Converting interior lighting to LEDs

[madhatter66]

I'm considering in converting all my interior (salon, head, galley and stateroom) lights to LEDs. Is there any benefits in either replacing the whole fixture or just getting LED bulbs? The original fixtures are in good shape. Thanks

 

[Tim Powell]

I'm considering in converting all my interior (salon, head, galley and stateroom) lights to LEDs. Is there any benefits in either replacing the whole fixture or just getting LED bulbs? The original fixtures are in good shape. Thanks

I just replaced the bulb but had probledms with dimmers.

 

[motoryacht lover]

I had all of mine replaced last year. I had the halogen light bulbs with the 2 prongs in a round fixture about the size of a hockey puck. My problem was the prongs on the bulbs and the female part on the fixture would get corroded and the bulbs would not stay lit. So going to an LED bulb with the 2 prongs wasn't going to solve my problem. So I replaced the entire fixture. I can't remember the brand but I think the fixture was around 100. I can look up brand and price when I return home. I am very pleased with the results and the LEDs ended up brightening up the interior.

 

[MikeP]

Question to both MadHatter and Tim: I assume you are both referring to the DC system re LEDs.. What system voltage is involved, 12 or 32?

 

[madhatter1]

I replaced all the bulbs only which saved a lot. Biggest benefit is with all the lights on the battery draw is super low so no longer need to be concerned about lights left on with no A/C power. Make sure to get the right color your looking for. I saved all the old bulbs as backups. Plan one trip to the Keys and everything begins to break.

 

[bigbill]

i replaced only the bulb with imtra leds. they work great, color is good, i am having the same problem as tim, the dimmers. the ones i use are for 12v and fit into a standard household electric box. looking for a better dimmer now.

 

[Cricket]

I messed around with various "g4" 2 prong led bulbs as replacements and wasn't happy with any of them for various reasons, color of the light, brightness, weird output pattern, dimmer issues. Ended up with Imtra warm white Sigma led's in the salon and Lumitec in the rest of the boat. All utilizing a momentary switch to activate their dimmer function instead of a separate dimmer. Good news is the led lights are getting better and cheaper all the time.

 

[madhatter66]

Yes MikeP this is for the 12v DC lights. I do have one 120v light that will be replaced as well. So there is no difference in just replacing the bulbs vs whole fixture? Doing the light switch to save on the battery bank when cruising. I noticed this bulb on Ebay. 10w should be good. I think it's rated like a 60-75w bulb.

 

[hcalmar]

I replaced my 40w/12v bulbs in the engine room, deck and staterooms with these Amazon 5w E26 LED Bulbs, 12 Volt, Warm White, Round Shape, $30 for 5. Great light, bright and 12.5% of the energy used.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01080HQIA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

 

[Tim Powell]

Question to both MadHatter and Tim: I assume you are both referring to the DC system re LEDs.. What system voltage is involved, 12 or 32?

mine are 24v I really like them not hot just wonder what heat is going to do to them in the er room,I also replaced the florsent lights with led outside flood lites. I purchased them from from Lowes they were designed to be used with a notion censer which i removed and wired them straight, Easy to install they came with their own box. I have a camera in the ER room the extra light really makes the camera show up.

 

[Tim Powell]

I replaced my 40w/12v bulbs in the engine room, deck and staterooms with these Amazon 5w E26 LED Bulbs, 12 Volt, Warm White, Round Shape, $30 for 5. Great light, bright and 12.5% of the energy used.
View attachment 19536
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01080HQIA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

I also replaced the 110 ac with led flood lights fixture all three of them that were florence.The fixtures are white and in the sealing three lightes to the fixture yes there are 9 lights all pointed in diffrent directions. The er room is lit very well i do not have a extra flash lite down there anymore. I got them from the neighborhood Lowes store they are white painted and medal painted white...They are grate i have a camera down there and it no good in the dark no problem now....

 

[mykim]

I had all of mine replaced last year. I had the halogen light bulbs with the 2 prongs in a round fixture about the size of a hockey puck. My problem was the prongs on the bulbs and the female part on the fixture would get corroded and the bulbs would not stay lit. So going to an LED bulb with the 2 prongs wasn't going to solve my problem. So I replaced the entire fixture. I can't remember the brand but I think the fixture was around 100. I can look up brand and price when I return home. I am very pleased with the results and the LEDs ended up brightening up the interior.

This is exactly the problem I'm running into. The old two prong fixtures are corroded, hence I am replacing all with LED's

 

[Cricket]

Just make sure the "white" light output is the correct color for your liking. I've found that lights with a color temp of around 2700 is about right, unless you prefer a "cold" white which will have higher temp numbers.

 

[madhatter66]

I purchased these lights to replace the 12v bulbs. Crazy thing is the port side of the boat works but not the starboard. Any suggestion why. Put the regular bulb in and it worked. All led bulbs work (port side so not a defective bulb) but for some reason no light up on the starboard side.

 

[Haylands]

LED bulbs are polarity sensitive unlike normal bulbs, I expect the whole side of the boat is wired the wrong way round, easy to check with a meter...

 

[bigbill]

i had the same thing happen to me, never thought about polarity.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I used the same ones as HCalmar. One of the benefits of LED bulbs is that they generate much less waste heat than filament-type bulbs, so you aren't running the AC to pump out heat that the bulbs made inside your boat or your house. And LED bulbs are getting better, and cost less. This spring as part of the recommissioning work I am going to change out all the 12vdc engine room lights with LED bulbs.

 

[captainwjm]

We just changed all our 24v G4 halogens to LED, except those on dimmers (which we almost never use, and did not want the expense of changing the dimmers). The reduction in heat generated is the biggest benefit. We chose warm white for all applications, except the showers, which are cool white. We did that at the suggestion of the supplier, Apollo Lighting in Ft. Laudedale

 

[krush]

Try these: http://www.dx.com/p/jrled-g4-3w-130...ts-silver-beige-2-pcs-12v-330552#.VInvXouvN1D

Can't beat the price. A guy on an RV forum tried 10 different models before he found a color that is similar to the halogen. I don't have those style lights in mine, but my friend does and he replaced with LED and they look great.

You can read his treatise here: http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=23329.msg180940#msg180940

I order stuff from DX.com all the time. Once a package got lost, but they refunded it.

I bought these to go in traditional sockets and they are bright! http://www.dx.com/p/1141-ba15s-1156...l-light-steering-lamp-12v-286848#.VuGbcU8Ylsq

 

[madhatter66]

How can the starboard side be wired wrong when the regular 12v bulbs work?