Detatching cabin lights

J

jcpa

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Sep 2009
Messages
96
Location
The boat (Kelt 8.50) - at Gosport
Visit site
Can anyone tell me how to get to what is fixing my cabin lights to the bulkhead? I'm new to yachts, but I think these are classic boat lights, circular discs about four inches in diameter, and you twist the "glass/lens" round to turn them on/off. There is a static metal ring around the glass, with three tags through which you can just see glass flange. The glass turns through three positions (on, off and off again?).

I've tried most things to get into these fittings (twisting harder, pulling, levering - on glass and metal ring), but I am concerned not to break them. They work ok, and are probably original 1980 fittings, but I need to remove the panel one of them is mounted on. The panel is now just held by the light wiring!

Does anyone recognise these lights from my dodgy description, and can anyone explain how to detatch them from the bulkhead/panel (or even get to the bulb if necessary)?

:confused:
 
jcpa said:
Can anyone tell me how to get to what is fixing my cabin lights to the bulkhead? I'm new to yachts, but I think these are classic boat lights, circular discs about four inches in diameter, and you twist the "glass/lens" round to turn them on/off. There is a static metal ring around the glass, with three tags through which you can just see glass flange. The glass turns through three positions (on, off and off again?).

I've tried most things to get into these fittings (twisting harder, pulling, levering - on glass and metal ring), but I am concerned not to break them. They work ok, and are probably original 1980 fittings, but I need to remove the panel one of them is mounted on. The panel is now just held by the light wiring!

Does anyone recognise these lights from my dodgy description, and can anyone explain how to detatch them from the bulkhead/panel (or even get to the bulb if necessary)?

:confused:
Click to expand...

I think a picture might get you lots of responses, you would probably get a bit of advice from a brand of boat to!
 
IF yours are like mine, they have 3 lugs which coincide with slots in the retaining ring and are removed by pressing the glass firmly whilst twisting (I can't remember which way): when the lugs and slots line up, the perspex bowl comes out. The only danger is that the lugs can be brittle and break off. Removing the top reveals the screws.
 
biscuit said:
IF yours are like mine, they have 3 lugs which coincide with slots in the retaining ring and are removed by pressing the glass firmly whilst twisting (I can't remember which way): when the lugs and slots line up, the perspex bowl comes out. The only danger is that the lugs can be brittle and break off. Removing the top reveals the screws.
Click to expand...

Yes, push them in and continue turning. The lugs are offset so they wil only go back in one way.

The festoon bulbs in these lights are big consumers but unfortunately the LED replacements are not really bright enough. I can just about read by mine but it's a struggle.
 
Thanks all

Yes a picture would be good, but the boat (a Kelt 8.50) is 100 miles from my computer! Being on the back of bulkheads, the lights don't feature in my scores of existing pictures - I'll try to remember to take one at the week-end. I have done a web search, but can't find anything like my lights - probably very 1980s. Given your comments, I should possibly replace them anyway, but that's no excuse for breaking them just to get the panel out of the way!

I did try lining up the tags/slots with possible lugs on the "glass" (seemed the most likely solution), but didn't get anywhere. Your responses have given me confidence to try again next week end, so I'll let you know how I get on afterwards.

Thanks again
 
vyv_cox said:
Yes, push them in and continue turning. The lugs are offset so they wil only go back in one way.

The festoon bulbs in these lights are big consumers but unfortunately the LED replacements are not really bright enough. I can just about read by mine but it's a struggle.
Click to expand...

I have the same fittings which are capable of accepting up to three festoon bulbs. I have installed two of these LED replacements (need to check the exact bulb length) in some of mine and they are plenty bright enough to read by.
 
DJE said:
I have the same fittings which are capable of accepting up to three festoon bulbs. I have installed two of these LED replacements (need to check the exact bulb length) in some of mine and they are plenty bright enough to read by.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

How directional are those bulbs? My lights need to give a broad beam.

I'll check how many bulds are in there once I get the "glass" off!
 
Not noticed any problems with directional light; the "glass" on my fittings is faceted and acts as a pretty good diffuser.
 
jcpa said:
Thanks.

How directional are those bulbs? My lights need to give a broad beam.

I'll check how many bulds are in there once I get the "glass" off!
Click to expand...

LED flat festoons emit light in a 120 deg pattern. A warm white 6x5050 SMD LED lamp will emit an effective light output of around 70 Lumens. This is generally a popular lamp, commonly used in festoon type down-lighters.

For brighter light you could consider using LED festoon with 9 x 5050 SMD LEDs which in turn emit 110 Lumens (warm white) with a beam angle that approaches 180 deg. These take up more real estate than a flat 6 but if you have the space in your fixture they can prove to be very effective.

