Updating salon/cabin lighting

[Wiredup62]

I have researched this to death, but as the technology is constantly changing, I figured I would throw out this common question. I have a 2008 hatt GT 60. Was done right before everything switched to LED. So, I have 24-28vdc halogens throughout the boat. They produce a ton of heat, and aren't very bright. Has anyone done a successful upgrade to LED that is relatively inexpensive and easy DIY?

I tried the replacement LEDs that fit into the existing puck fixture, but all blow quickly as the voltage isn't right. Even the 12v replacements don't work as these are 24v. So, can I use the existing wiring, just change out the transformers, then use plug and play LEDs? Do I have to pay to have an electrician change out the whole system? Or just deal with it, and if so, where have you found a good place to get those kind of halogens? I have found I need the 24-28v bulbs as the 24 along still blow quickly.

Link to the site I found that has the kind of bulbs I have been looking at
https://www.bulbtown.com/G4_Bi_Pin_Base_s/1016.htm?searching=Y&sort=9&cat=1016&show=120&page=1

 

[Eddieclemons]

How is the 24v supplied and controlled? What voltage is at the switch? 12v Led fixture and or replacement bulbs supplied 12v should very reliable.

 

[Wiredup62]

How is the 24v supplied and controlled? What voltage is at the switch? 12v Led fixture and or replacement bulbs supplied 12v should very reliable.

this is what's in the manual

 

[Pascal]

I ve bought quite a few from amazon. Some better than others. It s bit of a pain to search because you have to look at each time to find the voltage range. The last batch I bought is no longer available but they were AC-DC 12 to 30 volts which is more than enough in a 24v system

 

[Cricket]

Do you know the brand and model of the fixtures?
Maybe there's a direct replacement that's LED??????
Think the photo from the manual is just for the bulb.

We played around with various LED replacements that fit into the halogen fixtures with some success but never could get the dimming correct, even with trying other power supplies and or dimmer switches.
Gave up and ended up with all new fixtures.
Imtra in the salon and the entire down below from Quick Marine.

Amazing how much less heat the LED's produce compared to halogen.

 

[rustybucket]

Do you know the brand and model of the fixtures?
Maybe there's a direct replacement that's LED??????
Think the photo from the manual is just for the bulb.

We played around with various LED replacements that fit into the halogen fixtures with some success but never could get the dimming correct, even with trying other power supplies and or dimmer switches.
Gave up and ended up with all new fixtures.
Imtra in the salon and the entire down below from Quick Marine.

Amazing how much less heat the LED's produce compared to halogen.

Any chance you have part numbers or links to the fixtures you used? We've got a pile of the 1" (ish) halogen puck fixtures I'd love to convert over to led. We tried led bulbs in them with little/no success.

 

[Cricket]

Unfortunately I don't, most of them came from Ebay and then a website that no longer exists. It's also probably been at least 3 years since messing with those.

 

[JD5652]

The halgen G4 is really all the info you need to cross reference.... here's a few choices based on a very quick search...

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]https://www.amazon.com/Bonlux-Side-Pin-LED-Puck-Light/dp/B07GPHHMQL/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=g4+led+bulb+24v&qid=1580156019&sr=8-13

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]https://www.amazon.com/JAUHOFOGEI-10-Pack-Daylight-Replacement-Lighting/dp/B07783YWQP/ref=sr_1_16?keywords=g4+led+bulb+24v&qid=1580156150&sr=8-16

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]https://www.amazon.com/Aileming-Crystal-Silicone-Brightness-DC12-24V/dp/B07R68SD89/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=g4+led+bulb+24v&qid=1580156196&sr=8-19

If you want dimmable. then you might need to search a little more...[/FONT][SUB][SUP]
[/SUP][/SUB][/FONT]

 

[Wiredup62]

Do you know the brand and model of the fixtures?
Maybe there's a direct replacement that's LED??????
Think the photo from the manual is just for the bulb.

