- Action: To Do List item A0031 – Obtain and install LED Spreader/Deck Lights.
- Completed: In-progress
- Cost: $175.13
Researched the internet for spreader/deck lights and selected two Taco Lumateq LED Spreader/Deck Lights part number F38-4600WHA-1 {Discontinued}. From the TACO Marine website downloaded the instructions manual and specification sheet and reviewed them.
The pertinent information gleamed from the documentation was:
- Uses six (6) high-powered 1-Watt LEDs.
- Current Draw: 0.5 amps at 12V.
- A circuit breaker or fuse of 1 Amp is recommended.
The Taco Marine manuals identified the wiring as positive (white) and negative (black) leads, but did not disclose the wire size. Sent an inquiry by email to Taco Marine at Support@TacoMetals.com and less than 24 hours later had a response that identified the wire size as 22AWG.
As the Taco Marine LED spreader/deck light wire leads were 22AWG, this was a disappointment as this product was built specifically for the marine environment and did not consider the following regulatory and standards guidance:
- Per the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), 46 CFR §183.340 and ABYC E-9.16.(h), Direct Current (DC) Electrical Systems on Boats dated May 28, 1990 incorporated by reference into the CFR, the minimum single wire size is 16 AWG, the minimum multi-conductor sheathed cable wire size is 18 AWG, and the wire insulation must be per type specified by ABYC E-9.14.b.
- National Electrical Code (NEC) National Fire Protection Association 70, paragraph 402.6 Minimum Size. Fixture wires shall not be smaller than 18 AWG.
- UL 8750 Standard for Safety for Light Emitting Diode (LED) Equipment for Use in Lighting Products, paragraph 7.4.2.2.1 A field-wiring lead shall be no smaller than 18 AWG (0.82 mm2).
The length of wire run for the spreader lights was estimated at 45-feet - mast spreader height 15-feet + length from mast to location on spreader 3-feet + internal cabin wiring 25-feet. In addition to the two spreader lights - total 1 amp draw, we wanted the same switch action to also turn on a Hella Marine Mast Deck Floodlight with current draw of 20 Watts/1.67 amps located about 6-feet higher on the mast.
To determine the actual size of the wire needed we used the following formula (ref 46 CFR §183.340.(p) and ABYC E-9.14.e.(4)):
CM = (K x I x L)/E
Where:
CM = Circular mil area of conductor.
K = 10.75 (constant representing the resistivity of copper).
I = Load current in amperes.
L = Length of conductor from the positive power source connection to the electrical device and back to the negative power source connection, measured in feet.
E = Maximum allowable voltage drop at load in volts (For a three percent voltage drop at 12V, E= 0.03 x 12 = 0.36).
For the single wire run from the navigation desk internally to the base of the mast the wire length was estimated at 25-feet with a total current draw of 2.67 amps.
We used the value of 10.75 for K, 2.67 amps current draw at 12 V for I, 50 feet (25ft x 2) for L, and 0.36 as the 3% voltage drop for E. Where the CM = (10.75 x 2.67 x 50)/0.36 = 3,986.5 which equates to 14 AWG which has a CM of 4,110; ref ABYC E-11 (7/15) Table XI. As the calculated CM and 14 AWG CM were almost equal we decided that this single wire run would be 12 AWG which reduced the voltage drop to 2.2%.
The highest amperage value, to go up the mast, was the Hella Marine Mast Deck Floodlight. For this, we used the value of 10.75 for K, 1.67 amps current draw at 12 V for I, 42 feet (21ft x 2) for L, and 0.36 as the 3% voltage drop for E. CM = (10.75 x 1.67 x 42)/0.36 =2,094.5 which equates to 16 AWG which has a CM of 2,580; ref ABYC E-11 (7/15) Table XI. As this wire was to be 16/2 AWG, we decided we would use the same size for the spreader light wire runs.
The following depicts the electrical diagram.
The following items were purchased to support this installation.
| P/N | Item | Q | Each | Total |
| F38-4600WHA-1 | Taco Lumateq LED Spreader / Deck Light | 2 | $63.99 | $127.98 |
| 2506 | Blue Sea 2506 Terminal Block 30 Ampere 6 Circuit | 1 | $5.39 | $5.39 |
| 9217 | Blue Sea 9217 Terminal Block Jumper for 30A Terminal Blocks | 1 | $3.32 | $3.32 |
| 12/2 AWG Duplex Tinned Marine Wire (100 Feet - $59.00) | 25 | $0.59 | $14.75 | |
| 12-10 AWG #8 Ring Heat Shrink Splice | 3 | $0.25 | $0.75 | |
| 12-10 AWG Female Heat Shrink Disconnect | 1 | $0.25 | $0.25 | |
| 16/2 AWG Duplex Tinned Marine Wire, Red/Yellow (250 Feet - $91.95) | 60 | $0.37 | $22.20 | |
| 16-14 AWG Heat Shrink Butt Connector | 2 | $0.25 | $0.50 | |
| 16-14 AWG #8 Ring Heat Shrink Splice | 5 | $0.25 | $1.25 | |
| 16-14 AWG Male & Female Heat Shrink Disconnects | 3 | $0.50 | $1.50 | |
| Qunqi 10Packs Add-A-Circuit Blade Type Inline Fuse holder 16 Gauge with cover ($9.49) | 3 | $0.95 | $2.85 | |
| 320103 | 22-18 to 16-14 AWG Step-Down Heat Shrink Butt Connector Ancor PN 320103 (3 each) | 2 | $5.19 | $10.38 |
| Cable/Tie Straps | 20 | $0.10 | $2.00 | |
| TOTAL | $175.13 |
After ordering the items in the US, consolidated into an ocean freight shipment, it took approximately 3.5 months to arrive at our location in Cebu, Philippines.
On 12 October 2018, went up mast and first stop was the port side spreader light – both mount screws were able to be removed intact. Ran messenger rope through the wire route holes and removed the old wiring from both spreaders. The starboard side spreader old light did not need to be removed as it was "missing" - presumably fallen off sometime in the past. The old wiring was not connected to any wiring that entered the mast - probably means the old wire run is still internal to the mast but settled internally at its base. This is likely another reason to pull the mast off the boat to remove the old wires and install the new wire run. Discovered on the ground that old spreader light was full of water and rusted itself sealed closed - really good thing this was not electrically connected.
Next step - pull mast off boat and route wires.
