Light fixture mysteries

[Nancy]

Two different light fixtures, two different mysteries.

Photo 1. Any idea how to get access to the bulb in this fixture? It's nowhere near bright enough and I want to replace it. I can't see how to get the cover off.

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Photo 2. This fixture is above the dinette table. It has a three position switch: bulb 1, off, bulb 2. Well, that's great if you want two different color bulbs like at a helm station, but silly in the cabin if you'd like to turn on one or both bulbs at the same time. Is it possible to rewire a fixture to operate like that? I also don't like the cold white bulbs, but that's a different problem.

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[Pitou]

1). Picture one in the head is a fluorescent fixture and accessed by gently squeezing the top and bottom of the lens at its base toward both ends and then the plastic lens releases.

I've been doing the back and forth for years on what to do about upgrading this fixture with bulb or otherwise. I have not been able to find the right (for me) solution, fit wise or otherwise.

2). For your cabin light, I suppose that you could replace the switch to an On /Off and wire it so that both bulbs go on in the powered position. Funny thing .. I converted my cabin lights to having the ability to have two colors. There are times that softer "mood" lighting is just more comfortable on the eyes.

[Nancy]

That's not good news on photo #1. The lighting in the head is really bad. You haven't found an LED bulb? There's a dome light in the shower that helps, but it's not bright enough and it's cold white. I'll be replacing it with warm white and hopefully more lumens. It's all a crap shoot.

What two colors did you choose for your cabin lights?

[Pitou]

Marine Beam has some different sized LED replacements for fluorescent tubes that may work. Other things surface and I never followed through, but I did convert the halogen light in the shower using a Marine Beam dual color white/blue bulb that really helps.

As you know the TE setup is very different than the CB, but I replaced all cabin dome light bulbs also from Marine Beam with white/blue as well with the exception of the one over the galley which I replaced with white/red .. all are single on / off switched. I've kept the reading lamps as plain white, but converted to LED bulbs.

I know that there are probably lesser expensive bulbs our there, but I've been doing business with Marine Beam since their inception and like their product.

Over the years I've also done additional lighting upgrades as well. Lumitec Nevis LED bilge lighting (7 of them), Lumitec LED dimmable white/blue spreader lights for the cockpit, all blue Hella LED courtesy lights (yellow in the cabin), and a white/blue Lumitec Light Touch LED Dome in the wheelhouse and one under the roof overhang into the cockpit.

The 2 color Light Touch might be a good option in your cabin??? They are also available in white / red and are dimmable by touch.

Lots that you'll want to do to customize your new boat, so get your list going and pick them off one by one and have fun.

[dkirsop]

Dome Light - The existing switch may be capable of being re-wired to 1on - off - 2on. Just double up on the connection so 1 and 2 share one terminal, and bulb 1 has its own terminal.

Fluorescent Light - Again, some modification may be in order. You can purchase self-adhesive LED light tapes. Gut the fluorescent bulb and ballast and directly wire the led strip to the switch. Affix the tape either directly to the base or on a backing of your choice.

[Nancy]

Dome Light - The existing switch may be capable of being re-wired to 1on - off - 2on. Just double up on the connection so 1 and 2 share one terminal, and bulb 1 has its own terminal.

Fluorescent Light - Again, some modification may be in order. You can purchase self-adhesive LED light tapes. Gut the fluorescent bulb and ballast and directly wire the led strip to the switch. Affix the tape either directly to the base or on a backing of your choice.

I like those ideas! Not that I would know 1) how to identify or know how to do the doubling up, or 2) how to select an LED light tape with any confidence that it would be the right brightness.

[Pitou]

Dome Light - The existing switch may be capable of being re-wired to 1on - off - 2on. Just double up on the connection so 1 and 2 share one terminal, and bulb 1 has its own terminal.

Fluorescent Light - Again, some modification may be in order. You can purchase self-adhesive LED light tapes. Gut the fluorescent bulb and ballast and directly wire the led strip to the switch. Affix the tape either directly to the base or on a backing of your choice.

I like those ideas! Not that I would know 1) how to identify or know how to do the doubling up, or 2) how to select an LED light tape with any confidence that it would be the right brightness.

The fluorescent in the head does not have a ballast or a starter to my recollection and is direct wired. I'll open it up tomorrow or Friday and get this figured out for the both of us. Stand by!

[Nancy]

LOL, Kevin! I'm so happy to have inspired you! I didn't make it to the marina today or I would have taken that fixture apart.

[dkirsop]

2700 deg. Kelvin is the specification for warm white and what you should look for in an LED bulb or light strip.

[Pitou]

Here we go .. The fixture is a low voltage 12 volt DC lamp without a ballast or a separate starter and made by the German company Rensch; model Resolux 505. It has T5 - 8 watt (.667 amp) fluorescent tube at approximately 12 inches / actually 11.75". They now make a similar model in LED at about $150.

For $20, Marine Beam has the LED replacement in 2900, 4000 or 6150k. I've ordered the Warm white / Soft white 2900 LED tube. There isn't a big amperage savings with the fluorescent at .667 amps and the LED at .35 amps. Now it comes back to me as to why I hadn't jumped on this before to change out as there is only negligible amp hour savings. Hopefully I won't have to do any wiring adjustments within the fixture.

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[Nancy]

Yes, same light fixture although I didn't take mine off the wall. Identical bulb. It's not about the amperage, it's the brightness! Looking forward to your next chapter. In the meantime, we're in refrigerator hell. Cabinet hell to be more accurate. But that will be a separate thread.

[Pitou]

Yes, same light fixture although I didn't take mine off the wall. Identical bulb. It's not about the amperage, it's the brightness!

If you like things bright, sign yourself up for for the 4,000k tube or better yet the 6,150k interrogation tube!

[Nancy]

Haha - the 6150 will be too cold. I suspect the 4000 will be, too.

[Pitou]

Installed the warm white 2900k LED tube from Marine Beam last night and it's a bit brighter than the original fluorescent, but still soft enough for eye comfort. For me it's perfect as when the sun goes down, it's cocktail hour and I'm not looking to brighten things up too much.

If I want things a bit brighter I toggle on the light fixture in the shower stall. That fixture has a dual colored white/blue LED bulb from Marine Beam.

[Nancy]

Thanks for the update, Kevin. I'm bummed that it's only a bit brighter. Obviously, you're not trying to apply just the right amount of eye shadow and get your eyeliner symmetrical! lol