LED Cabin Lights

[reedbr]

There was a thread on this before, but no conclusions.  Has anybody replaced their pivoting halogen cabin lights with LED clusters?  I cruise with 5 people and sometimes have trouble maintaining a 3-light-at-a-time maximum rule for the boat.  

If so, did you find a drop-in replacement?  How many LED's per bulb?  Are they bright enough to read by?  This is what I was thinking of:

http://superbrightleds.com/MR16_specs.htm

Thanks.

[David Sanner]

I tried them and was not that happy.
The light is a bit harsh, a blue/white that doesn't spread well.

I recently intsalled one of the LB2 red light bars above
the chart table (under the teak rail)

http://superbrightleds.com/light_bars.htm

It adds are very nice red glow over the entire table.

[Ron Hill]

Brian : I've replaced 95% of the light bulbs on board with LEDs.  Look at the site you mentioned and it depends on which type bulb and type base you want, as to how many LEDs they offer.  On some bulbs you need to specify narrow or broad beam.  I went to all broad beam bulbs (19 LEDs in an 1142 bulb) and the 9 LED festoon bulbs.

The reds are best by far and I replaced all of the engine instrument 194 bulbs with red LEDs.  I'm happy.

[reedbr]

Let me start with my question first.  For stock C34 MkII 10w Frilight halogen bulbs in the eyeball sockets, are those MR16 or MR11 base bulbs?

Now for the research I gathered.  Somebody check my math here.  Since Volts x Amps = Watts, the existing 10 watt halogen bulb (which is already pretty efficient) at 12 volts draws .833 amps, or 833 milliamps (ma).  The biggest 30 LED cluster MR16 bulbs draw 125ma, meaning you can roughly run 6 for the price of one (price in power anyway).  The cost is $20 for that bulb.  The 24 LED clusters MR16 draws 100ma, or 8 for the power of one, and the cost on that bulb is $15.  The 12 LED cluster draws 50ma, or 15 for the power of one halogen. The cost on that bulb, MR16 or MR11 base, is $8.  The Davis Instruments LED's that some people weren't happy with were 6 LED's and they compared them to a 10w incandescent bulb.  I then made the leap that a 12 LED bulb would compare to a 20w incandescent which would probably be marginally OK.  

Therefore, I can run two fans (200ma/ea) and eight LED lights (50ma/ea for 12 LED clusters) and still use less power than one halogen light.  Does that sound right?  I'm sure there are some additional inefficiencies of distribution in there, but it's still impressive enough to give it a try.

Now, anybody have an answer on the MR11 or MR16 bulb types?

[Ron Hill]

Brian : Are you coming to the Fleet 12 Crab Feast at Cheshire Crab Restaurant on Bodkin Creek (come by land or sea) on 6 Aug?  

[reedbr]

Ron-
I hadn't planned on it but now you make me feel bad!  It would have been a good time to check out your LED's though.  The Patapsco is too far for me to cruise to on a weekend and if I drive there I have to give up a sailing weekend.  I think it's too late to make a reservation anyway.  I'll be cruising north the week of 8/14 though.

By the way, do you have the most up to date cruise calendar to put on the Fleet 12 section of this site?

[tstrand]

Question for Ron:

Did you find an LED replacement bulb to fit in the main salon lights, the ones that slide left for one bulb and right for two?

Thanks,
Tim

[Ron Hill]

Tim : Sure did!!  They are the Festoon bulbs, with the 9 LEDs.  The reds are really great for the slider light by the Nav station.  

Order your self a set and see what you think, before ordering 4 sets.  
The LED bulbs are polarized, so when you insert a double ended festoon bulb it may not light up because it's 180 degrees out.  

Remember, don't mix another type bulb in the same fixture with an LED - It's a fire hazard!!!  

[Ken Heyman]

The current issue of "Practical Sailor" has a feature article on LED lights.

Ken

[reedbr]

Ken-
I don't get PS anymore.  What's the general tone of the article, LED's are useful replacements or special duty only?

All-
In answer to the Frilight question I asked in an earlier post, the C34 MkII Frilight fixtures are MR16 bulbs.  My boat had all 20w Halogens loaded in it.  I tried 12-LED replacements but not even close to equivalent light.  You can only read by it if you are directly under it.  They also sell 24-30 LED MR16 fixtures but I haven't tried them.  The 30 LED bulb still only draws 125ma, compared to 833ma (10w halogen) or 1600ma (20w halogen).

[Ron Hill]

Brian : the only thing that you can do is buy one with the greatest number of LEDs and try it.   That's what I did.  
The other factor that only you can answer is personal preference - what I may think is OK, you may not like!!!    

[Ken Heyman]

re:"Ken-
I don't get PS anymore. What's the general tone of the article, LED's are useful replacements or special duty only?"


Sorry for the delay on this. The September issue of Practical Sailor (#17 & 18) deals with LED running and navigation lights only which was not the subject of our thread. Still it is an interesting article.

[Ron Hill]

Ken : Forget what Practical Sailor says and as I told Brian get an LED and try it and see what YOU think/like.  
It has to suit YOUR needs.  

[Stu Jackson]

Has anybody tried Alpenglow fixtures?

We've, so far, resolved our lighting issue by utilizing a neat trawler lamp in the main cabin, plus the halogen fixtures we installed shown in Projects, keeping the old lights for low level stuff.  Pretty much the only use we have of 12 v lights is reading in bed before we go to sleep in the forward cabin (guests use the ones in the aft cabin, which are all pretty well located for reading).  Keeps the amp hour drain down very low.

I fully understand that the trawler lamp idea may not appeal to those of you in warmer climates, but it's one of the better boat heaters we've found here.

[Ron Hill]

Guys : I have 3 oil lamps on board.  
Since I installed LEDs I've cut my oil lamp fuel consumption in half!!
You need to get a single LED and see it it fits your liking.  Then decide if you want more.