Light for 12V boat fridge or freezer

[ErikFinn]

Did anyone add a light to their old top loading boat fridge? As far as I know it's pretty rare to have one. Is there a reason? Do new yachts have lights In their fridges nowadays? If you added a light how did you do it? I've read most fridge reno threads here but can't remember having seen anything about a light..
I'm in the process of installing new evaporator and new compressor and this would be a good to add a light, share same wire pulls etc.

[Owe Hansson]

This works for me

Coleman - 3AAA Auto On Cooler Light - 3AAA Auto On Cooler Light

[conachair]

I used a cheap micro switch with a 9v battery and some led strip. Well worth the effort, helps loads.

[ErikFinn]

Interesting ideas, thanks guys!
I suppose a main concern would be moisture entering the switch or the light, not so much power consumption as the light would hardly ever be on.

[Dartanyon]

I picked up a few of these [http://amzn.to/29eTYo0] Motion activated battery powered led sticky lights. I figured they'd die every year or so, but the one in the fridge has been going for nearly 18 months. Can't complain for $10.

[knockabout]

don't have a fridge these days too much hassle / but when we did the led headlamp worked well / turn headlamp on- look in direction of fridge - open fridge - add or remove fridge contents - close fridge / also works for navigating to and from fridge

[tstano]

Originally Posted by ErikFinn

Did anyone add a light to their old top loading boat fridge? As far as I know it's pretty rare to have one. Is there a reason? Do new yachts have lights In their fridges nowadays? If you added a light how did you do it? I've read most fridge reno threads here but can't remember having seen anything about a light..
I'm in the process of installing new evaporator and new compressor and this would be a good to add a light, share same wire pulls etc.

We have a 12V LED strip light with a rocker switch for our fridge. Makes plenty of light for overnight passages.

All U Get

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by conachair

I used a cheap micro switch with a 9v battery and some led strip. Well worth the effort, helps loads.

I use a NO/NC magnetic reed switch.

In the closed position, the circulation fan and when needed, the spillover fan (both computer type fans) run.

In the open position, both fans are disabled and the LED pucks light up.

Mount the reed on the back of the frame, and the magnet on the door. I made my reefer door magnet mount with velcro rather than the furnished double-stick tape; I sometimes remove it in order to prove out the switch in either the reefer (as described) or the freezer, which controls only the circulation fan and lights. To try to control the compressor with that switch would not be a good idea, but it works well for the spillover, making it not pull cold from the freezer if it happened to be in the 'call' mode when the doors open.

I got mine from an alarm supply outfit. NO/NC will give you center positive and leads to the two circuits you want, and if you have a feed from whatever thermostat circuit you use, it's trivial to wire up.

Similar to these:

54-627 - NTE ELECTRONICS - Reed Switch, SPDT, 250 mA, 125 VAC, 3 W | Newark element14

https://www.amazon.com/Philmore-N-C-.../dp/B004PARDRO

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009SUF08...59K60EB3TE92K7

https://www.amazon.com/30-10071-Spdt.../dp/B0108HJAQO

L8R

Skip

[Cowboy Sailer]

I mounted a red/white light under the cabinet above the top loading door of our fridge. It is also useful when working on the countertop next to the fridge. The red LED is great at night and the white LED is plenty bright when needed.

[AD28]

RefrigeTiddies(TM):

https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Wate...led+tea+lights

We stick a couple of these on the lid underside, we're using bits of the 3M Command pull-away tape, but you could use double-sided tape.

can't beat the price and they seem to last fairly well

[autumnbreeze27]

Lots of cool ideas in this thread.

Our top loader freezer gets lit up by the under cabinet lighting, but I did add a light sensitive switch so that when I open the door it shuts off the fan.

Not as elegant as some of the solutions here, I've got to have the lights on or the ambient light won't shut it off, and there is a 1-2 second delay.

[wsmurdoch]

I bought a replacement automotive dome light from Advance Auto and installed both it and a small 12V computer fan from Radio Shack in the top of my fridge. +1 for both. +2 for my wife's better attitude. With the light we can see in fridge, and with the fan the top and bottom of the fridge are at about the same temperature. The fan runs all the time the "cabin lights / cabin fans" breaker is on, and the light runs when the same breaker is on and its switch is on.

[barnakiel]

I have seen and fixed very many micro switch / plain bulb fridge lights.

I always "fix" the bulbs. Maybe a LED is a better choice?

b.

[AD28]

actually

these are the EXACT ones I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/Submersible-B...6QQTGC90RA7ESE