[C320-list] LED cabin lights

[Joel Krauska]

I tried a few models and decided I like these best.

LunaSea G4 Bottom Pin LED Light Bulb - 12VAC or 10-30VDC/1.3W/89 Lumens -
Warm White
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CYAWSSG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

At $11 a piece they are a little pricey.

I snipped about 1/4" off the end to make them fit flush. (see as they come,
after cut and then halogen)
https://carousel.dropbox.com/photos/cc/aiNLn68xbFrfbzj

Here's what they look like installed.
https://carousel.dropbox.com/photos/cc/HMOCBC0NNB7LQG6



They are not as bright as the original Halogens (~89 lumens vs ~200
lumens), but they seem ok for my needs and are cool to the touch.  (The
halogens run HOT!) And it's a 10:1 wattage savings.


I bought what /looked/ to be the same thing on ebay in a bag of 10 for ~$30.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201223221014?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&var=500416090327&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

And the quality wasn't nearly as good.  - buyer beware

See here for a comparison of the 3
https://carousel.dropbox.com/photos/cc/DqRmPkDWgz1gy9m
Big junky ebay vs LunaSea vs Orignal Halogen


I also tried a Dr.Led G4 bulb from Westmarine, and it cost a lot more than
the LunaSea and wasn't as nice for the price.


After reading this thread I might try these:
http://www.amazon.com/LunaSea-Back-Pin-Light-Bulb/dp/B00CYAWTWQ/ref=sr_1_22?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1430447634&sr=1-22

Which have the disc shape like the ones on catalinadirect and 50 more
lumens at $14.


To me, dropping from 20 Watts per light to 1-2 Watts per light is a no
brainer for $100 or so.

I hope this info is useful to someone.

--Joel



On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 2:49 PM, JJ Morrison <sail-ability at sympatico.ca>
wrote:

> I purchased one of the "eyeball"sockets from Catalina Direct as well as 2
> LEDs to replace 2 of the Halogen. The "eyeball" had failed for one reason
> or another. The "eyeball" comes with an LED light and is $43.87; the LED
> replacement units are $11.95 EA. I'm sure you can find cheaper but these
> are US made and are 'fit for purpose'.CheersJohnM1999#574
>
> > Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2015 13:05:08 -0400
> > From: surprise at thompson87.com
> > To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] LED cabin lights
> >
> > 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
> >
>
>