LED Chart table light

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Caladh

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Over my chart table I have a fluorescent white and single LED red bulb light - I can switch between the two - ideal. However I want to change this for a more modern LED light. I am unable to find a like item with a switchable white to red option. My current light has a sort of small circular fluorescent tube in it and (probably understandably) I'm unable to find a like for like replacement. What are my options other than installing one white and one red light next to each other ?
 
Caladh said:
Over my chart table I have a fluorescent white and single LED red bulb light - I can switch between the two - ideal. However I want to change this for a more modern LED light. I am unable to find a like item with a switchable white to red option. My current light has a sort of small circular fluorescent tube in it and (probably understandably) I'm unable to find a like for like replacement. What are my options other than installing one white and one red light next to each other ?
Click to expand...

I am sure you could modify the fitting to take an ordinary LED bulb instead of the tube. It should only require soldering on the two wires to a bulb holder which can be bought for pennies. Alternatively there are lots of LED replacement bulbes that fit tube lights but there might not be one exactly the size you require.
 
I have a strip of white LEDs and a strip of red LEDs. Using offcuts from making new washboards, I cut a strip of polycarbonate a couple of inches wide, and milled out the middle of it to make a cavity. This makes a nice cover for the strips and also, because of the "brushed" surface left by the router bit, diffuses the light a little. The whole assembly is screwed to the underneath of the side-deck over the chart table, and has a switch panel nearby that selects on or off, red or white, and has an adjustable dimmer.

Pete
 
I had a difficult time finding a red-white led. You'd think everyone would make them. They don't. My solution was the antithesis of the PBO spirit. I bought something expensive. You know that feeling when you're about to leave a boat show and you haven't bought anything but you want to buy *something*? It was one of those moments. At least I haggled hard, but still closer to 3 figures than one (I forget exactly how much I paid).

http://www.calibramarine.com/lighting/surface-lights/led-d-series/led-d1-3/

functionally excellent but the plating is thin and could be better for the money and the supplied screws were cheap and mostly corroded when I removed the light for the headlining replacement.
 
laika said:
I had a difficult time finding a red-white led. You'd think everyone would make them. They don't. My solution was the antithesis of the PBO spirit. I bought something expensive. You know that feeling when you're about to leave a boat show and you haven't bought anything but you want to buy *something*? It was one of those moments. At least I haggled hard, but still closer to 3 figures than one (I forget exactly how much I paid).

http://www.calibramarine.com/lighting/surface-lights/led-d-series/led-d1-3/

functionally excellent but the plating is thin and could be better for the money and the supplied screws were cheap and mostly corroded when I removed the light for the headlining replacement.
Click to expand...

I agree and fully endorse your sentiments.

I have struggled for years looking for products that I thought lots of people would make, to no avail and red/ white LED lighting is certainly one of them.
FWIW I did come across this and bought quite a few when they were in stock, really nice, neat lights with a nice switch action although the white is cooler than I expected / would have liked (given that it's classed as warm).
Currently out of stock again (I think they sell like hot cakes) but anyone interested keep your eyes peeled or email them and they'll let you know when back in stock.
http://hmsmarinesupplies.com/epages...ectPath=/Shops/950002851/Products/"HMS451W/R"
 
I have one of these
0-669-13.jpg

http://www.furneauxriddall.com/cgi-...justable-Map-Light-12V-VA_101_RW.html#SID=367
 
I wired a car led strip brakelight ( dismantled )into the existing light fitting, with a separate switch for the red..

oh the satisfaction..£ 0's
 
Check out the Bedazzled site... *** DUAL MODE: NIGHT VISION (RED) plus NORMAL (WHITE) ***

http://www.bedazzled.uk.com/12v_LED_Bulb_Replacement.htm

and search down the page until you come to G4H-16L-RPROTECTED and G4H-15L-RPROTECTED.

About £12 each and what is great that when you first turn them on they switch on as red yet with a brief switch off and on again, they then light as white.

I have replaced a lot of the cabin lights with the one that has just three red LEDs. Can leave them on all night when night sailing.

