A 32 V solution to a shower light

[riverrandy]

Because of my height I wanted a recessed light fixture for the shower. I found an LED that would do the trick, knowing I would have to wire 110v AC. When I got the fixture to the boat and opened the packaging, I found the perfect 5" by 1/2" disk to install, but there was also a control box (bummer). When I opened the control box to see how to hook the wires up, I found a neat little tag, that read, 25 to 42 Vdc! So as a test, I set up the light and ran 32Vdc to it. It was bright and beautiful. I let it burn for 2+ hours, and it did great, got a little warm to the touch (like a fresh cup of coffee), but the manual said it was insulation friendly and could be in direct contact.

After letting it run for the initial 2 hours, I started to switch it on and off like a 10 year old eating donuts, and drinking coke. no effect. I tested on and off for about 2 days. Today, I cut a 4 1/4" hole in the sower ceiling, and now I have the perfect 32V light fixture. Fingers crossed I am not swapping it out every week.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Can you post a link to the light?

 

[SEVEN]

Andor photos of the light installed

 

[riverrandy]

Light from Home Depot


Inside of connection box

Testing

 

[riverrandy]

Finished! I can build engines, clean teak, wire a killer car stereo, but damn if I can figure out how to post picture in the right orientation.

 

[riverrandy]

Oh, and 60 watt is too bright, shower needs serious cleaning and or new gelcoat! I could not see how bad it was before. I am either going to try a dimmer, or see if I can find a smaller wattage.

 

[oscarvan]

At the risk of insulting your intelligence.... the circuit IS GFI protected right?

 

[riverrandy]

Not sure the correct way to answer that. It is DC, and I did bond the "body" of the light to the green bonding wire. It is wired the same way it was with the 32 vdc fixture that hung down, it is just recessed and LED.

 

[oscarvan]

Not sure the correct way to answer that. It is DC, and I did bond the "body" of the light to the green bonding wire. It is wired the same way it was with the 32 vdc fixture that hung down, it is just recessed and LED.

OK, yes, sorry. Brain fart on my part. It's not connected to 120V AC. Ignore my statement.

 

[sixty]

This is an awesome post. Im 6'-2" and always hitting my head on that stinking light! I habe been looking for a 32v solution for a while. I'll happily volunteer as the next guinea pig

 

[Boatsb]

Imtra makes many LED fixtures that are 10 to 40 volt DC. They have up 64 or better ratings and are made for wet locations. I use many of their lights in customers boats. I sold and installed over 50 lights in a 50 ocean with 0 failures a year ago.

 

[riverrandy]

OK, yes, sorry. Brain fart on my part. It's not connected to 120V AC. Ignore my statement.

Phweew, though that was a test

 

[riverrandy]

This is an awesome post. Im 6'-2" and always hitting my head on that stinking light! I habe been looking for a 32v solution for a while. I'll happily volunteer as the next guinea pig 

Once I tested the electrical, my biggest concern was cutting the ceiling. I refused to buy a $35 hole saw for this so I measured with a pencil up the hole the wires come out. it looked like I had clearance, but i nipped off the end of my jig saw blade anyway. turns out there is about 4" up there! Next time I will just cut out the ceiling for more head room

 

[davidwigler]

Can you post a link to the lights and tell us where you bought them?

 

[rustybucket]

Looks like there are a few options for this light available at Home Depot.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Lighting-Recessed-Lighting/Globe-Electric/N-5yc1vZc7niZcdt

 

[riverrandy]

What Rustybucket said. I got it at home depot $24.

[h=2]Model # 91207[/h][h=2]Internet #303240039[/h][h=2]Store SKU #1002814297[/h]

 

[dottieshusband]

I've got the same lights in my showers at home, replacing the old incandescent units. 110 application. I liked the push connector block for the wiring, no wire nuts. Really made it an easy install.

 

[Tiparootom]

Oh boy... I want to put one in the Salon.....

 

[sixty]

I just installed two of these in my boat and thy are VERY bright! I bought the bronze for the headliner and the brushed nickel for the shower and they look great. Only problem I am having is that they get very hot and are un touchable after about 10 minutes. I can't find my infrared gun but
I would guess they are reaching 250d+. You can actually feel heat from the light like an incandescent which is pretty odd for LED

Voltage is about 36.5v which is well under the 42 they are spec'd at. Can anyone confirm that they get this hot using 120v ballasts?

 

[Photolomy]

This isn't a good development. Hopefully, the others aren't seeing this kind of heat.