[C320-list] LED cabin lights

[Scott Thompson]

1/2 the current seems about right since the halogens (at least mine) are 
20w and the ones that you purchased are 10w according to the ebay listing.

My "eyeball" lamp sockets do not have built in reflectors so I think I 
need a bulb that has that. The halogen bulbs I would be replacing are 
20W MR16 spots with a U5.3 base. I've found some very good prices for 3w 
or 4w versions on ebay, but have not yet pulled the trigger.  Specs look 
similar to the halogens in terms of lumens and color temperature. See 
for example, http://www.ebay.com/itm/370748921572.

But I'm finding I have reservations. One concern is whether standard LED 
lamps designed for accent lighting and/or landscaping can tolerate the 
voltage fluctuation of a boat, especially when hit with battery charging 
voltages. The ability to adapt to fluctuating voltages in this 
environment seems to be one of the selling points of the higher priced 
"marine" LEDs, but I don't know whether it is a serious concern in 
practice. The high priced bulbs also claim cooler operation and no RF 
interference, but again I don't know whether you need to pay the higher 
prices to get satisfactory performance there.

For those of you who have used the cheaper LEDs, have you had any issues 
with bulb life, heat, RF interference, or performance? At less than 
1/10th the price per bulb of a Sensibulb, perhaps I should just think of 
them as disposable!

Scott

On 4/30/2015 10:09 AM, Jeff wrote:
> I purchased a set of these because the price was good.  They fit the eyeball lights in the main cabin but didn't work in the aft cabin spotlights.  They are diodes so if one doesn't turn on after installing it, it is installed with the + pin not in the right socket.  They are ok and use exactly 1/2 the power of the halogens so they aren't the most efficient LEDs out there. Finding some more compact warm white CREE LEDs might cut the power use further another 75%.
>
> 8 halogen lights were measuring about 4.2amps. 8 of these LEDs dropped the use down to 2.5amps and very little heat. The heat from the halogens were really damaging the fixtures.
>
> Jeff
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Apr 29, 2015, at 6:38 PM, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com> wrote:
>>
>> Chris: Are you using these in the standard "eyeball" fixtures? I would think you would want something with a reflector design similar to the MR16 halogen bulbs that came standard on my 1999 boat.
>>
>>> On 4/6/2015 10:38 PM, clburti at gmail.com wrote:
>>> I found these LED’s on eBay…
>>>
>>> http://tinyurl.com/mbzamvs
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I purchased ten 24 LED G4’s, I had 10w halogens in the aft cabin fixtures as wall as the eight in the main cabin, so 10 was the perfect number. They are warm white and as near as I can tell without a light meter, have the equivalent light output as the halogen bulb. At $29 total and free shipping for 10, I am well pleased so far.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Fair Winds
>>> Chris Burti
>>> Commitment
>>> Catalina 320, #867