Any good LED Bulbs for cabin?

Matt19020 · Post by **Matt19020** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:20 pm

Has anybody found any LED bulbs that would be close to the output of a standard 12V Mac interior light?

Zoran · Post by **Zoran** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:42 pm

I am also still searching for that alternative. On the other note I installed my night lights this winter, tried them and I like them. I installed red lights (6 leds each) beside the existing original ones. In the head I installed one fixture that can be switched between white and red led (six leds each also). All lights are wired through 1-0-2 toggle switch. When switch is on 1 all white lights are functioning like originally wired and red are off. When switched on 2 all red light will turn on and none of white light can be turned on even by mistake. I did some night sailing on Easter turned red lights on and I could find everything in the cabin and still could see when I came out to continue sailing.

Zoran

bubba · Post by **bubba** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:27 am

Try www.superbrightleds.com look in the car section for 12 volt clusters.
I saw this on an older thread.

RickJ · Post by **RickJ** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:40 am

I've installed these.

This was my 2nd attempt at a suitable lamp, but these seem to work quite well. I don't think they're quite as bright as the 21W auto-bulbs fitted as standard, but they give a good light. They're also not expensive.

The problem with most LED substitute bulbs for cars is they direct the light from the end of the lamp. This is fine for most car lamp fittings, but for the Mac cabin lights the bulb needs to radiate sideways. These ones I've used have LED elements facing in all directions.

HTH

Cheers, Rick

bubba · Post by **bubba** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:00 am

Take a look closely they have both types out the end and wide angle and even a flat array all for the stock Mac lights with different watts.

March · Post by **March** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:01 am

I experimented with a number of LED lights, Got some on e-bay for about 10 dollars for two. If your light fixtures are the ones accepting the regular bayonet based 12 v bulbs (the ones you use on car tail-lights) make sure the LEDs are not only pointing "up," but they also "girdle" the bulb as well--the more, the better. That'll give you enough light to read by
Can't remember how many LEDs mine have--over 20, I would giuess?
Also make sure that the polarity is correct. LEDs work only if the polarity is right

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:22 am

If you wire them backwards the light gets pulled from the boat and leaves behind dark.

Ivan Awfulitch · Post by **Ivan Awfulitch** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:15 am

I use the Sensibulb from Sailor's Solution. They're more expensive than many others, but have 4 features that sold them:

1. They have a light output as much or better than the standard bulb, and they simply plug in (you buy a bayonet socket adapter). Less than 10 minutes to change bulbs and add dimmers to the fixture.

2. They direct the light down, toward the boat, and the angle is adjustable.

3. They have a warm white light, the same color as the standard bulb. Most other Led's have a blue/white color that's hard on the eyes. They are also available in red.

4. They offer a full range dimmer. To use the dimmer, drill 1 small hole in the fixture to mount the dimmer control, then splice it inline with the power from the switch. (Note that on my Mac, they switched the negative line rather than the positive wire so you may have to switch the lines to make the dimmer work). Don't have to use one, but I really like them. They also offer a dimmer in case you have a white/red fixture so you can dim both bulbs.

Make sure that you get a bayonet adapter so they simply plug in.

http://sailorssolutions.com/index.asp?p ... tem=SEN10W
http://sailorssolutions.com/index.asp?p ... Item=SENBA

tangentair · Post by **tangentair** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:24 am

I am not sure why it seem that some of you do not like the LEDs sold at auto part stores? Maybe not for navigation but the the stores around here have plenty of colors and fixtures/mounting options to choose from. Also I see that WM is starting to get behind LEDs in this years catalog.

Also as a side note, some studies indicate that intensity or brightness is just as critical as color when it comes to protecting night vision.

R Rae · Post by **R Rae** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:12 am

If you wire them backwards the light gets pulled from the boat and leaves behind dark.

Does this solve the mystery of black holes in udder space??

mallardjusted · Post by **mallardjusted** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:43 pm

Does this solve the mystery of black holes in udder space??

Holy cow, never thought of that!

( even though some will take a dim view of this, it's just a little light humor!)

Craig LaForce · Post by **Craig LaForce** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:24 pm

I bought a flourescent light from walmart that took 8 AA cells (12v) and simply wired it to the 12V battery on the boat with a fused and switched circuit works fine. Haven't seem that little light for a while though.

Walmart also is now selling a 4 AA LED lantern that is awesome for about 5 bucks.

http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/tra ... ead/626366

http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/tra ... almart,led

bastonjock · Post by **bastonjock** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:20 pm

ive recently bought some battery powered led cabin lights,at $10 for three i bought two packs,they take 3AAA batteried each,they give out a more gentle light and simply stick to the surface.

as i only have one battery,i decided to use these as a stop gap.

pokerrick1 · Post by **pokerrick1** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:35 pm

I was very dissatisfied with the factory Mac lighting because I couldn't read at night from the aft dinnette seat that I use - - - even when plugged into shore power (the forward dinnette seat leg room is taken up by a coolerator (plugged in) so that seat is unusable as a seat - - - I can just pile stuff on top of it but no leg space is available). So I bough a small flourescent two bulb fixture from Home Depot and had it installed above the aft dinnette seat on the overhead plastic liner with two screws and it fit perfectly. It lights uo the aft section of the cabin like daytime

Rick

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 5:21 pm

What Rick said~! I found some 12v, single-tube flourescents on the internet. Mount them to shine directly up into Roger's gelcoated liner, and they bounce light all over the friggin' cabin .... only 8 watts, and zero concern about "directional lighting" from LEDs.

You'll note that it's designed as a light-duty worklight, trouble-light. However, it's easy to disassemble it and direct-wire into the cabin. (The leftover wire, with alligator clips and ligher-plug? ... works great to wire up the bilge pumps~!) I'm mounting the plastic light-cyliner to the overhead liner using nylon cable clamps, also pictured. PM if you need details.

I'm also planning to mount a couple of 'em inside my pickup shell too.
Vector Mfg, Ltd.
VEC129 BrightBar = 8 watt single-tube flourescent
Search around the Web. I think I actually ordered a half-dozen (couple years ago)
directly from Vector ... about ten bucks each.

..

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Any good LED Bulbs for cabin?

Any good LED Bulbs for cabin?

Lighting