier if the defect is as a result of damage in transit, within 14 days of the time when the Buyer discovers or ought to have discovered the defect; and
1.2.2 the Buyer returns such Goods to the Company’s place of business at the Company’s cost (should the notice of defect prove accurate, or at the Buyer’s cost if not); and
1.2.3 the Company is given a reasonable opportunity after receiving the returned Goods for the examination to take place at the Company’s place of business.
1.3 The Company shall not be liable for a breach of the warranty in Condition 1.1 if:
1.3.1 the Buyer makes any further use of such Goods after giving such notice; or
1.3.2 the defect arises because the Buyer failed to follow the Company’s oral or written instructions as to the storage, transportation, installation, commissioning, modification, use or maintenance of the Goods or (if there are none) good trade practice; or
1.3.3 (and to the extent that) the defect comprises, or arises from, the corrosion of metal parts or the failure of the Buyer to ensure that Goods are installed correctly, bonded correctly and that there are no active stray currents in the vicinity; or
1.3.4 the defect arises as a result of any default of, or caused by, the Buyer or (without limitation) as a result of misuse, abuse, improper installation, neglect, improper shipping by a party other than the Company; or
1.3.5 the Buyer alters, repairs or modifies such Goods without the written consent of the Company; or
1.3.6 the defect arises due to a cause beyond the Company’s reasonable control, such as: act of God, explosion, flood, tempest, fire or accident, including without limitation lightning; war or threat of war, national emergency, sabotage, terrorism, insurrection, protest, riot, epidemic, civil disturbance or requisition; Acts, restrictions, regulations, by-laws, prohibitions or measures of any kind on the part of any governmental, parliamentary or local authority; import or export regulations or embargoes; strikes, lock-outs or other industrial actions or trade disputes (whether involving employees of the Company or of a third party); restraints or delays affecting carriers or inability or delay in obtaining supplies of adequate or suitable materials; or power failure or breakdown in machinery.
1.4 Subject to Conditions 1.2 and Condition 1.3, if any of the Goods do not conform with the warranty in Condition 1.1 the Company shall at its option repair or replace such Goods (or the defective part) without charge for labour or parts or refund the price of such Goods at the original purchase price. The Company shall pay for return transportation to the Buyer of such repaired or replaced Goods.
1.5 Any Goods replaced shall belong to the Company and any such repaired or replacement Goods shall be guaranteed on these terms for the unexpired portion of the period of the warranty in Condition 1.1.
2. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
2.1 These Conditions set out the entire financial liability of the Company (including any liability for the acts or omissions of its employees, agents and sub-contractors) to the Buyer in respect of:
2.1.1 any breach of these Conditions;
2.1.2 any defect in the Goods;
2.1.3 any use made or resale by the Buyer of any of the Goods, or of any product incorporating any of the Goods; and
2.1.4 any representation, statement or tortious act or omission including negligence arising under or in connection with the contract with the Buyer.
2.2 All warranty, conditions and other terms implied by statute or common law (save for the conditions implied by the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982) are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, excluded from the contract with the Buyer.
2.3 Nothing in these conditions excludes or limits the liability of the Company:
2.3.1 for death or personal injury caused by the Company’s negligence;
2.3.2 under section 2(3) of the Consumer Protection Act 1987;
2.3.3 for any matter which it would be illegal for the Company to exclude or attempt to exclude its liability; or
2.3.4 for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
2.4 Subject to the above Condition 2.3:
2.4.1 the Company’s total liability in contract, tort (including without limitation negligence or breach of statutory duty), misrepresentation, restitution or otherwise, arising in connection with the performance or contemplated performance of the contract with the Buyer or (without limitation) in respect of the Goods shall be limited to the original purchase price; and
2.4.2 the Company shall not be liable to the Buyer for any pure economic loss, loss of profits, loss of business, loss of contracts, damage to property, depletion of goodwill or otherwise, in each case whether direct, indirect or consequential, or any claims for consequential compensation whatsoever (howsoever caused) which arise out of or in connection with the contract with the Buyer or (without limitation) the Goods.
