Lidl led striplight

[tugboat]

Happened to be in Lidl's today and picked up one of these for the kitchen.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_26857.htm

Noticed the output of the stepdown adaptor is 12volts so it occurred that it might have uses as perhaps an inspection light on board as it will fit into small holes. Perhaps an engine bay or battery compartment light? The leds are warm white, very bright if you look straight at them, but not blue or yellow, so I'm quite happy with it atm.
The sign over the sales basket said 2 year guarantee but there's no mention of any guarantee period in the instruction leaflet.
I dare say someone will come on and say it's cr.p or expensive but I hadn't seen one this slim before so thought I'd mention it.

 

[NormanS]

Happened to be in Lidl's today and picked up one of these for the kitchen.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_26857.htm

Noticed the output of the stepdown adaptor is 12volts so it occurred that it might have uses as perhaps an inspection light on board as it will fit into small holes. Perhaps an engine bay or battery compartment light? The leds are warm white, very bright if you look straight at them, but not blue or yellow, so I'm quite happy with it atm.
The sign over the sales basket said 2 year guarantee but there's no mention of any guarantee period in the instruction leaflet.
I dare say someone will come on and say it's cr.p or expensive but I hadn't seen one this slim before so thought I'd mention it.

I think the problem with a lot of these lights is that when they say 12volts, they mean exactly 12v, not up to 14.5 as on our boats. I saw them as well, and was very tempted, and am even more tempted now that you have confirmed that they are warm white.

 

[MoodySabre]

I've got two of their smaller 6 LED strip lights on my boat and they are great. Just chopped the transformer off and wired them in. No problems with them not running at a true 12V.

Same with Ikea LEDs that some folk have.

 

[colhel]

I couldn't see the strip lights on the their website, but did see a night vision scope for £119.00. And some cameras...

 

[Gumpy]

if you want them cheaper
http://www.leisurepower.co.uk/acatalog/led-sigma-tube.html

 

[MoodySabre]

if you want them cheaper
http://www.leisurepower.co.uk/acatalog/led-sigma-tube.html

At least Lidls checkout works - after quequeing. And no delivery charge. Looks like the same thing though.

 

[nigelmercier]

I think the problem with a lot of these lights is that when they say 12volts, they mean exactly 12v, not up to 14.5 as on our boats. I saw them as well, and was very tempted, and am even more tempted now that you have confirmed that they are warm white.

In fact it is highly likely that the 12V supply is much higher, as there is no need for it to be stabilised (which costs more).

And why would anyone want a light that looks like a candle, rather than sunlight? Warm white lamps are the spawn of the devil

 

[William_H]

LED lights

I got one of these
http://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-L...s-+-T10-+-Dome-Festoon-Bulb-Lamp-p-25719.html
It is so cheap has double sided tape to stick onto walls and runs on 12v. I think there might be larger version also. great for a small boat for cabin lighting just stuck on ceiling or for a larger boat for engine room etc. olewill

 

[savageseadog]

I think the problem with a lot of these lights is that when they say 12volts, they mean exactly 12v, not up to 14.5 as on our boats. I saw them as well, and was very tempted, and am even more tempted now that you have confirmed that they are warm white.

It's really not that critical but if you want to keep the voltage down it's possible to use two or three diodes in series or a small zener diode.

 

[James W]

Great site for LED's!

I got one of these
http://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-L...s-+-T10-+-Dome-Festoon-Bulb-Lamp-p-25719.html
It is so cheap has double sided tape to stick onto walls and runs on 12v. I think there might be larger version also. great for a small boat for cabin lighting just stuck on ceiling or for a larger boat for engine room etc. olewill

Hi Will,

I just checked out this site after your recommendation and they've got some fantastic deals on LED bulbs. Thanks for that!

James

 

[Frankie-H]

Go for it they are excellent. We have several 12v lights like this on the boat. Simply do not use the supplied transformer. When our marina toilet block was being rebuilt, they used exactly these lights, with their transformers, the only problem was that within a few days they had all been stolen

 

[NormanS]

if you want them cheaper
http://www.leisurepower.co.uk/acatalog/led-sigma-tube.html

They're out of stock.

 

[Adrian Jones]

I've got two of their smaller 6 LED strip lights on my boat and they are great. Just chopped the transformer off and wired them in. No problems with them not running at a true 12V.

Same with Ikea LEDs that some folk have.

Do be careful when you start using apparatus designed for you home on your boat. Before others rush out and buy what appears to be a bargain please note the following.

I have actually tested the Lidl 20 LED strip lamp in my lab and observed some good reasons why not to use it or indeed other modified home fixtures on your boat.

The lamp's working current at 12 volts was measured @ 113mA, it gave a nice bright warm white steady light output. At normal charging voltage of 13.8 volts the light was noticeably brighter and the current had increased to 173mA, thats a 50% increase. At 15.3 Volts the Lidl LED strip was brighter still and was consuming 230mA, that's over double the current consumption at its declared rated voltage. Modern battery chargers have an equalising cycle which can approach 16V.

LEDs are current operated devices, increasing current flowing through the device by raising the voltage will result in progressive damage, culminating in premature lamp failure.

I really think you run some real risks using houshold lamps on your boat. My figures speak for themselves, at best the longevity of the lamp will be much reduced, at worse you risk a fire. You just don't have any way of knowing what the consequences are.

I'm sure testing the Ikea lamps would reveal similar concerns.

All LED lamps used on you boat should have constant current control circuits built it. These integrated circuits control the current within the lamp independent of the voltage applied. Consequently they can cope with the likely range of voltages different battery chargers produce. Constant-current lamps are often rated at 10-30V. Lamps rated for 12V will not normally have any protection other than simple series resistors, that's why they are often less expensive!

More and more smart battery chargers are coming to the market so the likelihood of seeing higher voltages on our boats will increase with their use.

Regards