LED Conversion

[rognvald]

Has anyone converted their navigation lights/interior lights to LED? If so, what is your opinion and can you recommend any vendor for ease of replacement and quality of the product. All responses will be greatly appreciated.

[barnakiel]

I have converted a couple of boats from tri-color top to tri-color red top. Etc.

We used tri-color LED bulbs for combined lights. Green and red and white led bulbs for sector lights.

No negative comments from any of the owners.

This is what we used there:
http://www.boatelectricals.co.uk/ima...ginal/1267.jpg

b.

[boatpoker]

I have a "how to" article with photos on my website showing how to convert existing interior fixtures for $10.00ea. Cheap LED's For Your Boat

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I switched interior lights to LEDs. I got Dr. LED lights from Defender. They are nice and bright and don't get very hot like halogens.

[RainDog]

I tried almost every led conversion product on the market. Hated them all. I finally gave up and bought new LED Lights from Alpenglow. It sucked dropping the $1000 to convert the whole boat, but the quality of light was 10 times better than the best drop-in bulbs (which would have cost $400 to convert).

[rdempsey]

I like these from Ikea:

INREDA Spotlight - IKEA

Toss out the transformer and wire them direct to 12v!
Its a very nice white light.
Each one draws about .1 amps, so my dinette is very well lit for .4 amps!
I've done the galley and head with these.
They fit flush with my headliner and just clip in.
And I've done most of the boat for just $180.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I tried almost every led conversion product on the market. Hated them all. I finally gave up and bought new LED Lights from Alpenglow. It sucked dropping the $1000 to convert the whole boat, but the quality of light was 10 times better than the best drop-in bulbs (which would have cost $400 to convert).

So was your dislike of the conversion LEDs you tried based on the color of the light? That has been my problem. I bought one Dr LED from Defender but the light is a shade of blue white kind of like the old fluorescents that I don't particularly like. I tried a couple of Sensibulbs and liked the color better but they were not cheap and not exactly blinding bright.

What was it about the Alpenglow that convinced you to drop a boat buck on them?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by rdempsey

I like these from Ikea:

INREDA Spotlight - IKEA

Toss out the transformer and wire them direct to 12v!
Its a very nice white light.
Each one draws about .1 amps, so my dinette is very well lit for .4 amps!
I've done the galley and head with these.
They fit flush with my headliner and just clip in.
And I've done most of the boat for just $180.

How is the color of the light from the IKEAs?

[mangomuffins]

Hey skip,

which model dr. led did you buy? I like the blueish white light color.


mm

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by mangomuffins

Hey skip,

which model dr. led did you buy? I like the blueish white light color.


mm

Guess I'm brain dead. Can't remember and can't seem to find the model on the net but will be on the boat this afternoon and get it off the light and post it.

Skip

[Tony B]

The INREDA Spotlight says 'Warm White" which is usually an incandescent type yellow. Is that the way "Warm White" is on LED's also?
I only like Daylight or Bright White

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by skipmac

So was your dislike of the conversion LEDs you tried based on the color of the light?

I am very picky about light, but generally it was based on the color and the "spread pattern" (some parts of the circle of light cast were brighter than others). The sensibulb was the best of the lot, but the color still was not all that great, and they jutted out to the edge of the light, so half the time you where staring at the bare bulb.

The alpenglow casts an extremely pleasing light, it is perfectly even throughout the "spread pattern", and it is a very attractive and well built light.

In my case it was for sure worth the boat buck, but all my lights where 23 years old and ready for replacement anyway.

[Dockhead]

I have about three trillion halogen puck lights on my boat. Well, I'm exaggerating, but I think in reality dozens. I have been gradually converting them to LED over the three years I have owned the boat using a few units each from a different maker every time. I don't much like the light, and I've found that bad light comes in a remarkable variety of forms.

I found the expensive Sensibulbs to be pretty much carp, among the worst, and extremely dim. Unfortunately I bought a fairly large quantity of them at great expense. Imra were ok, if somewhat greenish. Superbright were much better, but had an amazing failure rate - one out of 4 just burned up when first switched on - a definite fire hazard.

Now the last few I bought were from Bedazzled in the UK. Eureka! For once, light nearly indistinguishable from halogen. And at a very reasonable price. When I get around to it (can't be futzing with the lighting all the time; the list of truly urgent repairs and upgrades is far too long) I'm going to deep-six the Sensibulbs and the remaining halogens and convert the rest of the boat to Bedazzled.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by mangomuffins

Hey skip,

which model dr. led did you buy? I like the blueish white light color.


mm

DR LED Mars dome light.


Mars Dome Cabin Lights (Dr. Led) - LED Interior Lights

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I am very picky about light, but generally it was based on the color and the "spread pattern" (some parts of the circle of light cast were brighter than others). The sensibulb was the best of the lot, but the color still was not all that great, and they jutted out to the edge of the light, so half the time you where staring at the bare bulb.

The alpenglow casts an extremely pleasing light, it is perfectly even throughout the "spread pattern", and it is a very attractive and well built light.

In my case it was for sure worth the boat buck, but all my lights where 23 years old and ready for replacement anyway.

Thanks I guess.

Sounds like the kind of light I would like but gee, now I might have to spring for another boat buck myself.