LED Cabin Lights

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earlybird

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About 12 months ago, I fitted a voltage regulated "warm white" cabin light LED, fine at first, but it has now stopped working, after no more than say 20 to 30 hours use. The supplier (Ultraleds) tell me it was only guaranteed for 3 months, but that they now sell an improved product !! I feel that I've wasted £10 + postage so I don't feel much like spending a further £15+ with them. Have other forumites had better experiences with LED cabin lights, have I just been unlucky?
 
I've had a mix of Plastimo and Ultraleds warm white LEDs plus a few regular halogen bulbs in our cabins for one season now (5 months living aboard). Both makes of LEDs are still working OK (touch wood!) although they are not as bright as the halogens they replaced.
We basically use the LEDs for "background" light and turn on the halogen ones when reading
 
We have one of those anchor lights which plug into 12v cig. lighter and which switch on auomatically at dusk and use very little amps. I assume its LED. It has packed up after 3 months use so I've returned it to Force 4 - no reply yet
 
UltraLED's quality has had mixed reviews on both marine and motoring forums.

I have had some good LEDs and some which failed very early from them so it would seem that the quality is patchy.
 
I had the same with two after 10 hours use, first email ignored, second email got a reply from Ultraleds quote:

The bulbs you purchased at that time came with a 28 day warranty and we can no longer obtain supplies of these.

A new product with the code U426UWW was introduced earlier this year which is far brighter and more robust (which comes with a one year warranty) I can offer you a 15% discount.

I then wrote to the sales manager saying warranty has nothing to do with fit for purpose!

Your offer needs to be higher to encourage me to re order and be a happier customer.

No response after two months.

I have a selection of leds that have been good and wanted to get more but after that they are off my list
 
A lot of the problems with LED's seem to be to do with packaging rather than the LED itself. 2 issues, voltage control and waterproofing. Many of the cheaper units wont tollerate higher charging rates and/or have unsealed electrics both of which lead to prematurs failure. Look for fully sealed units or if replacement bulb a full glass envelope and voltage ratings to at least 15v. Obviously this puts up the cost!
 
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