[C320-list] Which LED to Buy

[Karl Mielenhausen _/)]

Dick,

With all due respect to the opinions of others on this list regarding  
LEDs, I have yet to find a replacement that offers the same light output  
as the 20w MR-16 Phillips halogen reflector in my cabin's overhead  
fixtures.

My own data collection supports what I seen in numerous reviews, including  
the 1/2009 issue of Practical Sailor.

Therefore there is no easy answer to your question, which is one I have  
been struggling with also for some time.
You must determine the compromises that you are willing to accept. Of  
course, the eye adjusts nicely to different brightness and you might not  
even realize the lower luminance in a single stimulus comparison.

That said, I am very pleased with the 9 SMT MR-16 device from  
ledwholesalers (their item 1208WW) for general overhead lighting. I  
believe you would be dissappointed trying to read using that bulb however.  
For reading, the LUXEON, model 1204WH from ledwholesalers does a nice job  
because of its focused hotspot.
At 40" from the fixture, the width of that hotspot is about 16".

For our aft berth reading lamps, I like the 6 SMT MR-11 device from  
ledwholesalers or the Swego LEDG4B (which sports 10 SMTs and achieves  
nearly the luminance of the G4 halogen bulb at 1/4 the current draw).

Regards,
Karl


On Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:24:57 -0400, Richard A. Walker <dickwalker at att.net>  
wrote:

> Karl thanks for your great work.
>
> Do you now recommend one as a replacement?  Do they easily fit our  
> lights.
> I am thinking of only replacing about 6.
>

-- 
Karl Mielenhausen
Catalina 320 Hull 690
New Bern, NC

Join us August 7-9, 2009 at Marina Del Rey, CA for our annual Catalina  
320IA Regatta and Annual Meeting.