Sailing Zephyr IVvideo
Plastimo Compass Light Failed - Here's What to Do
November 22, 2024 · 4 min · 5K views
What this video covers
The compass light on a Plastimo Olympic 135 steering compass aboard Zephyr IV failed after light use, and Dave replaces the LED bulb.Watch The cover assembly must be removed first: a clip-on decorative cover conceals two large-headed screws, and the clips require a fine knife blade and a screwdriver simultaneously to release — a three-handed job.1:12 Once the cover is off, the LED sits in a short plastic tube in the static half of the folding cover.1:38 A critical detail: the red supply wire contains an inline resistor that drops the 12-volt supply to a safe level for the LED; cutting the wire to bypass it destroys the bulb instantly.2:03 Orientation also matters — Dave fitted the bulb incorrectly the first time and recommends photographing the original position before removal.1:47 The replacement LED came from a local chandlery, with ten units in stock at £9.50.2:39 Reassembly reverses the disassembly sequence, and polarity must be observed on reconnection: red to positive, black to negative.4:02 The inline resistor in the Plastimo Olympic 135 light wire is the single most important detail to preserve during this repair.
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