Finally completed my indirect lighting project on the starboard side.
1) Replaced the fluorescent light over the fridge with a 48 inch strip of LED lights from: http://www.allelectronics.com/index.php?page=search&search_query=LS-48W&x=27&y=11
2) Added a 39 inch strip under the cabinet shelves in galley to light that storage area from: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Flight_bars-flexible.html
3) 1&2 are tied to a single switch
4) Added a 37 inch strip of waterproof LEDs below the ports. From: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Flight_bars-flexible.html
5) 4 is tied to its own switch.
Has anyone tried a LED project in the cockpit area ?
By the way, the new lights look great in the cabin.
I have LED fixtures under my aft dodger frame and my forward bimini frame. They are fantastic. Draw nothing and make the cockpit liveable after dark. We would even leave them on when going ashore for dinner and it is that much easier to find the boat in a crowded anchorage.
Guys : The LEDs look great.
I'd like to caution anyone not to put an LED strip in the track just below the opening ports. If a port leaks the water runs into that track and empties in the aft portion of that track! A thought
I understand that Ron. That's why I installed the waterproof LEDs there. Shouldn't be an issue for that as all connections are else where and not in danger of getting wet.
Updated with web links to the primary products.
Has anyone used Rope Lights? I have been considering using one in the cockpit attached under one of the aluminum ribs of the bimini.
Mike,
I have red ones lining the rear of my dodger and white lining the rear of my bimini. They work great AND you can be seen from space I think. Product: WFLS-x300: Weatherproof 300 High Power LED Flexible Light Strip Reel
Link: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Flight_bars-flexible.html
Lance--The galley lights look fantastic! That's been a pain point on Donnybrook--barely enough light to cook by. The light looks white in the picture. How much of a blue tint does it have?
Does the indirect lighting on one side light the entire salon? I'm thinking a red strip would be nice for night sailing.
Kyle,
Little if any blue tint. The cabin light is warm; but, not bright. More like mood lighting.
Lance
Have you noticed any difference in lighting quality between the different brands? Namely - color and output.
Not really. I look for the size of the strip and the number & power of the LEDs. I like superbrightleds.com as I place the order on Monday and have it by Wednesday. NEVER had ANY problems with them at all.
Quote from: Lance Jones on March 22, 2011, 07:40:49 AM
Not really. I look for the size of the strip and the number & power of the LEDs. I like superbrightleds.com as I place the order on Monday and have it by Wednesday. NEVER had ANY problems with them at all.
Second that on Superbrightleds.com
Placed an order with them and had it in 2 days by snail mail. Wasn't happy with what I got (too blue for my tastes, should have ordered warm white) and no problem at all sending them back for credit. Excellent service.
Guys,
The market for LED's is full if sinister scammers so please be careful. Many of the devices intended for home lighting are set for 12V only and often won't tolerate much more for very long. I have personally witnessed cheap LED's that have melted down and one nearly caught a boat on fire. This bulb was ordered from one of the "inexpensive" LED sources.
Feel free to watch this video so you have a understanding of the implications that cna potentially happen when using cheap LED bulbs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdiAUovJ17w&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdiAUovJ17w&feature=player_embedded)
BTW, I selected Warm white for the upper port light indirect and the cabinet indirect. The over the fridge was plain white. None have a blue tinge that I can see.
Quote from: Lance Jones on March 22, 2011, 01:53:31 PM
BTW, I selected Warm white for the upper port light indirect and the cabinet indirect. The over the fridge was plain white. None have a blue tinge that I can see.
The cool white is very blue. Even the natural white, which is what I got is too blue for my tastes. I'm sure I would have been happy with the warm white. Maybe I'll reorder this summer.
Lance and others, what kind of switch did you use for the string lights? I've been looking for some surface mounted switches but came up short.
I installed a 39 inch string of LED's from SuperbrightLEDs on each side of the salon and they provide excellent lighting. But I would like to be able to switch them on/off independantly.
Thanks
When I added overhead lighting to our saloon and galley way back in 1998, I bought two toggle switches and mounted them in the vertical teak riser just forward of the galley with a small plastic cover plate I bought at Tap Plastics. I tapped into the positive lighting wiring "loop" and used a terminal strip to connect the wiring mounted in the upper galley shelf behind the sliding doors. I think it's in the Tech wiki. I'll go find it and post a link here later.
I couldn't find it in the wiki, but here's a link to the old Projects page, scroll down to the lighting part, pictures show what I did.
http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-aquavite.html (http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-aquavite.html)
Roland : You can always install a rotating (thumb) switch inline. A thought