thaxter
Member
Thinking of changing 3 x 12v downlights for LED lamps. Would appreciate any advice, experience, recommendations /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
LED Lighting
- Thread starter thaxter
- Start date
fluffc
Member
From what I've read; they're not worth the bother. Reliability, dispersion angles, and a rather cold light come to mind.
If you want to save power, then fit a flourescent light fitting. I often run a 4' flourescent tube via an inverter, and find this draws less power than having 3 / 4 cabin lights on. As well as much brighter.
If you want to save power, then fit a flourescent light fitting. I often run a 4' flourescent tube via an inverter, and find this draws less power than having 3 / 4 cabin lights on. As well as much brighter.
VicS
Well-known member
Check to see what colour the light is. The "torch" I bought to strap to my head is a horrible blueish light. It is also very bright to look at, in fact it is generally recommended that you dont look at them, but the level of illumination is poor.
Fergus
New member
I replaced all mine - no difference in light colour or, frankly, in brightness (double ended lamps) but HUGE decrease in power consumption! The bayonet ones are much brighter than the filament bulbs though..
http://www.leisure-electrics.co.uk/acatalog/12_volt.html
http://www.leisure-electrics.co.uk/acatalog/12_volt.html
maxi
Member
Have progressively changed most of mine and am very pleased -particularly with the power saving.
Cool Whte lamps are actually blueish and cold to look at, warm white lights have a slight yellow tinge and are much more the colour we are all used to - but a tad less bright.
Make sure yout LED are rated up beyond 14v or they could burn out when the charger or alternator is operating. Ultrabrightleds is a good website with proven products
Cool Whte lamps are actually blueish and cold to look at, warm white lights have a slight yellow tinge and are much more the colour we are all used to - but a tad less bright.
Make sure yout LED are rated up beyond 14v or they could burn out when the charger or alternator is operating. Ultrabrightleds is a good website with proven products
nedmin
Active member
I use 11watt energy saving bulbs in 2 table lamps run from inverter,works well and gives good effect,depending on lampshade.
Alyssa
Member
Changed about half of our halogen bulbs for LEDS...some obtained from UltraLEDS (warm light) and some from Plastimo. No problem with "colour"/"warmth. Huge decrease in power consumption and slight decrease in light intensity. Reliability OK so far (half a season).
Will probably continue with a mix of LEDS (background) and halogen (for reading etc)
Will probably continue with a mix of LEDS (background) and halogen (for reading etc)
mortehoe
New member
Re: LED Lighting is still in the pioneering stage
though it's getting better and cheaper slowly, but what people have to understand is that LEDs are a completely different type of light than either incandescent or fluorescent. LED lighting is directional photon emission and is wavelength specific.
LEDs when used properly with the correct switching and control gear will give controllable lighting with the correct colour temperature ... but both the initial LEDs and the control gear have to be matched.
The market for realistic LEDs with appropriate control gear for boats as nav lights and cabin lights is IMO about a year away. You can buy what's available now and good luck to you ... but ... why waste money when by 2008 you should be able to buy intelligent LED/control gear packages.
though it's getting better and cheaper slowly, but what people have to understand is that LEDs are a completely different type of light than either incandescent or fluorescent. LED lighting is directional photon emission and is wavelength specific.
LEDs when used properly with the correct switching and control gear will give controllable lighting with the correct colour temperature ... but both the initial LEDs and the control gear have to be matched.
The market for realistic LEDs with appropriate control gear for boats as nav lights and cabin lights is IMO about a year away. You can buy what's available now and good luck to you ... but ... why waste money when by 2008 you should be able to buy intelligent LED/control gear packages.
AliM
New member
Changed ours. Super. No problems.
thaxter
Member
Many thanks
amaric
New member
[ QUOTE ]
I use 11watt energy saving bulbs in 2 table lamps run from inverter,works well and gives good effect,depending on lampshade.
