12V incandescent bulbs - change to LED or fluorescent?

[Sundays_Child]

I have about 30 incandescent 12V 15W bulbs inside the boat. They aren't very bright and I'd also like to improve their efficiency.

Does anyone have any suggestions on bulbs I could replace them with? LED? Compact fluorescent?

LED spots seem to get very hot (70C+) and fluorescents may be too big (I guess I can take a 4cm diameter, 5cm length (ex bayonet) before changing fittings).

They are double contact bayonets like this:

http://www.donsbulbs.com/bulbs/g632/b/ba15d.gif

Does anyone have any ideas? I can't find anything in HK, but SWMBO will be in the UK in 2 weeks, so have time to order if anything suitable is recommended.

Thanks.

 

[kingfisher]

LEDs do not get hot at all, hallogen spots do. If you are going for LEDS: I changed my three hallogen 10W spots above the table with 9 (!) led spots of 5W, and still it less clear than with the hallogens.

LEDs: slightly 'warmer' colour, but about as efficient as hallogens. Do not get hot, so you can put them everywhere.
Fluo: 'cold' unpleasant light, but very very very efficient.

So, above my kitchen, which is a working area: fluo. Above the table: leds, with one hallogen to add colour to the light.

 

[DavidJ]

LED's are a nasty light. I converted my kitchen under lights at home to them and apart from being quite dim they are a glaring white. I then converted back to halogens which do get hot (unlike LED's) and they are inefficient but give out a much nicer homelier light.
So total halogens get my vote.

 

[Gwylan]

LED's look bright, when you look at them but they do not 'radiate' that much light.
I have an anorak, with a fur trimmed hood, in this subject
And in order to appear efficient they have a very high colour temperature and therefore appear that dreadful morgue blue colour
If you are on a 12v supply then the compact fluo will not work - try and find larger wattage versions of the lamps you already have - but be aware that the filament lamps including halogen generally give off more watts of heat than they do light!
New fittings with fluorescent lamps and if necessary low voltage control gear [ballasts, black boxes ] would be the best technically but not necessarily aesthetically. Choose the colour temperature of lamp that you want -they are available!

 

[gimmesunshine]

be careful fitting higher wattage bulbs as often the fitting is rated to a max wattage, there should be sticker inside.