[C320-list] Source for LED lights for cabin

[Warren Updike]

Larry, you start with replacements for festoon bulbs then discuss new fixtures. The fixtures on the 320 changed over the years. Initially they were festoon incandescent bulbs, then halogen in fixtures with switches. I assume newer hulls now have LED bulbs. 
We have festoon fixtures on our # 62, and some years ago replaced the bulbs with LEDs from MarineBeam.com and have been very happy. They had both warm and cool colors. We still have the original fixtures.
MarineBeam has an interesting technical article about controlling power to LED bulbs. I wonder if the cheap imports have the type of controls that are needed on boats where power can range from 12V to over 14V. 
Switching to LEDs can have a significant impact on battery life. 

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Frank [mailto:WindSwept at stx.rr.com] 
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2018 1:07 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Source for LED lights for cabin

I am looking for a cost effective source LED festoon bulbs to replace the
incandescent bulbs that were standard equipment on my 1995 320.  I will only
go with a warm white color.   Not the cool white that is actually very
bright and blue in color.  DrLED has a nice light with a color temperature
of 3000K which looks good but I paid $55 at the local West Marine store for
ONE.  That adds up to $440 to replace them all.  Ouch.  DRLed sells them at
$40 on their website and Defender has them at $36 but that is still pretty
pricy.  I won¹t even get into the WM pricing policy in this post.

Has anyone found a lower priced source for these bulbs?

Larry
WindSwept C320 #246