The other good thing about them is that the pins are easy to unsolder and replace with wires if you need to make one fit a different fitting.
 
Martin_J said:
Check out the Bedazzled site... *** DUAL MODE: NIGHT VISION (RED) plus NORMAL (WHITE) ***

http://www.bedazzled.uk.com/12v_LED_Bulb_Replacement.htm

and search down the page until you come to G4H-16L-RPROTECTED and G4H-15L-RPROTECTED.

About £12 each and what is great that when you first turn them on they switch on as red yet with a brief switch off and on again, they then light as white.

I have replaced a lot of the cabin lights with the one that has just three red LEDs. Can leave them on all night when night sailing.

The other good thing about them is that the pins are easy to unsolder and replace with wires if you need to make one fit a different fitting.
Click to expand...

+1 on those. I'm fitting several to a friends boat at the bottom of the comapionway, in the heads and over the galley, plus each cabin. The idea is you can access all the important areas of the boat without destroying your or someone else's night vision.
 
Stemar said:
I'm fitting several to a friends boat at the bottom of the comapionway, in the heads and over the galley
Click to expand...

Hmm, good point about the heads. I have red LEDs over the chart table, and this winter I've fitted a short strip in the galley. There's enough overspill for someone to take their boots off and doss down in the saloon, which for Channel cruising is realistically what we tend to do rather than retire to a cabin. But currently, if someone were to use the heads, there'd be a lot of white light streaming out through various windows and vents into the cabin, the cockpit, and the side decks. I'll have to fit a strip or two of red in there.

Pete
 
Isn't modern thinking that a low level of white light does less harm to night vision than enough red to read by?
Main thing is to avoid looking at light sources?
Placement more important than colour?
 
lw395 said:
Isn't modern thinking that a low level of white light does less harm to night vision than enough red to read by?
Main thing is to avoid looking at light sources?
Placement more important than colour?
Click to expand...

I got shouted down when I said that the other day :)

My home-made lighting controller covers all bases - the overhead lighting can be switched between red and white, and it has a dimmer knob that controls both. So you can have full brightness white when moored up and night vision isn't needed, or very dim white if you're in that camp on the night vision question, or red of varying brightness if that's what you prefer. There's also a second dimmer (which goes all the way round to "off") for a set of white LEDs mounted under a piece of trim half an inch or so above the chart - these shine a wash of white light across the chart only (they're screened so none shines upwards) for proper colour rendition, with or without the overhead light. There's then a master on/off switch, so that once you've set it up how you like, you can quickly flip it on and off when you come down. The on-off switch has a very, very dim LED next to it so you can find it in the dark, and is also physically located in a corner between two bits of timber so that your hand is naturally guided towards it without looking.

The "overhead" light is mounted under the side deck, so also meets your criterion about not looking directly at it.

Pete
 
sailorman said:
I have one of these
0-669-13.jpg

http://www.furneauxriddall.com/cgi-...justable-Map-Light-12V-VA_101_RW.html#SID=367
Click to expand...

Me too - came with the boat, so must be a product of the 1980s.
It used to use 2.2 watt sidelamp bulbs, but I've since got an LED 0.2w replacement or can use a 5w halogen. The latter allows dispensing with main lighting.

I'm a little confused regarding the need for a red light - if it's to reduce loss of night-vision latest research has debunked the theory.
Just goes to show that a geocentric astronomical view sitll has a place in belief.
 
charles_reed said:
Me too - came with the boat, so must be a product of the 1980s.
It used to use 2.2 watt sidelamp bulbs, but I've since got an LED 0.2w replacement or can use a 5w halogen. The latter allows dispensing with main lighting.

I'm a little confused regarding the need for a red light - if it's to reduce loss of night-vision latest research has debunked the theory.
Just goes to show that a geocentric astronomical view sitll has a place in belief.
Click to expand...

Mine was new 2 yrs ago see the link
 
I have found that some white light is essential to see colours (chart symbols etc) correctly.
This set up works for me: A dim green light for orientation and a concentrated white spot on a flexible arm. (On the photo the white spot looks very bright, but that is just how the camera sees it).

http://www.ybw.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif
 

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