Island Time 1,252 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 SO does that go at the top of the mast? or simply installed before the switch panel? I'll need a decent one anyway for the SSB (and Wallas stove), unless I also run a dedicated 12V system for them... Its pretty small - like a matchbox - usually at the switch panel or the mast base junction box... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 for internal LEDs on the boat we started with just changing the bulbs, but then swapped to the whole fittings. Bought them from a USA RV place, cant remember which one and had a friend post them to us from the USA. Way cheaper and so far (18months) good quality. Its well worth changing the whole fittings. For two primary reasons - the light is better - the diffuser (lens) in the light is designed for the particular LEDs inside it. the second reason is that the weak point of any lights is often the bulb socket - changing to a good LED and wiring directly removes these connections entirely. A good LED fitting should give you about 50,000 hours MTBF (Mean time Between Failures) I use a lot of LED strip lights as well though, however I quite like the Bell Rock cabin lights - like this https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=123&item=49494&intAbsolutePage=3 White - and the brightest LED cabin lights I've seen - and red for night. Really good lights - I'd like to sell them, but the manufacturers only seem interested in a pallet at a time... I have 3 of these, all going fine after 5 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 sh*t - you need quite a big battery bank to run a pallet's worth! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 Nah , the ones I have that are 5 years old are an older model than that link. Burnsco have the old model ones, not the newer ones for some reason - maybe they get the obsolete stock.... I have 1 of the ones in that link, but want a couple more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Interesting that bright LEDs seem to be so desired. I found the challenge was finding more yellow/ less bright for cabin lighting. But like I said earlier , I'm just retrofitting bulbs rather than whole units. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sail Rock 28 Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 I recently replaced interior and exterior lamps with LEDs. The Hella products (tricolour/ anchor light and one interior Euro lamp) were expensive but worth it. Rest of the interior lamps were replaced with cheapies from Burnsco, all of which do the job adequately except the reading lights that generate RF which interferes with the FM radio. You get what you pay for! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonathan 4 Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 I am trying this bulb in an interior fitting , its a 4w Replaces (25w old school bulb), its going into an old fitting with very opaque thick lens, will see what happens, and report back. https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/caravans-motorhomes/parts-accessories/lighting/auction-1449266222.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Jonathan, they work OK, but the lamp they are installed in still won't have the right diffusion lenses for led. Also, still suffer from the normal socket issues. Still, not a bad low cost solution. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonathan 4 Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 i will try vhf and fm radio etc once its installed... only got a single one to try. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Many or most LEDs that have wide voltage ranges can cause VHF interference. Quality marine units don't. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Its just the power supply they use is poor design/quality and they leak RF! LEDs dont run at 12v, so the power has to be controlled for them - its that control method that caused issues in some of them, LED Nav lights can be an issue, even some that should know better! The symptom most commonly seen is a squealing noise on all VHF channels, which can be from minor to making the radio unusable. The solution is buy decent lights!! Ones that do this are not fit for purpose, and should be returned for a refund. IMO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chloe 7 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Its just the power supply they use is poor design/quality and they leak RF! LEDs dont run at 12v, so the power has to be controlled for them - its that control method that caused issues in some of them, LED Nav lights can be an issue, even some that should know better! The symptom most commonly seen is a squealing noise on all VHF channels, which can be from minor to making the radio unusable. The solution is buy decent lights!! Ones that do this are not fit for purpose, and should be returned for a refund. IMO. But burnsco recon that "they have never heard of that before, Must be something wrong with your radio's." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Crap. Whomever you spoke to at burnsco was an amateur. A quick google search on Rf and LEDs will find heaps of stuff about this issue.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chloe 7 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Crap. Whomever you spoke to at burnsco was an amateur. A quick google search on Rf and LEDs will find heaps of stuff about this issue.... I agree I went home and pulled stuff of the net including a printout of the notice to marine suppliers from the ministry. And took it all down to them. Result "not much we can do about that" and they still sale them. But I don't buy ANY light stuff of them and keep telling them that. I go in there for the odd bits and bobs and look around and say something along the lines off "I wont some light bulbs fittings, bugger will get them some where else as your stuff will get me killed. And they laugh. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Yep, they sell multiple products that IMO are not fit for purpose. It's not the sales staff at fault, but the ethics and knowledge of the management. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 296 Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 Raising this old thread to ask a question. Set on getting Hella LED down lights for cabin. Its a 26 foot yacht. How many you reckon I would need? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 How long is that piece of string and is it green, red or white string. How much do you want to light up and how brightly? For some, just one light is all that is needed, but for others, they may want more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 296 Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 How long is that piece of string and is it green, red or white string. How much do you want to light up and how brightly? For some, just one light is all that is needed, but for others, they may want more. Well, Wheels, just bright enough so I don't bang my head or knee on something making my way to the head at midnight! In all seriousness, I can't stand bright light, much prefer a more subtle ambience. I was hoping to get away with two lights, one in the main cabin, and one in the for'ard area, but no idea of what lumens or whatever, as never had any experience fitting lights to a small yachts cabin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 It absolutely depends on the particular light. Just like incandescent lights, leds vary in power, diffuser effectiveness, number of leds in the unit etc. Go to burnsco and look at a few on the working display panels to see. However, I’m getting old and need better light than I once did, and I use 3 main lights in the saloon and one in each cabin on a 40 ft boat. 2ndry lights are strip lights on each side of the saloon, reading lights over each bunk, lights in every locker, engine room etc. With everything on its as bright as domestic house lighting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,252 Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 I use these; https://www.whitworths.com.au/catalogsearch/result/?q=Bell+rock Specifically this one as the main cabin light, white and red, very bright: https://www.whitworths.com.au/bell-rock-super-bright-36-white-12-red-led-slim-light-board Better than KM’s I reckon! Looks like burnsco have them now too: https://www.burnsco.co.nz/shop/12v-electrical/lighting/led-ceiling-light3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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