LED Comparison

M

marno

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25 Nov 2007
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www.yachtattitudes.com
I once looked at using LED's to light the individual steps in a new stairway as part of a listed building ie nothing could be mounted on the old sandstone.
After doing all the research the quality or rather the difference in quality of LED's and that if they are over driven ie on a boat if the engine is started to charge the batteries, the voltage may go up to 14v then some peope found that they burnt out very quickly.
So once you find the good ones as this guy did in the USA make sure they have a good built in regulator or fit one in your lighting supply on the boat.

As they are pretty small fittings could you not buy then from the USA?
 
I made up an LED anchor light last year, with no regulation, but as it was on only at night, with no engine generation, it was OK.

I have now fitted a 12v voltage regulator into the circuit to stabilise the LED voltage.
82-0846 LM2940CT-12 12V 1A LOW DROPOUT REG (RC) Each £0.86
from www.rapidonline.com

Easy to put into the circuit - Pos in, Neg in, and Pos 12v out.
 
Hey Marno. What's to stop you buying bulbs on the other side of the pond? I ordered some Sensibulbs last year. I also ordered the masthead tri-colour/anchor led light that Sailors Solutions offer. Both great products. Highly recommended.
 
LEDs are OK for anchor and stern lights but as yet there is not a good one for a masthead tricolour. By that I mean a direct substitute for the bulb.(The spectrum of the "white" LEDs is low on red and gives a weak port light)
Accordingly you have to use red and green LED on the bow or the rather expensive red green and white masthead assembly
 
I was thinking of replacing my tricolour 25w bulb with one of these:

http://www.seamarknunn.com/cgi-bin/sh000...67#aACTES100167

and was wondering if anyone had had any practical experience of them. They appear waterproof and I'm told you just need to ensure the colours on the bulb match the lenses. Not sure how bright they are but the power consumption and price (under £30) taken together seem fairly reasonable.

Nick
 
I already have a LED masthead tricolour/automatic anchor light, and it is great. If there is nothing locally, then it looks like I will have to order from the US. My last LED interior lights faded pretty quickly, probably the variation in voltage. Thanks for the link to the regulators Philip, I'll install them before I buy new LEDs.
 
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I have now fitted a 12v voltage regulator into the circuit to stabilise the LED voltage.


[/ QUOTE ]
To drive led's to their brightest without destroying them it is better to use a circuit that regulates the current not the voltage.
Unfortunately this requires more electronic components, but there are still reasonably simple circuits that will do this depending on the LED used.
To summarise
no regulation=not very good
Regulation of voltage=OK
Regulation current=best
 
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My last LED interior lights faded pretty quickly, probably the variation in voltage. Thanks for the link to the regulators Philip, I'll install them before I buy new LEDs.

[/ QUOTE ]
Commercial plug in LED "globes" are already regulated even most of the very cheap ones. They usually fail due to poor quality components and/or heat, but well made led's should have a long life.
 
I have had all lupo LED lights (see link below) fitted to stern,bow,and mast head. I only wish i had done it sooner. Granted, Lupo seem to be the expensive option costing me almost £1000 for the lot but defo worth it for sure. My boat is like a xmas tree at night when i want it to be, and im told by other boats that they see me much sooner from a distance than boats without LED's. Have a look at Lupo, but dont expect them to be cheap!!!!!!

http://www.marine-super-store.com/posit/shop/index.php?category=34&group=13
 
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