3. APPLICABLE LAW
Each of (a) the sale of the Goods to the Buyer, (b) these Conditions, and (c) any disputes or claims arising therefrom or in connection therewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England; and the Buyer and the Company irrevocably agree that the Courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with the foregoing.
|
38. How many lights and what size/series should I get? Top
All depends on size of the vessel and desired final lighting effect. The 1520 and 2010 Series Thru Hulls are the most popular in terms of power vs price, but contact your sales representative for advice on placement and model size.
Big boats need big lights, small boats deserve big lights!
Basic recommendations are as follows;
X-520 for smaller boats, upto 25'
1520 Series for boats upto 40 feet, and boats with no swim platform
2010 Series for boats upto 65 feet
3010 Series for boats over 65 feet
4010 Series for people who want the brightest light available
Download our 'Which Series is right for your boat' for recommendations.
|
 |
39. What color is best? Top
All OceanLED lights are available with Super White, Super Blue or Super Green LEDs.
Since we introduced the Super Blue LEDs, sales for the Super White have almost halved, colors not only look better but the light can penetrate through the water more efficently.
Blue and green light have shorter wavelengths than white light, and thus can penetrate through the water more efficiently.
In addition to this, the human eye is more sensitive to blue ands green, hence the lights look brighter. Add this to the fact that water is intrinsically blue (green in fresh water), so adding a colored light creates a harmony.
If the boat is to be moored in crystal clear waters the Super White LEDs will light the water up in a bluey color regardless. Our white LEDs are whiter than any other underwater light on the market so when you want a white light, you do truly get a white light opposed to the ‘yellow’ variety.
We recently launched all lights available with Super Green LEDs which is great for attracting fish and starting to be the most popular color for fresh water.
Other underwater lighting companies are doing their best to keep up with the colored underwater lights produced from OceanLED by placing crude filters over the lens, this not only dramatically reduces the light output as it blocks out the colors not wanted (white light is a mixture of all colors) but will make the fixture run much hotter, resulting in shorter bulb lives and increased safety concerns.
|
40. I currently have 80 watt halogen underwater lights on my boat– what size should I get to upgrade? Top
Our X520 and 1010 models both outperform 80 watt halogen underwater lights. Depending on the brand you have, certain OceanLED models can utilize the same hole cut out.
|
41. I currently have 35 watt Xenon underwater lights on my boat– what size should I get to upgrade? Top
Our 1520 models outperform a 35 watt Xenon underwater light. Depending on the brand you have, certain OceanLED models can utilize the same hole cut out.
|
42. I currently have 50 watt Xenon underwater lights on my boat– what size should I get to upgrade? Top
Our 2010 models outperform a 50 watt Xenon underwater light. Depending on the brand you have, certain OceanLED models can utilize the same hole cut out.
|
43. I currently have 150 watt HID underwater lights on my boat– what size should I get to upgrade? Top
Our 3010 models outperform most competitors 150 watt HID underwater lights. Depending on the brand you have, certain OceanLED models can utilize the same hole cut out.
|
44. I currently have 150 watt HID underwater lights on my boat– but I want the brightest lights around – do you have one that has no competition in terms of light output? Top
Yes – our 4010 Super Nova was designed specifically so we could say we had the brightest. Our 3010 series is brighter than almost all 150watt HID/ Metal Halide underwater lights and uses 35 LEDs. Our 4010 Super Nova has 60 LEDs and is the brightest by a long long way.
Check with a sales representative for pricing availablility.
|
 |
45. I have a metal hull but don't want to use a Weld-IN model. What can I use? Top
Both the Thru Hull and Flush Mount models are available with delrin isolating sleeves to separate the dissimilar metals.
See our accessories page for further details.
