Salon Replacement Lights

[wndsr]

We are in the process of redoing the salon in our 53' classic. I want to install recessed lights in the headliner and am guessing approx 3 along each side. I was checking out Imtra's catalog and see a lot to pick from. What works best? L.E.D. or Halogen and what size etc is required? Is there alternatives available through regular home lighting distributors? I have limited depth to work with (approx 1 1/2") Has anyone been through this? Any help or experiences would be appreciated.
Ben

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I put the original square recessed fixtures back in mine, but I looked at others. LED is obviously the best as far as current draw. If you anchor much, that is the way to go. Depth of fixture can be an issue, but you can always do as Hatteras did on my boat and cut into the upper deck. Here is a picture:

I relamped my original fixtures with Halogen bulbs, both 32v and 120v in the same fixture with dimmers on the 120v. That is another option, unless you just like the look of the new stuff.

Here is one more pic of where someone had installed some of the round recessed lights like you are talking about. I removed these, but they also cut up into the coring to make room.

Notice the extra depth you can get on the tape measure.

 

[J's Dream]

I have redone the headliner in my 45 C's master stateroom, and am now in the process of doing the v-birth. I am using Imtra's Hatteras LED recessed lights. They are 12V, and don't get hot at all like the halogens.

IMHO, the halogens are a serious fire hazard and should be avoided if possible...not to mention they use much more power than the LED's.

As for the lights I used, I like the warm white color that is available as opposed to the cool white, which is similar to a flourescent light color.

Depth will not be an issue for you, as these lights are only a half inch high. If you would like me to take some pictures, I can do that this weekend.

Jason

 

[MikeP]

We briefly thought about the same thing but decided it wasn't worth bothering with for us since most of the time table lamps are what we use. The oem fixture is fine for when we just need some (dim!) quick light but we seldom use overhead lighting in our home living areas for general lighting anyway so we didn't see any reason to change the boat. Though I agree it would be nice to be able to seriously light up the area on occasion.

Additionally, if I was going to do it, I'd be looking at 32v so I could just extend the wiring from the existing setup. I don't think I'd consider adding a bunch of wiring to make it some other DC voltage or 120vac

 

[Walter P]

Jason,

Would you be so kind as to post some pictures for us all to see? Also, how many units are you using in the various areas and did you shop around for a good price. I need to do my entire boat, including 3 staterooms, main salon and possibly galley and dinette. It will probably require around 3 dozen units from what I figured. Lets compare notes. If anyone else went through this please share your experience.

I bought a full roll of headliner material (without the holes) from Sam's last year with the idea to re-doing the entire boat after I get around to doing the lights. This will be the year for it.

Walt

 

[J's Dream]

I'll get to the boat today or tomorrow to take some pictures. As for the cost of the lights...they are not cheap. Each LED lists for $89 and I was able to search for a discounted store online.

I just found the invoice from the lights, which is good since I need to order 5 more. The company is BDR Distributing in Ft. Pierce, FL. 772-332-0277 My cost was $75.65 per light (ordered April '08) plus tax and shipping. So, five Hatteras fixtures, SS finish, warm white color totals $416.26 to my door.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

We briefly thought about the same thing but decided it wasn't worth bothering with for us since most of the time table lamps are what we use. The oem fixture is fine for when we just need some (dim!) quick light but we seldom use overhead lighting in our home living areas for general lighting anyway so we didn't see any reason to change the boat. Though I agree it would be nice to be able to seriously light up the area on occasion.

Additionally, if I was going to do it, I'd be looking at 32v so I could just extend the wiring from the existing setup. I don't think I'd consider adding a bunch of wiring to make it some other DC voltage or 120vac

I don't know about your boat, but ours had two 120v fixtures and two 32v. When I rewired, I just had to extend power from one fixture to the next. Here is the result with the boat in an enclosed building and no outside light.

 

[MikeP]

Our '80 just has one of the oem Hatt 32v (only) 50W overhead fixture in the salon, centered and maybe a foot or two aft of a line between the aft edge of the side doors. Same type fixture is centered over the aft deck.

I totally agree that it is insufficient light on it's own but not worth the bother for us to change - it supplies enough light to walk in at night from the dock, flip on the switch to see, and then turn on the lights we actually use.

If we decided to install more overhead light, I would probably go with 120VAC if, as I suspect, the lack of appropriate bulbs makes 32v not workable.

At first glance at the pic I thought you had an Aquarium. Now THAT would be cool but definitely NOT workable...

 

[aquacraig@shaw.ca]

The PO had new head liner and mini 12V halogens installed in the Salon and aft lounge. We run 12 and 32V systems so the 12V worked and the light is really quite adequate and pleasant. I would think they could be had in just about any voltage and they are so small that do not get hot.
Craig

 

[Bugsy]

Sky Cheney..

That's a VERY nice interior. VERY nice!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Thanks, but I can only take credit for the headliner and lighting. The Admiral is in charge of the decorating. She reminds of that every time I have an idea of my own.

 

[J's Dream]

Here are the pictures I had on the computer. They show the install in the master stateroom. You'll notice I wired these lights with four wires so that down the road if I or someone want to install the Imtra dimmer, they can do that without tearing down the headliner.

 

[J's Dream]

These are pictures from this morning of the headliner in the master stateroom. I have yet to finish the hide 'em strip around the edges. The last picture is the V-birth project I am working on now...should be done this month.

Jason

 

[stormchaser]

Nice. Has anyone founda source for 32v LED lights or LED replacement bulbs? Or could you wire 3 12v LED lights in series? That would come ut to 36v but I wonder if that would be "good enough"? I'd love to convert all my lights, both 120v and 32v to LED.

 

[J's Dream]

Nice. Has anyone founda source for 32v LED lights or LED replacement bulbs? Or could you wire 3 12v LED lights in series? That would come ut to 36v but I wonder if that would be "good enough"? I'd love to convert all my lights, both 120v and 32v to LED.

Dave,

Call Imtra. They're really helpful people, and you actually connect to a person! They may have a way of converting your 32V to the 12V LED's.

Jason

 

[MikeP]

Seems like if you really wanted to do this you could convert to 12v or 24v from 32v using a DC converter similar to the oem 32 to 12V converters that Hatt use at the upper and lower helm. Seems like it would actually be fairly simple for the DC side, anyway.

 

[J's Dream]

What's interesting as I look through the catalog is that the LED's by Imtra are rated for 10-30 VDC. Would 32V be too much for them?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

What's interesting as I look through the catalog is that the LED's by Imtra are rated for 10-30 VDC. Would 32V be too much for them?

32v would probably be okay, but a 32v system runs up to 36v+ when fully charged. What you really need are the LED's that are rated 10-40v. I have seen some with that rating.