LED Interior Lamp

[Paulus]

Has anyone installed the Swiveling LED interior lamp from West Marine? Thinking about changing the V berth lamps.
Thanks, Paulus

[dfloeter]

I added four of these lights in our salon mounted to cabinets for reading lights and maybe they would work in the front?  The build is solid and they are all stainless except for the chrome plated base which at least is ferrous enough for a magnet to stick. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boat-Reading-Light-RV-Fixture-MR16-LED-Bulb-Base-Satin-Chrome-12v-GW21500-/221838108222?hash=item33a694e63e

[Dave Spencer]

I simply changed the bulbs in my OEM fixture to led.  I did this for every interior light in the boat and I'm very pleased with the results.

[Joe Holmes]

Same here- installed LED bulbs. They work great. Bought them at Hamilton Marine in Maine.

[chuck53]

I simply changed the bulbs in my OEM fixture to led.  I did this for every interior light in the boat and I'm very pleased with the results.

Plus 3

[Ron Hill]

Paulus : Always include your hull # and production year!!

Do you have any idea how many different interior light fixtures that Catalina installed in over 20 years of production???  I'd guess at about 5 to 7 !!!

A thought

[Paulus]

Hi Ron, Cool Change is a 1989  Hull #944.  I have none of the original lights in the boat.  Replaced main cabin with florescent lights and the aft cabin  with LED bulbs about 10 years ago.  Not very bright.  Hard to read by.
Want to do some upgrading.
Thanks, Paulus

[Noah]

I need a lot of light, bad eyes. I opted to replace all my old fixtures with new ones due to their condition/stlye location, and the fact I was rewiring and upgrading. A good fixture designed for LEDs has proper circuitry, heat sink, etc.) at least in my opinion. I shopped around and tried a bunch and returned some West Marine ones and Aqua Signal ones for poor brightness/color, flimsiness.  I use a wide variety of LED fixtures throughout my boat. I have Dr. LED Mars dome lights in V-Berth and head, LunaSea in aft cabin, Hella at chart table, and Alpenglow fixtures in the main salon. I like them all for their various locations, except my wife says the Dr. LED Mars dome light in the head is not bright enough due to its location on the low headliner next to sink...the light is blocked when she stands putting on make-up in the mirror...really?! Tough to find a good location for more light with without having to do a wire raceway/cover. I'll add it to my project list (not high on the list, but lets keep that fact among ourselves).

The Alpenglow are VERY nice (top rated by Practical Sailor) but they are pricey. Two of them on the coachroof light up the entire main salon. All my lights have red and white settings. The Alpenglows also have  high/low.Take a look at their website: https://www.alpenglowlights.com/

[Paulus]

Thanks Noah, Have the same complaint about the light in the head.  I am thinking about putting in a puck type that works off batteries?  Will check out the web site.
Paulus

[jstrane]

I also installed LED in standard fixtures
hull # 1759

[Ekutney]

I just recently changed all my bulbs to LED, not so much for more light but for power consumption.  All lights now draw approx 20% of what they used to..  I tried a number of different ones, ordered a couple to see what they were like, also tried a couple of different fixtures.  I found the following fixture to be good for the galley and Nav station due to the narrow overhead space:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/swivel-led/

The following worked well for the head in place of the previous fixture.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-dome-light-fixtures-non-waterproof/105-oval-dome-light-led-fixture-with-switch/1490/3465/

[Lance Jones]

I used those from West Marine in our V-berth. They work wonderfully. I also installed a 16' LED Warm White flexible light strip that runs down one side and back up the other. Talk about bright! https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-strip-lights-standard-lengths/led-light-strips-led-tape-light-with-18-smdsft-1-chip-smd-led-3528-with-lc2-connector/1464/

[dfloeter]

In addition to adding light to the boat, a Mark 2, I changed out the swivel bulbs for LEDs on the cheap.   Warm white LEDs found on Ebay for a few dollars each.   We have two types, a 4 watt that sits flush with the housing like the original bulbs and I believe a 6 watt bulb that protrudes ½" or so.   So far the bulbs are holding up to use and have greatly reduced electricity usage.   

YMMV

[KWKloeber]

I changed out the swivel bulbs for LEDs on the cheap.   Warm white LEDs found on Ebay for a few dollars each.   

YMMV

Just be aware of what can happen.  It gives me angst when I hear owners finding cheapo LEDs that are manufactured who-knows-where, and are not constant-current controlled.  They may be ok for autos and RVs and power boats where the voltage swing is more limited more, than on sailboats with deep cycle banks that get depleted.  See:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdiAUovJ17w


kk

[Noah]

Good call, Ken.