LED lights

[Oily Rag]

I've been very impressed by some 12 volt L EDs installed by an electrician at home. They are fed from mains via a controller.
Would a controller still be needed on a boat if the LEDs were fed directly from the house battery? I'm concerned that alternator voltages might cause damage.
Many thanks.

 

[MarkCX]

I’ve been using ‘12v’ ones on mine, both navigation and interior with no problems for over 10 years. Only had one fail in that time. Interior LEDs have been cheap ones off eBay. Nav lights are specific boaty ones.

This thread was started yesterday:
Replacing old bulbs with LED "bulbs"

 

[duncan99210]

I’ve been using ‘12v’ ones on mine, both navigation and interior with no problems for over 10 years. Only had one fail in that time. Interior LEDs have been cheap ones off eBay. Nav lights are specific boaty ones.

This thread was started yesterday:
Replacing old bulbs with LED "bulbs"

+1

 

[salar]

Be wary of using non-marine LEDs, they can cause VHR intereference. Lots of info on this if you Google it.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I have a concern about LEDs in that the LED downlighters installed in our kitchen about seven years ago, which seemed quite bright when new now seem to be dimmer, to the point that I have considered installing task lighting, and the LED exterior yard lights with IR movement detectors start to exhibit failed diodes after 12 months or so. Is it a known downside of these light sources that they loose their brightness over time

 

[MarkCX]

I must say it’s not something I’ve ever noticed. The oldest LED’s on the boat are over 10 years old, but don’t get anywhere near the kind of usage that they would in a domestic setting. Apart from nav lights, mine were not really much more expensive than incandescent bulbs that could probably have failed by now anyway.

 

[Euphonyx]

Arent they 10v to 30v rather than just 12v? The ones I have are

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I’ve been using ‘12v’ ones on mine, both navigation and interior with no problems for over 10 years. Only had one fail in that time. Interior LEDs have been cheap ones off eBay. Nav lights are specific boaty ones.

This thread was started yesterday:
Replacing old bulbs with LED "bulbs"

+1 .... got all LED interior lighting on the boat and marine LED nav lights except up the mast where I have marine LED bulbs in the steaming light and all round masthead. Will switch deck flood, steamng and allround to LED units in the near future.

 

[MarkCX]

Arent they 10v to 30v rather than just 12v? The ones I have are

May well be, but I wasn’t paying attention at the time I bought them - didn’t really know any better at the time.

 

[DonByars]

You don't need a controller; it takes more power and can eventually burn out all the wiring. There is a simplified system for boats, so you can buy whatever you need and install it the way you originally intended, and it won't damage your boat. For example, I recently decorated the cabin with https://www.amazon.com/car-lights-car-led-lights/dp/B09L86JRRM. Although I was worried about the LED strip getting hot or consuming a lot of power, everything works without a problem.

 

[Refueler]

I am replacing my old tube style cabin deckhead lights with LED and the improvement is huge ... less power needed - brighter lights.

I am also replacing the Festoon bulbs in nav lights .... cutting down power need.

Every little helps when away from mains or not using engine.

As to OP's question about controller .... its not only LED lights that you can discard the controller and power direct of the battery bank - but small TV's and even your Laptop computer ... so many items today are based on the 12 - 14V - that we are able to benefit.

Pal of mine bought a long strip LED designed for under wall units in kitchen. He fixed in boat cabin - wired direct via switch ... and has 'strip concealed' lighting now ... works a treat.