Regards
 
Is this your fitting? Quite common on older boats, and the glass comes off easily when you know what to do. To remove, turn the glass anti clockwise until it stops as per normal, then push in and it should turn anti clockwise a bit more. Reverse to refit but note that one lug is a bit wider than the others so make sure it's in the right slot.

My fitting is made by Hella, and the metal ring is in fact plastic so take care...
 
Last edited:
vyv_cox said:
Yes, push them in and continue turning. The lugs are offset so they wil only go back in one way.

The festoon bulbs in these lights are big consumers but unfortunately the LED replacements are not really bright enough. I can just about read by mine but it's a struggle.
Click to expand...

I've replaced festoon bulbs with LED equivalents and they are MUCH brighter - I got the brightest ones I could from ultraLEDs; the ones with about 10 (or more) diodes. I also use the Cool White ones; they tend to be brighter in my (subjective) opinion. As I am severely short-sighted, I cannot read easily in a poor light, and the LEDS were a vast improvement. I'd never go back to the filament bulbs.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I've replaced festoon bulbs with LED equivalents and they are MUCH brighter - I got the brightest ones I could from ultraLEDs; the ones with about 10 (or more) diodes. I also use the Cool White ones; they tend to be brighter in my (subjective) opinion. As I am severely short-sighted, I cannot read easily in a poor light, and the LEDS were a vast improvement. I'd never go back to the filament bulbs.
Click to expand...

Don't mention Ultraleds to me! I bought the same ones for all my lights, something like six or seven and a different type for the table light in the camper. The first festoon replacement bulb began flickering after an hour as an individual LED began to fail - within a month every one had failed completely. As all were in saloon, heads, etc they had never been on when the engine was running. The bulb in the camper lost several of its individual LEDs within the first week. Again, only ever used on batteries.

I returned them all to Ultraleds with a letter of explanation and the original paperwork. Never even had a reply.
 
vyv_cox said:
Don't mention Ultraleds to me! I bought the same ones for all my lights, something like six or seven and a different type for the table light in the camper. The first festoon replacement bulb began flickering after an hour as an individual LED began to fail - within a month every one had failed completely. As all were in saloon, heads, etc they had never been on when the engine was running. The bulb in the camper lost several of its individual LEDs within the first week. Again, only ever used on batteries.

I returned them all to Ultraleds with a letter of explanation and the original paperwork. Never even had a reply.
Click to expand...

I too have found UltraLED's customer service a bit less than friendly and helpful! But the bulbs I've had from them have been fine, and are now on their 3rd or 4th (can't recall exactly) year of service; I did blow one up by switching the battery switch when it was on, but that was my fault. And UltraLEDs are the only people I've found who supply the highest power festoon-equivalent bulbs. Most other offerings are fairly feeble.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I too have found UltraLED's customer service a bit less than friendly and helpful! But the bulbs I've had from them have been fine, and are now on their 3rd or 4th (can't recall exactly) year of service; I did blow one up by switching the battery switch when it was on, but that was my fault. And UltraLEDs are the only people I've found who supply the highest power festoon-equivalent bulbs. Most other offerings are fairly feeble.
Click to expand...

How do these compare? http://www.boatlamps.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d28.html

I haven't used them myself since I don't need very bright bulbs, and the lower rated models bought from Searolf and Bedazzled have done me fine. I have avoided UltraLED following bad reports here and elsewhere.
 
Boatlamps for me

I've used lamps from Ultraleds and Boatlamps and have found the Boatlamps products to be better value as the quality and light output seems much better. Their customer service is also excellent.
 
DaveS said:
How do these compare? http://www.boatlamps.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d28.html

I haven't used them myself since I don't need very bright bulbs, and the lower rated models bought from Searolf and Bedazzled have done me fine. I have avoided UltraLED following bad reports here and elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Kate Smith said:
I've used lamps from Ultraleds and Boatlamps and have found the Boatlamps products to be better value as the quality and light output seems much better. Their customer service is also excellent.
Click to expand...

The highest output power quote by UltraLEDs is quoted as equivalent to 16w incandescent; the Boatlamps ones are only quoted as equivalent to 10w. However, the lumen difference isn't that great, but still in favour of the UltraLED ones. However, I haven't seen the Boatlamps ones before.
 
I must admit to not understanding the arithmetic of the ultraleds website. It says at the top of the page for the lamp in question that 1w = 16w. The current of 180mA they quote for their lamp equates to over 2w. They say that also equates to 16w, its all very confusing, so much so it doesn't make any sense. Maybe someone could explain?
 
Thanks all of you.

I am sorry to bring this thread back to my original question, but with your help I have managed to get the light fitting open and unscrewed so I could remove the panel it was mounted on. It was exactly as pictured/described by Lodesman77, and I don't think I'd ever have discovered the trick push and twist without all the respondants' help. So thanks again.

Now do please continue discussing the led bulbs; I could easily be persuaded to change the bulbs in all 5 of all these fittings on my boat!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top