To LED, or not to LED. That is the question ?

BigJoe

BigJoe

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When I switch on ALL my internal lights I use 28A of juice.

Question……………………………………………….

Do I change to LED about 20 quid each or invest in a horrible wind genny thing.
 
led...

These are the way to go..led's are definately the future...your current useage will be a fraction of what it is now.....providing your wiring is in good order!!
 
BigJoe said:
Do I change to LED about 20 quid each or invest in a horrible wind genny thing.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're ansering your own question there :rolleyes:

I switched the frequently used lights to LED, about 60% of them, which saved some cash but a lot of amps. I have a wind generator but also, as liveaboards in the Med currently, quite a high daily load. Today, with winds consistently in the 20-30 knot range as we sit out a tramontana at anchor in Pollenca, is the first time in 15 months I've seen the wind generator output exceed demand and put some back in. Usually it merely reduces the demand so the batts run down slightly less fast. I really should add some PV capacity but with a generator as well the urgency isnt there.
 
Just counted………………. 28 lights

So looks like 1 A per light.

So………… 28 x 20 = 560 Quid.

We are not permanent live aboard YET

So eh……………………………………….

Still not sure what 2 do…………………..
 
Agreed, £20 is OTT for LEDs. I also used UltraLED.

1) Replace the lights you use most. e.g. Anchor + Saloon + Bedside reading.
We did that and usage dropped by at least 15 A hr per day

2) Replace other lights as required
Not such a bit gain as they aren't used as often but you don't feel guilty about leaving odd lighs on.

3) Get a solar panel
We have a 65W coachroof mounted rigid solar panel. Worst location due to shading but still puts out 15Ahr/day in UK and 20-30Ahr/day in Galicia.

Bought on eBay (new surplus stock) for just over £100. Best value for power generation

4) Wind Gen. (If you want a mix of sources)
However, they are epensive and don't give anthing like the value of a solar panel. I have a Rutland 913 and it averages 10Ahr/day in Scotland and around 7-8 Ahr/day in Galicia.



N.B. I ignored Nav. lights (apart from Anchor light) as I don't use them very often and can usually run the engine when they are needed. Of course they will reduce the power going into the batteries but I didn't consider them a priority.
 
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Just buy one to test, We tried some and the light it gave off made the varnish look as if it was greenish.......not nice, I don't know if this an old tale but someone once said to me certain one's could interfere with your VHF
 
I am on my second generation of LEDs. The first ones purchased from ultraleds 7 years ago were not as bright as the halogens they replaced and were ghostly white. They started to fail so last winter I replaced the most used ones with warm white ones from SEAROLF. What a difference. They are brighter than the 10w halogens and a perfectly acceptable colour. They were around £11 each but searolf are willing to talk about prices when buying quantities. They also sell led relacements for florescent tubes. I got one for the galley but could not justify the expense for the heads ones which are not used for prolonged periods.

As a general principle it is far more economic to reduce consumption than to increase geneating capacity, even with the reduced price of solar panels. (stainless structures for mounting them cost a lot). Led lights, Led nav lights, Better insulation on fridge all cost effective particularly if you do not have a built in diesel generator.
 
gavin_lacey said:
I am on my second generation of LEDs. The first ones purchased from ultraleds 7 years ago were not as bright as the halogens they replaced and were ghostly white. They started to fail so last winter I replaced the most used ones with warm white ones from SEAROLF. What a difference. They are brighter than the 10w halogens and a perfectly acceptable colour. They were around £11 each but searolf are willing to talk about prices when buying quantities. They also sell led relacements for florescent tubes. I got one for the galley but could not justify the expense for the heads ones which are not used for prolonged periods.

As a general principle it is far more economic to reduce consumption than to increase geneating capacity, even with the reduced price of solar panels. (stainless structures for mounting them cost a lot). Led lights, Led nav lights, Better insulation on fridge all cost effective particularly if you do not have a built in diesel generator.
Click to expand...

+1 for Searolf. Warm whites are a very good colour and great for reading too.

I found Ultra LED rude and quite horrid to deal with.
 
Thanks for all the reply’s so far

Also……………………………….

Just noticed, when the 2 fridges are running that’s 9A

Nine amps…………………………..

Warm beer and no ice………………………….

Would rather sell the boat
 
BigJoe said:
When I switch on ALL my internal lights I use 28A of juice.

Question……………………………………………….

Do I change to LED about 20 quid each or invest in a horrible wind genny thing.
Click to expand...

Get LEDs. We did and now do not think about power drain. searolf are the best IMO. we replaced bulbs in some and complete lights in others. even done the NAV lights now.

20squid seem OTT - shop around and avoid chandlers! They have their uses when you wan tit NOW but you pay for their stock.
 
20 quid per light was the quote from my Spanish electrician.

Looks like he was trying to sell me, old rope.

I can get replacement bulbs for less than a 5er

Which is good as I am Scottish.
 
BigJoe said:
20 quid per light was the quote from my Spanish electrician.

Looks like he was trying to sell me, old rope.

I can get replacement bulbs for less than a 5er

Which is good as I am Scottish.
Click to expand...

Obviously a big difference in price if you're having someone install them for you.

Most evenings when just reading, we use 2 LED ceiling lights, 0.2 amps draw, 10 on = 1 amp, which is less than 1 festoon bulb.

We find warm white better than pure white, suggest you fit a couple yourself and see how you like them before replacing all.
 
Just be aware that your circuit voltage can range from about 11v to 14.5v or more. The LEDs need to be able to cope with that variation, the cheap ones often cant and burn out quickly. I think I paid in the region of £18 each for festoons, had them in constant use since - much of the time in a typical non-marina liveaboard charging regime.
 
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Go LED, We burn through 20Amps per hour (Big boat) I'm sure if we were LED we would nob off a few amps :-))) Although this would mean giving up the "dimmer" switch.
 
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