Delrin Isolating Sleeve Product Info
|
 |
46. I have a superyacht. I want to use underwater lighting, but if the lens gets damaged I have to haul the boat to replace the light, is there a quick release system, so I can change them in the water? Top
Although the lenses are incredibly strong, every underwater light on the market can suffer lens damage. N.B. All lights should be designed with fail safes should this happen, so you not get water in the boat. Approvals from Lloyds, RINA and ABS certify that your boat will be safe in this eventuality.
At present a boat would have to be hauled to change a lens i.e. the light, however with the Quick Release Female Sleeve available for OceanLED Thru hull models only, the light can be quickly removed and replaced whilst the vessel is still in the water, potentially saving thousands on haulage and re-working.
Check our accessories page for further details.
|
 |
47. What are the lens options? Top
All underwater lights have beams, some are wider than others. OceanLED standard lenses provide a 50 degree beam spread for maximum light penetration.
Spreader lenses/soft beam lenses for underwater lighting had never been considered until last year when OceanLED introduced their spreader lens. A simple sandblasted lens fans the light out over almost 180 degrees, giving a fantastic halo effect. Some underwater lighting companies are now offering spreader lens as a bolt on item, again like the colored filters this simply adds to the heat build-up within the light fixture and again continues to reduce light output and increase heat concerns.
|
48. What voltage do the OceanLED fixtures run on? Top
12/24vDC as standard on all models (with the exception of the X-520 which is 12vDC only)
On 2010 and 3010 series lights mains/ AC LED drivers are available to accommodate line voltage of 110 - 240vAC.
We have just launched our new Driver Cabinet, which facilitates all the electronics to be stored in one area of the boat, and the cabling runs off to the lights. This greatly speeds installation and annual inspection.
For DC power units, we now offer a Junction box (shown opposite) which results in a quicker installation as one power feed can be split effortlessly between 2 to 4 lights. Check our accessories page for further details.
|
 |
49. Are the AC units brighter? Top
No, an LED driver maintains a constant power to the LEDs, the input voltage makes no difference to this.
For competitors products this is true, high powered lights can only work off of mains/AC power as the power consumption would be excessive and danagerous.
|
50. What is the power consumption? Top
All OceanLED lights use LEDs which use very little power which is great for boating. Never get caught out with dead batteries.
With OceanLED lights there is no startup power surge, unlike Xenon bulbs which can be as high as 18 Amps! If you take a 2010 (our mid size) on 24vDC, total current draw is 2 Amps, on 110vAC this is only 400mA!
Check each individual product for full specifications.
|
51. What is the warranty period? Top
All OceanLED products are covered under a 2 year warranty from the date of purchase. Read our warranty statement for full details.
|
 |
52. Who invented the light bulb? Top
The Invention of the Light Bulb: Davy, Swan and Edison.
The first electric light was made in 1800 by Humphry Davy, an English scientist. He experimented with electricity and invented an electric battery. When he connected wires to his battery and a piece of carbon, the carbon glowed, producing light. This is called an electric arc.
Much later, in 1860, the English physicist Sir Joseph Wilson Swan (1828-1914) was determined to devise a practical, long-lasting electric light. He found that a carbon paper filament worked well, but burned up quickly. In 1878, he demonstrated his new electric lamps in Newcastle, England.
In 1877, the American Charles Francis Brush manufactured some carbon arcs to light a public square in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. These arcs were used on a few streets, in a few large office buildings, and even some stores. Electric lights were only used by a few people.
The inventor Thomas Alva Edison (in the USA) experimented with thousands of different filaments to find just the right materials to glow well and be long-lasting. In 1879, Edison discovered that a carbon filament in an oxygen-free bulb glowed but did not burn up for 40 hours. Edison eventually produced a bulb that could glow for over 1500 hours.
Lewis Howard Latimer (1848-1928) improved the bulb by inventing a carbon filament (patented in 1881); Latimer was a member of Edison's research team, which was called "Edison's Pioneers." In 1882, Latimer developed and patented a method of manufacturing his carbon filaments.
