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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Cockpit-Black Light
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[navy]Can anyone tell me where the Black Light in the cockpit on the Higgins boats is located? It is a Black Light topside in the cockpit area that when turned on, would illuminate the glowing gauges and instrument panel.[/navy]

[blue] Thanx,

Greg

2nd PT221 RON 16[/blue]

Posted By: Greg Matthews | Posted on: Jun 23, 2007 - 9:19am
Total Posts: 76 | Joined: Nov 30, 2006 - 9:33am

Hello Greg. Years ago the late Rich Malecki TM2 of Ron 11's PT-184 mentioned that the RPM and Manifold Pressures gages in the cockpit had radium painted dials. These gages glowed in the dark from light exposure during the day.
Wayne Traxel

Wayne Traxel

Posted By: Wayne Traxel | Posted on: Jun 23, 2007 - 6:32pm
Total Posts: 248 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 5:40am

Ok, thanx Wayne.

Greg

Posted By: Greg Matthews | Posted on: Jun 24, 2007 - 7:03pm
Total Posts: 76 | Joined: Nov 30, 2006 - 9:33am

Hi Greg,
We installed our black lights on the bridge of the PT658 so that they could shine on the Compass Binnacle and the Tachometer and Manifold Pressure Guages. The Black Light has a special resistor located behind the square panel on the Navigation Light Control Panel, it lowers the voltage to something less than 24 volts, I cant remember what the exact amount was. The light for the compass has a red filter plate inside the housing. I mounted them using our builders photographs and blueprints as a guideline, and I am pretty sure they are in the correct authentic positions. We dont have the proper binnacle for our magnetic compass, but I am working on that. You can see the two "Black" lights in the photograph below. I hope this helps! PS Today we were able to run PT658 up to 33.5 Knots and it got up on the step! Jerry

[image]http://www.savetheptboatinc.com/PTreunion0706_09.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jun 24, 2007 - 11:11pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

[green]Jerry,

Thanx for the detailed information. I have a 1/20 scale PT 221 and needed this information for detail. The photo is absolutely fabulous and I can now study every part of the instrument panel set up off your 658 boat. Thanx again and happy sailing.

Greg Matthews

2nd PT 221 RON 16
[/green]

Posted By: Greg Matthews | Posted on: Jun 25, 2007 - 5:19am
Total Posts: 76 | Joined: Nov 30, 2006 - 9:33am

Hey Greg, there is also another fantastic resource on the internet
[url]http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/[/url] which has a whole collection of Higgins blueprints online. The instrument panel drawing that refers to the black lights are on the drawing listed under "Schematic, Electrical" and "Wiring layout lighting and ventilation"
Here is a couple of screeen shots I hope this works!!! Jerry
[url]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/aa_electrical1.jpg[/url]

[url]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/aa_electric.jpg[/url]

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jun 25, 2007 - 7:14am
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

[green] Jerry,

Thanx again. The additional info is very helpful to me.

Greg[/green]

Posted By: Greg Matthews | Posted on: Jun 25, 2007 - 7:30am
Total Posts: 76 | Joined: Nov 30, 2006 - 9:33am