Bright lights and low power?

[stefan_r]

I have a dark engine room to light and am looking for suggestions for a bright but low power suggestion.

LEDs are, of course, low consumption but I have little experience of them and am also looking for something to mount on a bulkhead and not recessed. Also not sure how bright they are or how wide a beam they cast...I have mind a more dome shaped light to give not only 360 degrees in the horizontal but also 180 degrees (or maybe more??!) in the vertical.

It will also make life a lot easier to take a spur off an existing lighting circuit...so low power drain is a bonus to not overload the circuit!

 

[exfinnsailor]

Got an Old Christmas Tree complete with lights if thats any good .. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[pete]

What about fluorescent strips ?
pete

 

[stefan_r]

12 volts though?? Thought they were only 240?

Also they are going in a 50 knot powerboat so I would be a little worried about them being fragile?

 

[JMORGAN]

fluorescent tubes are not rated by voltage its the gear that runs them and 12volt is available camping and carvan supplies
I used Hella vehicle reversing lights in my engine bay only 21w got good light levels just remember to turn them off.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Take a look at our web page below.

LED's rated at about 5 watts, low power consumption, easy to fit, low cost, long life.

Other sources are LED replacement bulbs, minor advantage is that they might well fit existing fittings.

Good luck

Mj

 

[thalassa]

Two years ago, I've put in several led strips similar to these:
LED strip
Mine were from IKEA (and had to dump the transformer unit). Two or more strips can be combined lenghtwise to cover the engine bay's depht. Two double lengts go horizontally in the upper corners of the bay, and one vertically, backlighting the glass bowl of the CAV filter. The whole show starts up automatically when you remove the engine room panel. Though rated twelve volts, the assembly has survived the extra volts so far.

 

[john_morris_uk]

You can get stick on led cluster type lights for a VERY easy soloution. They are battery powered and are in most DIY centres for a couple of pounds or more - otherwise see suggestions above.

 

[pcatterall]

The leds sound good, am now starting to think along these lines myself, so thanks chaps!!
Apart from the low power aspect the multiple light sources will reduce those blasted shadows which seem to fall exactly where you want to work!!

 

[captainslarty]

Just use a 12v flourescent.. its an engine room light !.. it is only on when you need it, hardly ever..
Power consumption is not an issue in this case.
I have 2 fl tubes in the engine bay, 1 in each cockpit locker, 2 in the undercockpit storage, 2 more in various bilge areas.
J.

ps, if worried about vibration, just put a dob of hot glue on the tube end clips...
/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[davidpbo]

LEDs may be better suited to an engine bay installation as they are less prone to damage due to vibration.