Sitting here in the winter thinking of summer boat projects: would like to replace my cabin salon lights with LED's, I've done some conversions but focusing on the slider festoon bulb fixtures, looks like they are 42 mm bulbs, I've searched the archives but they are mostly older posts and techy stuff change rapidly these days. On the internet they go from 50 cents to 15 dollars apiece, need 8 of them, any recent advice would be appreciated or recommendations on what kind and where to get these, I think Stu recommended the soft white. Thank you
PS: a customer chose these for a J/120 and absolutely LOVE them.
https://store.marinebeam.com/surface-mount-led-fixture-with-dimming-fx-ys-6w/
Bob
Look at Marinebeam.com
And also read the article there on constant current LEDs.
I've used some of Nate's products (bulbs/retros/fixtures) and have been generally pleased with them.
Bob,
I replaced my bulbs with a variety of led lights. Dependent on where they were, some were directional, others flood, more and less leds ie. more light. All were from
www.superbrightleds.com
I'm very happy with them. here are some numbers I used G4B-WWHP10-D G4B-WWWHP4-D I'm sure others were used but don't have the numbers at home. Don't know that your boat takes the same bulbs, but think you can find ones that match yours from super bright. That was 6 years ago and haven't had a failure.
Jim
If you are considering changing out the entire fixture, look at the Alpenglow brand offerings. I have both the overhead and bulkhead mounted lamps and are very pleased with them.
https://www.alpenglowlights.com/
Thank you all, I have replaced the over sink fixture with a red/white light, and the one in the bathroom with the same, the rear berth I installed a led reading light, left the other two stock lights alone but would like to get led bulbs for those as well, I really want to replace the 8 festoon lights in the salon. Probably leave the v berth alone, don't go up there much.
Also would like to install a couple overhead 120 volt lights in the salon, boat seems kinda dark and dingy at night when my family is up playing board games in the slip
Bob : I changed my old bulbs in the salon slider fixtures with the festoon LEDs from Super Bright LEDs. They work great!!
In the slider fixture by the Nav table I put one White LED and one Red LED. ( for night operation)
A thought
Bob- i solved the add more overall light to the cabin by installing my Alpenglow LED fixtures on the saloon ceiling. I ran the wiring in a teak channel that I carried all the way across butting to the hatch frame for better balanced look. Plenty of light with high/low settings in both white and red
I used their LED "bulkhead" mounted fixture over the galley.
beautiful Job Noah, Thank you, I take it those are 12 volt fixtures in the ceiling?, I'm having a little trouble finding a 12 volt under cabinet fixture for above the stove refrigerator, lots of them out there but can't seem to find one with its own switch, would like to replace the two florescents I have there now from my "last" upgrade.
Bob
I've also installed the Marinebeam LED "fluorescent" tube unde-cabinet lights on that J/120, I wouldn't call them "marine" (more RV) but they worked fine for the application - Nate had replacement tubes that fit std fixtures and I believe they just need to be rewired for direct 12v, no ballast. He had switched single and double tube fixtures in different color temps and red night option.
The capt AND ADMIRAL are happy with them and the dimming ceiling lights (VERY bright.)
(ps I have no relationship w/ MB)
Thanks Kem, I'll give them a call, would be great to just change bulbs and a little wiring
I find a lot of uses for Lucie Lights. I use the original, enough light to play cards, have food and drink. My girlfriend sent some to her niece in Puerto Rico after the huricane, well recieved.
https://mpowerd.com/collections/earth-day-sale?utm_source=MPOWERD.COM&utm_campaign=55848bcb8d-winter-bogo-2019_extended_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5e7d552e46-55848bcb8d-86541085&mc_cid=55848bcb8d&mc_eid=667f19e03d
Jim
I switched over to all LEDs for internal lighting.
For the salon lights I kept the original fixtures & used 2 separate bulbs:
one bright, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EL26M78/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
one dim, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PHHNXTG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For the aft cabin & V berth I used the original fixture with the following:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EKKJKTI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Bulbs were installed 3 years ago & have worked fine. I also tested the bulbs by applying 15VDC to make sure they were properly heat sinked, a potential issue with cheap LED bulbs.
I also installed these units:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/swivel-led/135-swivel-utility-led-light-bar-with-rocker-switch/1434/4518/
1 installed over the Nav table & 2 installed over the Ice Box/Stove area. The swivel works well so it can easily be adjusted for the best results. This light fits nicely on the back side of teak trim.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-dome-light-fixtures-non-waterproof/10-inch-oval-led-dome-light-fixture-w-switch-30-watt-equivalent/1490/3465/
The above light replaced the original florescent light in the head, installed same location as the original light.
Thank you Ed, very informative, what I was looking for, I have the festoon bulbs in my salon slider lights, am interested in the dim/bright configuration, do you not have the festoon stock slider lights? or was that a different light on a 86 versus my 88. also my lights in the v berth are sealed behind the lens, not sure if I can change those bulbs, the fixture is so nice I hate to swap it out for the little I use it. Thanks again Ed
The light fixtures I have in the salon (qty 4, 2 port 2 starboard) have 2 sockets per fixture with a ON/OFF switch on each side fore & aft. I used the low lumes bulb for one socket & the higher lumes multi LED bulb for the other socket. I've attached a pic to give you an idea of the type fixture & location on port side.
The lights fixtures I have in V berth (qty 2) & in the aft cabin (qty 2) are shown at this link but as they state no longer available.
https://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/product/3715_769/span-style-cabin-light-early-fixturespan.htm
Ed that's great idea using the low lumen on one instead of red. Then I can use the switching red/white led on the other socket. And get the best of all options.
Pics of the original light fixture in the salon:
Pic 1 light with cover on
Pic 2 light without cover
Pic 3 light open showing dim bulb
Pic 4 light open showing bright bulb
I installed LED string lights along both sides of the salon, and another one above the galley. They provide a lot of light for general illumination. I installed some toggle switches so each string can be individually controlled. I find they throw a lot more light than using LED replacement bulbs in the original equipment light fixtures. I did this was a few years ago so perhaps the bulbs now may be better.