
*'Lulu'*		*'Namu'*		*'Masina'*

Hella 'n Easy Job!

Mounting an LED Replacement Bulb in a Masthead Fixture

Click To Enlarge Photos
Click Here For a Printable View (304k).

Knowing that our lights will fit into all of the major tri colour sailing yacht masthead navigation light fixtures, and, with the thought that a picture is worth a thousand words, please feel free to use the following photoessay as a suggestion on how to mount Bebi Electronics Owl®, Masina®, and Namu® waterproof 12 and 24 volt marine LED light replacements into a two variations of a common tri-color masthead navigation and anchor light fixture.

Although you can get some really great photos from the mast head, it's a lot easier to work on the light at sea level. After you've assembled all of the proper climbing gear, you'll need to make a trip up the stick. Remember the three cardinal rules of climbing: (A) If you drop it, don't try to catch it, (B) Always maintain 3 point contact, and finally (C) Don't Fall!

Once you're up there, to remove the tricolor light from the mast head, there are two plastic 'tangs' facing port and starboard on either side of the base on the mast. Simply press these tangs inwards, and the fixture lifts up from the top of the mast.

If you would like to use only a single switch and set of wires to control either the tricolor or the anchor light in the combo fixture, please follow this link to see a wiring diagram.


The original fixture before disassembly. To orient yourself during re-assembly, it's handy to make a set of vertical alignment scratches along on each of the two bases on axis with the red-green joint of the running light lens.		To open the fixture, first hold the anchor light base and turn the entire fixture to the left as you look down on the top of the light the 'normal' way, anti-clockwise (or counter-clockwise for North Americans). Then hold the top of fixture and turn the base of the tri-color portion of the light the 'normal' way again. As the lenses ride on a soft rubber-like gasket, it may take a stout turning.

Next remove the plastic rings by pressing the tangs (GREEN arrow) towards each other from the notches in the stainless bracket (RED arrows) and pressing downwards. The bottom ring doesn't look like it at first, but it does 'worry' out from the bottom of the bracket.
	Because of the longevity of an LED replacement bulb, the 'easy' change feature of the contact tabs to the top light is not only absolutely silly, but the plastic holding the tabs has a tendency to break. As shown by the yellow arrows, drill a pair of 3mm (1/8") holes in the tricolor base to thread the wire from the LED replacement light. There isn't a reason why you can't just attach the LED light to the screws shown, I just don't trust the contacts.
The FOLLOWING step applies to the tricolor light on all fixtures made by this manufacturer. If you have the model that also has a strobe light, only glue the ring that came with the stock fixture to the Masina Malosi tricolor LED replacement bulb. There is a slightly different procedure for replacing the anchor light (shown below) if you have a strobe.
On this job, instead of using an elastomeric sealant or hot melt glue as I've shown on the other pages, I chose to use a common epoxy glue for no other reason than to show that there is no problem with using it. You do need to do a proper surface preparation, including scuffing up both the ring and the resin filled interior (but not the FETs) of Bebi replacement LED light bulb that you are installing.
When you go to glue the ring to the inside of the 'skirt' of the Bebi light, make sure that the tangs (GREEN arrow above) point downwards AND you avoid getting any glue on the FETs (the little black 'things'). After the glue sets, thread the wire from the light through the holes that you drilled as shown and push the plastic bushing(s) into the stainless bracket.

I always solder connections due to experience (all bad) with corrosion within crimp connectors. If you are determined to use them anyway, you should crimp with a 'proper' calibrated crimper, solder the connector, then put adhesive heat shrink tubing over the entire affair.		The simple, cheap (in every meaning of the word) 'plier' type crimper is simply a piece of junk that will always give you an improper crimp.
By the way, the double wall, adhesive lined heat shrink tubing sold in the pretty packages piece at marine hardware stores can be purchased in 3' lengths in black, red and clear colours for the same price as a single package at the store!

LED Replacement Anchor Light in Hella Combo Masthead Navigation Light Fixture-Click to Enlarge

Even if you don't have a strobe, please take note of the scribed alignment mark on the base. The marking isn't required, it just makes reassembly a lot easier, as the locking tabs can only be assembled (I hope!) one way.

If you have a strobe and this brand of navigation light fixture, please tell us when you order, and we will include the proper size spacer in your order (at no extra charge). Simply glue the spacer to the bottom of the replacement LED light bulb and the stainless bracket, again taking care not to block the flow of air to the FETs (the little black 'things' on the bottom of our lights).

Due to the nature of xenon (strobe) light tubes, be sure to wipe the glass tube off with a tissue moistened with alcohol.


Except for a trip back to the masthead, you're just about finished. Re-insert the lenses into the bases in opposite order of dis-assembly, then give them around a 1/3 turn the 'normal' clockwise direction (isn't it strange that the 'normal' direction a clock turns is one of the few items the English and the American's agree on?) and the job is finished.

If you have any questions about this procedure, or, really, anything about anything to do with boats, please feel free to call our 24 hour number 67-999-72-558 or email us at sales@bebi-electronics.com. Unlike the big multi-national you bought the fixture from, we always have time for our customers. Barring Sunday's and sleep (Fiji is at GMT+12 by the way), we respond to virtually all of our emails within 4 hours (if you don't receive a return email within 24 hours, please try again, as it may have been 'eaten').