[/ QUOTE ]
I would ditto the use of 11 watt & 7 watt energy saving bulbs powered from a cheap inverter, more light less power and very cheap to obtain. I have tried LED "halogen capsule" replacements, to my horror and if unnoticed I probably would have lost my boat to a fire..... the LED drive electronics over heated and caught the casing alight, these were chinese made and readily obtained from the usual suppliers. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
I use 11watt energy saving bulbs in 2 table lamps run from inverter,works well and gives good effect,depending on lampshade.
[/ QUOTE ]
I would ditto the use of 11 watt & 7 watt energy saving bulbs powered from a cheap inverter, more light less power and very cheap to obtain. I have tried LED "halogen capsule" replacements, to my horror and if unnoticed I probably would have lost my boat to a fire..... the LED drive electronics over heated and caught the casing alight, these were chinese made and readily obtained from the usual suppliers. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
pappaecho
New member
Changed to LEDs largely 2 years ago. Generally good, but light spectrum appears to be warmer today than 2 years go for "white light"
Converted the car type bayonet fittings to MR 16, which is the 12 volt format used for "mains" type system for kitchens and bathrooms, which actually run at 12 volt so are completely safe. Power consumption is about 10% of the old tungsten and the bulbs run cold.
Have one "bulb" of 32 leds where half are not working - no idea why - might be a one off as the others are OK
Have so far not bothered with festoon type lights in cupboards etc, which are still tungsten, but are only used for a couple of minutes so hardly worth the effort - any cant work out whethere they are 39 or 42 mm long, to replace with LED festoons.
SWMBO still insists on one single Halogen MR16 bulb which uses a massive 20 watts, so she can read hereself to sleep... this only takes about 5 mintes so no real current drain there then!
Converted the car type bayonet fittings to MR 16, which is the 12 volt format used for "mains" type system for kitchens and bathrooms, which actually run at 12 volt so are completely safe. Power consumption is about 10% of the old tungsten and the bulbs run cold.
Have one "bulb" of 32 leds where half are not working - no idea why - might be a one off as the others are OK
Have so far not bothered with festoon type lights in cupboards etc, which are still tungsten, but are only used for a couple of minutes so hardly worth the effort - any cant work out whethere they are 39 or 42 mm long, to replace with LED festoons.
SWMBO still insists on one single Halogen MR16 bulb which uses a massive 20 watts, so she can read hereself to sleep... this only takes about 5 mintes so no real current drain there then!
gandy
Active member
I've changed most of our interior bulbs to LED from Ultraleds. No problems except that one of the sizes wasn't available in "warm" which I would have preferred. I still need to find replacements for the two remaining lights that use fluorescent tubes and are a bit too power-hungry.
I also use an Ultraleds bulb in the anchor all-round-white, and its great. Brighter than the previous 10 watt filament bulb. Not suitable for the tricolour though, as the red is too dim, and the green looks a little odd.
I also use an Ultraleds bulb in the anchor all-round-white, and its great. Brighter than the previous 10 watt filament bulb. Not suitable for the tricolour though, as the red is too dim, and the green looks a little odd.
MASH
N/A
Changed mine, great for area/cabin lighting, huge drop in current usage (which is insignificant compared to the fridge...) but insufficient intensity for comfortable reading.
Verdict? well, 50 - 50 maybe.
I'm much more impressed with them for nav lights.
Verdict? well, 50 - 50 maybe.
I'm much more impressed with them for nav lights.
kingfisher
Well-known member
I changed over this winter. I bought them at GAMMA, the dutch B&Q. They are just regular househould LEDs, with the 220-12V adapter cut off. I agree with most of the comments:
-the light output is a lot less than you think. I ended up with 9 LEDs. I should have put in 12.
- I knew the light would be on the blueish side/cold, so I left one of the four normal lights. This "warms" up the light tint enough to make it comfortable.
-the light output is a lot less than you think. I ended up with 9 LEDs. I should have put in 12.
- I knew the light would be on the blueish side/cold, so I left one of the four normal lights. This "warms" up the light tint enough to make it comfortable.
Other threads that may be of interest
