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12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light
5

12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

(OP)
Can someone please tell me the manufacturer or equiv. part n° of a rectangular-shaped, red-coloured, solid-state, pilot light, equipped with "wings" that has blown on my boat´s 12VDC bilge-pump panel.

The external dimensions of this pilot light are roughly 2 cms x 1,5 cms. One one of the sides, you can see embossed:

           125VAC 6A
           250VAC 3A
            TAIWAN

It has two male- terminals at the rear for spade connectors. The whole thing is encapsulated in black plastic.

Thanks

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

Try here:

DigiKey.com


A

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

Paulista:

I'm a bit confused- is not your marine power system 12VDC based? Why would there be a 125/120VAC rated pilot light? Could it be a switch of some kind? Any other numbers or text printed on the device? How do you know it is solid-state?

If it is a pilot light, specs are probably not too critical, other than voltage, mechanical fit, and sealing for use in a marine application. Would the guys at a marine or boat shop be of use in suggesting a replacement?

Sorry for all the questions and no firm suggestions.

Wheels within wheels / In a spiral array
A pattern so grand / And complex
Time after time / We lose sight of the way
Our causes can't see / Their effects.

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

(OP)
analogkid2digitalman

I'm a bit confused- is not your marine power system 12VDC based?  Of course it is !

Why would there be a 125/120VAC rated pilot light? I have no idea, but this is embossed on one of the sides which is normally concealed behind the panel


Could it be a switch of some kind? No ! It is simply connected between ground and the positive feed terminal of the bilge pump; the auto (if engaged by water-level relay) or manual switch position provide 12 V DC for this.


Any other numbers or text printed on the device? No !

How do you know it is solid-state? "I was told" that this type of panel light is a throw-back from the days of "Nixie Tubes", the ones that were used in displays of hand-held, battery-operated, calculating-machines.

If it is a pilot light, specs are probably not too critical, other than voltage, mechanical fit, and sealing for use in a marine application.   RULE (in the US) and a load of Taiwan bilge-pump panel mfgrs. employ this panel light in their designs


Would the guys at a marine or boat shop be of use in suggesting a replacement? Yes, a new bilge-pump panel,including pilot light !

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

Looks like you are reading fuse sizes. It's fine to use higher voltage rated fuses. The lamp is 12 volts, or possibly slightly higher to handle charging voltage. Did you test or replace the fuses?

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

(OP)
stevenal
         The fuse is 12 A, slow-blow.  The fuse-holder is  standard, with spring-loaded, screw-down cap and located on the panel. Fuse and fuse-holder are a separate entity from the panel pilot light.

          No, the panel pilot light does not double as a fuse in this 12 V DC application. It is simply a pilot lamp to indicate that the bilge-pump has come on automatically (via bilge-level relay) or that it is being activated manually via toggle-switch.  

           Actually, the component in question could be a fuse for a 125 VAC 6A /250 VAC 3A application, with an on-board red-light to signal that the power is on. By the look of the numbers, a non-linear resistor, with a four-fold increase of resistance with a doubling of incident AC voltage.

            Anyone willing to guess what it could be  ?
  

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

"a non-linear resistor, with a four-fold increase of resistance with a doubling of incident AC voltage"

Oh, you mean a lamp.  

"125VAC 6A 250VAC 3A TAIWAN"

Only a switch would be rated in this form.  I suggest you go to your local Autozone or other autoparts store and see if you can find something that matches.  You are digging yourself into a deeper hole when you start talking about non linear resistors.  

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

Take lamp to Radio Shack, Tell'em you want 1 just like it for 12 volts

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

(OP)
OperaHouse said:

"Only a switch would be rated in this form......You are digging yourself into a deeper hole when you start talking about non linear resistors. "

You are most probably right.

What sort of switch, though, with no actuation device (or control voltage) to switch it ON or OFF ? ?


RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

Try measuring the resistance in both directions (polarites). That may give a clue to what it might be, but if it no longer works, then I suspect an open circuit both ways.

Could be a magnetic reed switch, but I doubt it, not 007 standard issue (Bond, that is)

Wheels within wheels / In a spiral array
A pattern so grand / And complex
Time after time / We lose sight of the way
Our causes can't see / Their effects.

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

(OP)
Thank you analogkid2digitalman !

Will do so as soon as possible and post the results

RE: 12 V DC Solid-State Panel Pilot Light

It's not uncommon for switch and light mfg.'s to utilize same housing for both devices, that's why your light has switch rating embossed into it. Don't let the embossing confuse you, you still have a 12VDC light. You need to measure the light's mounting cut-out in your boat, and find compatible replacement.

My company uses Oslo Switch for similar devices, and I'm sure you can find other suppliers using Google, etc.

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