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

We are 70 percent complete. We use searolf a great product and great service. We have replaced 45 bulbs so far, one failed after a few weeks and was replaced free of charge. It's an expensive process we did it partly to reduce the current draw and partly to upgrade the boat generally and reduce the heat output. We spend about four months a year on board but when we kick off for the circumnavigation they will come in to their own. We have no solar or wind but a fixed gen. Set the boat is very power hungry fridge, freezer, laptops, bread maker only used on ocean zings and water maker we need to run the gen. Set anyway and it's better under load.
 
I have recessed ceiling mounted lights in my boat that take G4 bulbs, and i replaced all the bulbs on my boat with these 9 led ones from china, they give out a nice warm light thats not at all harsh

smd led ebay bulbs 99p

And i also use this remote controlled dimmer to control them all at the same time, it works great and means i can turn the lights on as i walk up to my boat to light up everything, and i can also turn the lights off from in bed too !

Wireless led dimmer
 
Do the Searolf have any form of regulation in them? There is a FAQ but although it has the question in it, they don't actually answer it!

Regulation is important for LEDs - they are not terribly robust and the damage often doesn't manifest itself as an immediate failure. Instead it reduces the lifetime.

Personally, I'd like to see a much longer warranty than 1 year on a device that should last more than 4 years of continuous operation.
 
RobbieW said:
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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look here http://www.searolf.com/page30.html

No connection.
 
temptress said:
look here http://www.searolf.com/page30.html
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None of the LEDs listed on that page are festoons. I replaced like for like to save the extra expense of changing the light fittings as well - the LED festoons actually had a brighter output than the incandescents, one would work where there were two previously.

As said earlier I bought about 15-18 months ago, I think from bedazzled. Thier website now shows prices at around £9 with protected circuits. iirc my conversation with bedazzled said that the protected circuit LEDs were still in development so the market has moved on and prices gone down - hooray
 
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RobbieW said:
None of the LEDs listed on that page are festoons. I replaced like for like to save the extra expense of changing the light fittings as well - the LED festoons actually had a brighter output than the incandescents, one would work where there were two previously.

As said earlier I bought about 15-18 months ago, I think from bedazzled. Thier website now shows prices at around £9 with protected circuits. iirc my conversation with bedazzled said that the protected circuit LEDs were still in development so the market has moved on and prices gone down - hooray
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So have some common sense and click on the link to the left that says Festoons....
 
Another vote for LEDs. One of the first things I did when I got the boat was to replace every bulb with an LED. Between ultraleds and bedazzled I managed to replace them all with similar rated warm white LEDs. Cost about £200 for the whole boat but the power saving is probably more than anything else you can do.
 
duncan99210 said:
Visit ebay and buy your LEDs there at about £1.50 a time. I've replaced all the lights with them and now only worry about the fridge in terms of consumption. The LEDs barely register on the meter.
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I've had cheap ones before, some lasted for a while , others didn't. Problem when cruising is getting stuff delivered if they blow. When overnight might mean 3 weeks or never. Gone to bedazzled for inside now, ones been left on constantly for about a year and a half now, seems fine. Worth the extra for a trouble free life. Imho.
 
Now i have been cleaning today using my LED lenser head torch and it shows up imperfections and dust, its amazing. You get a much better finish its brilliant! So with LED lights you will have a cleaner boat.
 
Buying LEDs on ebay at the price I mentioned before means that I carry a few spares so that if one fails, I just replace it. In fact, the latest ones I bought 18 months ago proved not to be prone to failure as the earlier ones were and I haven't replaced on since. I think that that specialist retailers have had their day, as the Chinese manufacturers are now selling direct (or via UK outlets) and are now selling the same spec lights as were only once only available from the specialists but at a fraction of the cost.
 
LED update

LED update....................................

Just fitted 25 of theses............................................

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150854687576?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648

99p each

................................. AND...........................

7 of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HQRP-G4-1...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item51a13c87e2

a wee bit dearer........................

now using 6 amps instead of 30 odd.......................

I love LED's
 
BigJoe said:
LED update....................................

Just fitted 25 of theses............................................

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150854687576?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648

99p each

................................. AND...........................

7 of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HQRP-G4-1...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item51a13c87e2

a wee bit dearer........................

now using 6 amps instead of 30 odd.......................

I love LED's
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+1 for Ebay LED's.

I replaced 48 of the light bulbs on our 50' Sea Ray, none have failed over the summer, and total cost was about £60.

Graham
 
I just had a small glimmer of understanding while comparing products (pun intended)

e.g.
LED type: 5050
Lumens: 13 per LED
120 lumen total for this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150854687...4.m1497.l2648&clk_rvr_id=390989532468&afsrc=1

LED type: 3528 SMD
Lumens: 5 per LED
Also 120 lumen total for this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-G4-War...9755858?pt=UK_Light_Bulbs&hash=item20c851c652

i.e. when comparing products, it's not just the number of LEDs on each disc that matters, its also the rated light output of each LED in lumens. Some models give out more light than others (no surprise there I guess)

So, if you have (like me) a Managing Director (SWMBO) who might complain the new lighting is much less bright than the old halogen, it's good to check the rated lumens first.
 
Boreades said:
i.e. when comparing products, it's not just the number of LEDs on each disc that matters, its also the rated light output of each LED in lumens. Some models give out more light than others (no surprise there I guess)
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Both those also rated at 0.9w, maybe the smaller one is being driven harder, or the specs should be taken with a rather large pinch of salt.... ;)

How many different types of 5050 warm white LEDs are there?
 
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