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29-09-2012, 15:14
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Montreal, Qc/ Bahamas.
Boat: Beneteau, oceanis 423
Posts: 24
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LED lighting.
Hi fellows cruisers.
For my next project I want to swith to led all my nav lights and most of my cabin lights. There is a lot of these on the market and I wonder if the constant current types are worthing the extra bucks?
Probably need to buy a dc-dc converter to keep them for a long time, again extra bucks.
I know it`s been done before.
Can you tell me what type have you use?
Thanks for your infos.
Bob
On the ground for the next two months.
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29-09-2012, 15:49
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Marathon, FL
Boat: Hans Christian 33
Posts: 652
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Re: LED lighting.
We have tried many over the years, and we have found that this guy has the best dome lights. They are expensive, but well worth it. The light they put off is brighter and the same incandescent light color as our original incandescent bulbs. We replaced all of our cabin lights including the halogen replacement bulbs in those fixtures.
Innovative LED Lighting Products
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29-09-2012, 16:13
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#5
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 7,725
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Re: LED lighting.
If you are also replacing fixtures, the best quality over head and reading lights we've found come from Alpenglow Lights Really a nice light from tbeir reading lights.
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Paul
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29-09-2012, 17:14
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Montegut LA.
Boat: Now we need to get her to Louisiana !! she's ours
Posts: 3,421
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Re: LED lighting.
 Check on-line at camping world dot com they have whole replacement fixtures with LED, and they have the led bulbs as well! and at some great prices. just a thought, we have bought a lot of stuff from them and it has worked out well for us on boats !!
__________________
Bob and Connie
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29-09-2012, 17:28
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,104
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Re: LED lighting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Target9000
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I agree. I am a big fan of BEBI LIGHTS. I really like their BEKA lights. Use it in the cockpit and also the cabin. Also makes a good backup anchor light if needed:
THE BIANKA LOG BLOG: A LIGHT PROJECT
I also use several of them at home as part of my house LED lighting system.
__________________
Capt. Mike
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29-09-2012, 18:09
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern Chesapeake
Boat: Sabre 42
Posts: 170
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Try Http://www.oznium.com. I have relit my whole cabin with their super cheap (less than $3) lights. I have no real fixtures any more, and awesome light.
I have the lights going to a common switch panel, and all are on 3way toggles so I can light with red for night sailing.
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29-09-2012, 19:16
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#9
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Moderator

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Boat: Islander 34
Posts: 5,486
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Re: LED lighting.
For just bulb's, superbrightleds.com offers good leds for a fair price. I noted that the bulbs on their website also appear on at least one online marine retailer, just for 70% more. I'm using them and for the most part they do well...
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29-09-2012, 19:47
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 11,405
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Re: LED lighting.
[QUOTE=PassePort III;1047318...wonder if the constant current types are worthing the extra bucks?...[/QUOTE]
IMHO "Yes", the CC types are worth the money. The cheap resistive types just don't last. I run 12V LED both on the boat and at home (off grid) and the better quality CC bulbs have held up quite well (zero failures for several years), but all of the resistive bulbs I've tried are now in the trash bin (last one in the house just died recently). SMD CC are the way to go -- very bright and draw almost nothing.
Read the "Idiots Guide" posted at MarineBeam -- very good summary of the technology.
Just for added insurance, I recently also installed one of their DC-DC converters at the house, very compact (a bit bigger than my thumb and fit easily inside the breaker box), easy in-line install and relatively inexpensive ($26US). Installed just down stream of the breaker.
I've also ordered a number of products from SuperBriteLEDs (see LED Lights, Bulbs & Accessories - SUPER BRIGHT LEDS). Good prices and an amazing inventory of products, but you need to know what you are buying because they stock resistive bulbs too (appropriate for applications where you can ensure both current and voltage delivered are regulated ... like an LED sign with its own power supply for example).
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29-09-2012, 22:15
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#11
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,407
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Re: LED lighting.
Current Controlled LED lights are the only way to go on a boat. With CC devices you don't need a DC/DC convertor. Some LED assemblies also include spike suppression. I'm not so sure that is needed but it can't hurt.
Edit: added link.
http://www.bedazzled.uk.com/12v_LED_...eplacement.htm
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30-09-2012, 01:05
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 259
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Re: LED lighting.
Just buy the ones from Ikea ... they run directly and fine off 12 volts, and 11.4, and 15 (no matter what anyone else says ... the naysayers haven't tried them ;-), and you can get red ones also with a little thought and fiddling.
at £11 per piece (half for colour) they are fantastic
Or, you can go and spend 3times the price for a "marine bulb" sprinkled with special marine dust.
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30-09-2012, 01:31
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#13
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Moderator

Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 11,755
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Re: LED lighting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by belizesailor
Just for added insurance, I recently also installed one of their DC-DC converters at the house, very compact (a bit bigger than my thumb and fit easily inside the breaker box), easy in-line install and relatively inexpensive ($26US). Installed just down stream of the breaker.
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This does not added insurance if you have CC controlled. LEDs. Just another point of failure and inefficiency IMHO.
CC is a much better way to drive LEDs. The CC devices are usually rated up to about 30v+ so there is plenty of leaway for charging voltages. If the CC device fails the LED will not work despite the DC-DC converter.
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30-09-2012, 01:42
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Branched Oak Yacht Club, Wife is an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy
Boat: Clipper Marine 32 CC Aft Cabin Ketch
Posts: 1,211
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticGringo
Try Http://www.oznium.com. I have relit my whole cabin with their super cheap (less than $3) lights. I have no real fixtures any more, and awesome light.
I have the lights going to a common switch panel, and all are on 3way toggles so I can light with red for night sailing.
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Sweet!
At 6'7" tall and a 6' cabin, I really hate it when my head encounters a light fixture. Those suckers have to go! Just hit one yesterday.
Your post gives me hope!
Love the changeable colors!
__________________
W.I.B. Crealock when asked what he thought of the easily trailerable Clipper Marine sailboats by a naval design collegue, Gentelman Bill responded, "I am very proud of them".
www.clippermarine.org & www.clipper-sailor.net
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30-09-2012, 02:25
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Probably in an anchorage or a boatyard..
Boat: Ebbtide 33' steel cutter
Posts: 4,807
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Re: LED lighting.
Also worth noting that the led strip off ebay works fine with a 9v battery, add a micro switch and you can have light inside lockers without the hassle or running wires in.
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