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Post by Fogg on Jun 12, 2023 19:48:06 GMT 12
Fogg has some courtesy lights set into the saloon floor in a few places where there are steps, which have started to die. Fortunately I found identical replacements at Burnsco but they were blue instead of the red currently installed.
This triggered a conversation about the merits of red vs blue as the best night light for chart tables, instruments, compasses etc.
I’ve always been under the impression that red was well-known to have least impact on night vision, hence its use on ships for decades.
But apparently blue is in the ascendency.
Thoughts?
(Btw, I’ve replaced Fogg’s step lights with blue).
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Post by dutyfree on Jun 12, 2023 19:53:05 GMT 12
bait and switch - thought you were talking rugby
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Post by fish on Jun 12, 2023 20:10:48 GMT 12
Red.
You can't pretend you have a starring role in "Hunt for Red October" if you have blue.
I think GO30 had a major discussion of this when he was refurbishing the lounge lizard (Suburban Reptile). I think blue may look cooler. As in, on trend, not a colder colour, which it probably does as well, but red is better for night vision.
There is one other element in favour of blue, and that is what I think is described as contrast. For things like steps, you only really need contrast. I once saw a technical presentation at a conference about street lights (normally really fucking boring). This anorak presenter was extremely excited about natural white LED street lights. Apparently some people really struggle to see anything under the standard yellow sodium lights. There is no 'contrast', everything just looks kind of yellow. Green grass is yellow, footpaths are yellow. White lines on the road look yellow, as to the yellow lines. He showed the same area with old school yellow sodium lights, and then with modern warm white LED lights.
The best example of this is to drive up the northern motorway after dark. Around the new NW interchange at Constellation Drive they have patches of old and new lights. Just around Sunset Rd is old school lights, then the new North Western interchange area is all modern white LED's. The 'visibility' is better under the white LED lights, but it is not any brighter. If that makes sense.
The other reason I'd go with red is the stimulating effect of blue light on the brain. As in stops sleep. This is related to the blue light filters you now get on devices, and blue light filters on glasses etc, to reduce brain stimulation when browsing sailing forums too late before going to bed.
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Post by GO30 on Jun 13, 2023 11:34:40 GMT 12
bait and switch - thought you were talking rugby  So did I
I, we, did indeed ponder red V blue extensively for night time cockpit lighting. We could have gone either way but went red for the 2 key lights, blue for the additionals. Red as it is known and played with other colours less, blue as the boosters as it looked cooler.... as in Fonzie not ice. So 2 small red for night racing augmented by blue when needing more for sail changes etc or seeing where the rum bottle is sitting when at anchor. IMO I could have easily gone either way no problem.
I think blue is a bit 'on trend' at the moment but like many things it's more for aesthetics than structural reasons.
If Burnco has something you know there will be other options around town and in many cases they will superior ones. It's not called Xerox Marine for shits n giggles ....well it is but the point still stands 
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Post by Fogg on Jun 13, 2023 11:59:27 GMT 12
Well it was one of those times you’re actually happy to have a modern production boat built using parts that are still readily available for a ‘reasonable’ price. Easy & quick to replace / fits same cutout screw holes etc. A rare & pleasant surprise with boat ownership these days when most things are complex and expensive! www.burnsco.co.nz/hella-led-courtesy-light-wide-white-ss |
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Post by GO30 on Jun 13, 2023 16:17:29 GMT 12
Red are showing as no stock indent only. Blue with satin SS finish are very low on stock so you may want to move quickish. Same applies to Warm white with polished SS finish. Warm White satin finish is OK. All other options are indent only at the moment. BCo could be sitting on some stock though. Interesting to see their 49.99 is above the RRP of a major supplier, who possible supplies them as well. But we don't know any of that as I didn't write it so yo couldn't have read it |
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Post by Fogg on Jun 13, 2023 16:31:03 GMT 12
No GO30 post would be complete without a tongue-twister or a brain-teaser at the end… 😂
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Post by ComfortZone on Jun 13, 2023 17:19:58 GMT 12
My experience of night lighting is that the glow of all the instruments, even fully dimmed down, are generally more than enough to get you by.  Noting in the picture the LED above the switchboard is turned on. I don't normally run the laptop offshore, this was taken on an overnight passage in Tonga so wanted to follow progress on OpenCPN as well as the plotter The only addition is my galley's night light, which I think is a trailer number plate light, which adds a little more light when needed. LED lights are actually quite bright at night, I have a red Hella fitted on the bottom of my companion way steps but find it too bright. |
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Post by GO30 on Jun 18, 2023 17:22:06 GMT 12
No GO30 post would be complete without a tongue-twister or a brain-teaser at the end… 😂 Try living in my head, it can get hard work
Maybe a little commercial sensitivity action in that previous post.
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So did I
