[C320-list] More on LEDs

[Jeff Hare]

Very good to know Warren. I'm considering pulling my mast in the spring to add Radar, change out the connectors at the base of the mast and replace the anchor light. 

Hull 809 has good lighting everywhere except the aft cabin which we'll be fixing soon. 

-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com>
Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:15:53 
To: Catalina C320 mail list<C320-List at catalina320.org>
Reply-To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] More on LEDs

Last year we took the mast down for the first time and replaced the wiring
and lights.  The new anchor light is an Aqua Signal Series 25, and is the
same fixture as the original.  From marinebeam.com I bought an LED anchor
light.  This is a 44mm festoon LED nav light cool white, prod code
FS-44-30B, for $30.  The bulb is round for 360 deg. with 30 LEDs, and is
brighter than the original 10W incandescent original using a mere 3.2W of
power.  We used it all summer and are happy to recommend this LED anchor
light.

 

We have wanted to change out all 8 festoon bulbs in the cabin (10W each) for
LEDs.  The cost of new fixtures at around $100 (plus bulbs) wasn't in our
cards.  I tried a couple of early offerings (I think from Dr. LED,) without
success.  I was reluctant to buy more.  However, I had a phone-con with the
marinebeam.com rep at the boat show and after meeting him and discussing the
festoon bulb issue, I bought 6 of their 42mm bulbs, item FS-42-06, at $20
each.  These puppies put out 72 lumens of warm white light they say are as
bright as the original 10W incandescent bulbs at a measly 1.5W each.  I
think they are slightly brighter.  I now can burn 6 of these for the energy
cost of one of the old bulbs.  Without having to change out fixtures or use
supporting light, we can now comfortably read sitting anywhere in the cabin
with just the four corner lights lit.  We can comfortably recommend these
bulbs, too.  I should hasten to add that these bulbs have a constant-current
chipset to protect them from early burnout that results from over driving as
charging voltages ramp up. 

 

If you have the G-4 type of fixtures, marinebeam.com as what they claim is
the brightest G4 side pin bulb  on the market today.  These come in 6, 10,
and 12 LED formats for 90, 120, and 140 lumens, respectively.   

 

(I have not financial interest in marinebeam.com.  I'm just a satisfied
customer.)

 

Warren & Pattie Updike

1994 C320 #62 "Warr de Mar"