We played around with various LED replacements that fit into the halogen fixtures with some success but never could get the dimming correct, even with trying other power supplies and or dimmer switches.
Gave up and ended up with all new fixtures.
Imtra in the salon and the entire down below from Quick Marine.

Amazing how much less heat the LED's produce compared to halogen.

I know there is an issue with dimmers and halogen replacements, so I believe the transformers need to be replaced. I was hoping not to have to go with imtra as they are expensive (and I have probably 30 or 40 lights), but may be the best option. Did you change them out yourself? Did you use the existing 28vac or whatever you have wiring?

 

[Cricket]

Did ll the work ourselves, for the dimmers we ended up with Blue Seas.

All of the lights we ended up replacing were installed around 2000, including new wiring, switches and dimmers, transformers.
I'm thinking the transformers put out AC voltage, not DC.
All of the new fixtures are DC.
Some we have running on power supplies, some on DC from the house bank.
We tried to get as many as we could over to the DC house bank so they would always work.
At the least we have some lighting in every room from both AC and DC sources.

We got lucky on purchasing most of the fixtures.
Bathroom fixtures are non dimming from Imtra closeout sale
Bedrooms and hall fixtures from Quick Marine closeout sale
Salon from Defender, needed bigger diameter fixtures unavailable from Quick.

 

[Wiredup62]

Did ll the work ourselves, for the dimmers we ended up with Blue Seas.

All of the lights we ended up replacing were installed around 2000, including new wiring, switches and dimmers, transformers.
I'm thinking the transformers put out AC voltage, not DC.
All of the new fixtures are DC.
Some we have running on power supplies, some on DC from the house bank.
We tried to get as many as we could over to the DC house bank so they would always work.
At the least we have some lighting in every room from both AC and DC sources.

We got lucky on purchasing most of the fixtures.
Bathroom fixtures are non dimming from Imtra closeout sale
Bedrooms and hall fixtures from Quick Marine closeout sale
Salon from Defender, needed bigger diameter fixtures unavailable from Quick.

Thank you, I appreciate the info, it looks like I am going to either just stay with the halogens, or replace all of them. Did you pull down the headliner to redo wiring?

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Thank you, I appreciate the info, it looks like I am going to either just stay with the halogens, or replace all of them. Did you pull down the headliner to redo wiring?

In my case, I was able use a fish tape to get it done with headliner in place.

 

[Wiredup62]

In my case, I was able use a fish tape to get it done with headliner in place.

Gotcha, that could work, but boy would that be time consuming with the numbers of lights present.

 

[Pascal]

Some leds are compatible with dimmers. It may be hit or miss. I ve recently installed LED rope lights and they work with standard dimmers

 

[bigbill]

i used imtra replacement led's that fit in the halogen g4 housing, they have worked perfect for about 5 years now. ialso added dimmers where the switches were, the dimmers switch has to be made for led's i did have to replace one dimmer last year. dont remember the brand of dimmer but it came from either 1000 bulbs .com or superbright led's.co. they are a slide dimmer with a rocker switch below the slide, they fit into standard household boxes. this was on a 12v system

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Used these as halogen direct replacements with existing dimmers. 12v monster lighting.

 

[Cricket]

Wiredup, used the wiring that was new in 2000, all of the fixtures use only 2 wires, some LED fixtures need a 3rd wire for the dimmer.

 

[carolinacoast]

marinebeam in charleston sc makes plug and play replacements for the legacy Hatts in 32 volt. call them. they can save you a LOT of time with bulbs that won't fail.
the website isn't fabulous for getting the correct item for your use, so I suggest calling.

 

[rourkeh]

If you currently have 24v lighting why not just change out the lights for Imtra units. It might cost a lot but at least you will have a decent product, more light, and no heat. You can fool around with a bunch of Chinese bulbs and crap but it will end up just being a pain in the long run.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

If you currently have 24v lighting why not just change out the lights for Imtra units. It might cost a lot but at least you will have a decent product, more light, and no heat. You can fool around with a bunch of Chinese bulbs and crap but it will end up just being a pain in the long run.

Made where?