LED lighting power supply

You should be able to hook these up directly to a 12V battery (add a fuse of appropriate rating), or the 12 V transformer for your halogen spotlights (most models anyways). I reckon they will cope with the voltage range one can find on a boat 12V system just fine.
 
I got a 3A voltage regulator from Maplin. Cost about £25. Advice I had was that alternator could give damaging voltage. Wired it into led circuit only and it works fine.
 
I found some replacements just like those shown but they were self regulating. They work on 12 to 15 volts so don't need a separate voltage regulator when used on a boats DC system which can run up to 14 volts when motoring.

Have a look at Boatlamps.

Best of luck

Tony
 
Some posters here say regulated LEDs are essential, either on board the LED or in the supply.

They link to vids showing melted solder and smoke.

I have all cheapy LEDS, without regs, which have been fine for the last two years, on battery, engine and shore power charger.
 
I have found that unregulated LEDs tend to have a short life span especially if you have a smart charging system that can ramp up the voltage beyond what a normal steam driven regulator usually achieves. Searolf and boatlamps are good sources - I use searolf a lot and they are excellent - their units all come with regulators built in. No connection just a happy customer.
 
wiggy said:
Saw these http://www.ledhut.co.uk/g4-smd-led-light.html on LEDhut, can I just replace my existing halogens or do I need to regulate the power supply? If the latter option what are the reccomendation of the enlightened ones (it's a joke, get it), do I regulate the whole lighting circuit on the boat or each fitting individually and with what.
Click to expand...
To keep them happy, LED's like to keep the current constant, or maybe more important not to have too much. What happens in a LED regulator is the voltage will vary a little with temperature and age and things so that the current remains constant. The link is very likely have resistors to stop too much current getting to the LED at a set voltage.

A halfway house would be to fit something like this.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-DC-Aut...al_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item4d2268e476
to the whole circuit. Then tweak the voltage down until they look bright enough. Not strictly current limiting but getting close, doesn't cost much and the led's should last for ages. And draw next to nothing :cool:
 
All the leds I've fitted have been fine, no failures yet - I did not know that they had to 'regulated' - all ebay cheapies. Unlike 12v versions on 240v which need special transformers.
 
I have only ever paid pence for my LEDs from ebay and have never fitted any sort of regulator in the circuit. The first lot I had were G4 replacements and I got two burn outs in about two years use. I replaced the fittings three years ago and the much larger oblong circuit board clusters I now have fitted have given me no problems whatsoever. I'd dearly love to see over 14.5 volts going into my domestic bank: never happened yet!
 
You should really use a constant current driver for LEDs as that gives the best lifetime. You don't need one per light as you used to need transformers/drivers for household halogens, LEDs are such low current you could buy say a 20 or 30W unit and power every LED on the boat (although watch for wire voltage drop from one end of the boat to the other). LED drivers are pretty cheap, only a tenner or so, so it's not a big expenditure - one per cabin ought to do it although I'm still working out the best way to do ours.
 
wiggy said:
Saw these http://www.ledhut.co.uk/g4-smd-led-light.html on LEDhut, can I just replace my existing halogens or do I need to regulate the power supply? If the latter option what are the reccomendation of the enlightened ones (it's a joke, get it), do I regulate the whole lighting circuit on the boat or each fitting individually and with what.
Click to expand...

Well for my opinion do not bother about regulation. However if you often run LEDs on a shore chargerat high voltage then if you are concerned a diode or 2 in series will reduce the voltage a bit. The LED in the link is made for 12v ie a car system ie 14v when on charge. If like me you only run LEDs on battery alone not being charged then definitely no concern. good luck olewill.
 
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