NavList:

   

Reply

Geoff, with conventional LED's and conventional battery voltages tehre are
many options and they are fairly simple. In fact there are a number of
places on the web that supply "LED replacements" for regular flashlight
bulbs, in the same form factor and case so they can just be dropped in as
replacements. Probably not in the tiny size found in sextants, yet.

Also of note, until quite recently there have been no white LED's, what are
called "white" are actually blue/UV with a phosphor coating in them very
much like miniature fluorescent bulbs, which is why they often had a bluish
cast. These also typically needed 4+ volts to run. As of last month there is
a new technology producing "real" white LED's that run at under 3v, so real
white LED lighting for sextants should be possible later this year if they
ship small ones.

A "subminiature" red/yellow/green LED from any Radio Shack could be used
now, two or three dollars worth of parts at the most including the dropping
resistor. Good eyes and fine fingers may be needed though. If you have a
burned out Plath bulb, I could probably try converting it to a direct LED
replacement for you. The burned out bulb makes a very useful contact/mount
for the LED.

   

Reply