LED lighting

[special k]

if it ain't broke don't fix it

[Jeremyvmd]

I just got a second set of leds for my boat. First set was from replacement boat parts and they were nice but kinda dim. So I replaced the center done light and thenbathroom light with these from Amazon and they are amazingly bright!

Tree I'm surprised to hear that. Even my low draw leds worked fine. Sounds like a new housing is a good idea or at least replacing the switch. Does it work if you put a different led or the original bulb back in?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FPFIC ... UTF8&psc=1

[Nancy]

Jeremy, amazing how the prices have come down and availability is, well, everywhere.

Question on that bulb you linked to. Does your boat have the Guest 8018 fixtures? I wouldn't have expected that LED cylindrical bulb to have enough clearance to fit.

[Jeremyvmd]

Yes I have the 8018 fixtures. It's JUST small enough to fit. It's kinda crammed in there but works without damaging anything. I figured they are 5050smds and round which should give a more diffuse light, for the price it was worth a try if they didn't fit then oh well.

[Tree]

I just got a second set of leds for my boat. First set was from replacement boat parts and they were nice but kinda dim. So I replaced the center done light and thenbathroom light with these from Amazon and they are amazingly bright!

Tree I'm surprised to hear that. Even my low draw leds worked fine. Sounds like a new housing is a good idea or at least replacing the switch. Does it work if you put a different led or the original bulb back in?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FPFIC ... UTF8&psc=1

Yep, tried two of three of my spare bulbs. I had the same issue with my deck lights when I changed them to LED flood lights. When I pulled the switch for those I found some corrosion on the back side. When it had 100 watts going through it, no problem. Once that was dropped down to 36 watts the switch became intermittent. With the interior light I could change the switch as I'm sure it's a standard size but I'm sure it's easier to just replace the fitting.

[Serenity]

As most of you have switched your cabin lights to LED I had one more to do. The wedge led is a Sylvania # 194, cool white, 12.8v and only .5 watts. I picked the bulb up at Auto Zone. Interesting, the package states "for off road use only". I imagine that applies to boating.

[mike66]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QQ ... UTF8&psc=1
Installed these this spring on my mast. So far, great. Just wanted to share. LED's sure are cheap now.

[Nancy]

I'd like to change to LED bulbs in the three courtesy lights in the cockpit. These fixtures have amber lenses. I've read that, ideally, the LED bulb should also be amber, but I can't find them in the correct length (38 mm.). My understanding is that if I use white LED, they will appear dimmer through the amber lens than an amber bulb of the same lumens rating would. I could use some guidance from someone who understands LED lighting better than I do.

1. This cool white bulb is rated at 54 lumens: https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinf ... 2161/4950/. Will it be too dim?

2. This warm white bulb is rated at 105 lumens: https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinf ... 2160/5267/. Will be be too bright?

3. Abandon the idea and stick with the 5W incandescent bulbs considering the limited amount of time we use them (~1.5 amps per hour).

[jms02050]

Nancy - I swapped out all courtesy lights (cabin and cockpit) with new Hella leds. Check out their site. Was a fairly easy switch-out - cut the wires, re-crimp and done. They have the amber color that you're looking for. I have 4 in the cockpit - 2 on each side. Aside from that it's the 1 overhead. I use the courtesy lights all night so it was a good swap for me.

Also enjoying my switchable white/red bi-pin leds for the interior overheads from marinebeam.com. Pretty slick.