In 1903, Willis R. Whitney invented a treatment for the filament so that it wouldn't darken the inside of the bulb as it glowed. In 1910, William David Coolidge (1873-1975) invented a tungsten filament which lasted even longer than the older filaments. The incandescent bulb revolutionized the world.
|
 |
53. The history of the LED Top
In well under a decade, LEDs have expanded their role from little red spots which tell you the HiFi is on, to include brilliant white light sources capable of illuminating a room or lighting the road ahead.
Production quality LEDs are now capable of efficiencies of around 70 lm/W, compared with 12 lm/W for incandescent light bulbs, and single die devices are producing over 100 lm.
History of LEDS
Practical white LEDs were made possible by work with GaN semiconductor materials in the 1990s by Dr Shuji Nakamura at Nichia Corporation in Japan.
There has been heated argument as to where the actual credit lies, but it is certain that: the company, the man, and the previous research were all necessary.
Nichia initially concentrated on making white LEDs in the classic 5mm and 3mm LED packages, as well as small surface-mount variants.
The Philips-owned Californian company Lumileds introduced the first successful high-power white LEDs, using larger die (1x1mm) for intensity and complex packages to extract the heat generated.
Cree of North Carolina has joined, or even surpassed, Lumileds as the producer of the brightest and most efficient LED die, and Far Eastern companies are not far behind.
How White LEDs work
The 'white' of white LEDs comes from the narrow-band blue naturally emitted by GaN LEDs, plus a broad spectrum yellow generated by a phosphor coating on the die which absorbs a proportion of the blue and converts it to yellow.
'GaN' die are actually InGaN heterostructures, which can produce operational wavelengths from green to ultra-violet by varying the relative amounts of indium and gallium during production.
Although this blue die + yellow phosphor approach yields light which appears white, it has little green and almost no red content leading to inferior colour rendering compared with incandescent bulbs and even 'tri-phosphor' florescent tubes. 'Warm white' LEDs, which include a red-producing phosphor, are an attempt to improve this situation as well as make LEDs illumination more acceptable in living spaces.
LEDs for lighting?
White LED versions of traditional luminaires are already available from several manufacturers, particularly in the MR11 spotlight style.
LED headlights for cars are in the pipeline, notably through the work of Germany's Osram, which is producing a range of multi-die packages that are close to producing enough light for road illumination. LED bicycle headlights are already available.
Reality checking
Firstly, firms which claim 90 per cent efficiency from LED light sources are making it up. Even the latest ones convert far more electricity to heat than they do to light.
Next, according lighting industry experts, LEDs will remain expensive compared with light bulbs and florescent tubes. And whilst they will increasingly appear in homes and offices, they will almost certainly will not replace florescent tubes in office lighting.
Florescent tubes, at 100 lm/W for the best fittings, are equal in electrical efficiency to the best LEDs.
In the future, large area sheet emitters based on organic LED or AC electroluminescent technology are likely match LEDs in efficiency and to cost far less per lumen to manufacture.
One of these two will probably end up replacing florescent tubes in office lighting and eventually most light bulbs in the home.
In their favour, LEDs are the only real alterative if colour-tuneable accent lighting or colour-tuneable whole-room lighting is required.
|
 |
54. What is the piece of paper inside the light? Top
This is a silca bag to adbsorb excess moisture.
As the lights are supplied as a factory sealed unit, there is a certain amount of trapped air inside the fixture. When the light is on the water molecules evaporate, when the light is turned off the water molecules cool and condensation can occur. The silca bag absorbs all of this within the first few operations.
Previous models without the silca bag can appear to have 'water' inside the light, however this is only condensation and will not effect the operation of the light itself - it is purely an aesthetic feature that we introduced the silca pack.
|
55. Do OceanLED make nameboards? Top
No, OceanLED is dedicated to the development of LED underwater lighting.
If you are looking to have a custom nameboard made we would recommend a company called YachtSign whose product we feel is one of the best on the market. Check out their website for previous examples and to get a quote.
www.yachtsign.com
|
 |
|
