Cockpit Lighting

Be careful when substituting LED "conversion" bulbs in nav/anchor light applications.
They're required to have 2 nm visibility, and I suspect that most led's would not meet that spec. New led nav lights are not inexpensive for that reason.
 
guys, I work in television and use gels over the lights to warm them up. its easy and cheap and you can change the colors at will
 
tobnpr said:
Be careful when substituting LED "conversion" bulbs in nav/anchor light applications.
They're required to have 2 nm visibility, and I suspect that most led's would not meet that spec. New led nav lights are not inexpensive for that reason.
Click to expand...

To be absolutely sure, I would agree with this. I believe it is more important for cabin and cockpit lighting which is used when engines are off. This is the big pay off in low amperage draw of the LED's.

I seldom cruise after dark, although do anchor out quite a bit. I have had others tell me that they can see my anchor lights much better than others close by. My old incandescent bulbs on my bow lights appear very dim by comparison to the LED,s. This is to my eye and not offering any technical data or conforming to any standards. Seems like there is different standards for different boat lengths.
 
n focus said:
guys, I work in television and use gels over the lights to warm them up. its easy and cheap and you can change the colors at will
Click to expand...

Hi there-

I also work in TV and all sorts of other lighting.

when you gel, are you talking about covering the lens of current halogen based fixtures? since the source is so close to the lens, how long does your gel last before burning?

I also experimented with some dichroic glass samples I got from Apollo. I think it is a great solution, but getting the glass to fit the size is not easy (my wife is a stained glass artist and had the tools to cut them for me). I think the colored LED bulbs are less expensive than the dichroic glass for sure.l
 
Anybody try the cool whites as an anchor light? One of mine seems to burn out fairly often. I'm thinking it is a heat problem. What about the intensity issue? Are these things bright enough to use and comply with legal requirements?
 
sbw1 said:
Anybody try the cool whites as an anchor light? One of mine seems to burn out fairly often. I'm thinking it is a heat problem. What about the intensity issue? Are these things bright enough to use and comply with legal requirements?
Click to expand...

I'm using one (and a co-worker, as well) that I got from Super Bright's. I'll have to check my receipt to see which one. But, we've only used it this season so I can't tell you about longevity.

I did try it out in the showroom against another boat with a regular bulb in it. Seemed at least as bright to me. But, that was only from about 70' away.
 
sbw1 said:
Anybody try the cool whites as an anchor light? One of mine seems to burn out fairly often. I'm thinking it is a heat problem. What about the intensity issue? Are these things bright enough to use and comply with legal requirements?
Click to expand...

I use the cool whites in Anchor lights, two in arch, and also the one in the transom facing aft.

Doubt it is a heat issue, at least from the LED as they run very cool. Are you using the ones with the buck circuits built in? They can take anywhere from 3-30V DC without burning out. without the circuit, just a few volts swing might burn out the cheapies.
 
Uplate said:
I use the cool whites in Anchor lights, two in arch, and also the one in the transom facing aft.

Doubt it is a heat issue, at least from the LED as they run very cool. Are you using the ones with the buck circuits built in? They can take anywhere from 3-30V DC without burning out. without the circuit, just a few volts swing might burn out the cheapies.
Click to expand...


I'm not using an LED. I've got all incandescents and they do get a little warm. This could be a fixture issue also because it is only the back side of the anchor lite that burns out. I'm thinking about replacing the receptacle on the standoff now that we are stored. LEDs seem like a good possible way to go. Thanks for the feedback.
 
Uplate said:
I use the cool whites in Anchor lights, two in arch, and also the one in the transom facing aft.

Doubt it is a heat issue, at least from the LED as they run very cool. Are you using the ones with the buck circuits built in? They can take anywhere from 3-30V DC without burning out. without the circuit, just a few volts swing might burn out the cheapies.
Click to expand...


Does "Buck" refer to the resistor loaded or the electronic control type circuit built into the bulb.

There is a big difference in price and I am wanting to order the four cockpit festoon 42mm's. :huh:

See this link

Versus these

See this link 2
 
A co-worker and myself both use the ones from your second link (Super Bright). Granted, it's only been one season worth of use, but they seem to be just fine.

SBW1: Forgot about this post - I will try to remember to check my anchor light for you tonight. I *think* it's the WLED-WHP9-T (page up a little on that second link above). It *might* be the 13, instead of the 9. But I think I was concerned about it being too tall inside the lens.
 
Pseudomind said:
Does "Buck" refer to the resistor loaded or the electronic control type circuit built into the bulb.

There is a big difference in price and I am wanting to order the four cockpit festoon 42mm's. :huh:

See this link

Versus these

See this link 2
Click to expand...

Yes, Constant Current technology built into the bulb. On the festoons you can see the circuit on the back. Both Marine beam (i think in all of their products) and Superbrite have it. Superbrite also has Current Limiting Resistors, which I believe is not the same thing as a Constant Current (also called "Buck converter)

Here is some reading on the driver circuit:
http://www.supertex.com/pdf/app_notes/AN-H48.pdf

I am using the same bulbs as on your Superbright link. They do have the Buck circuit as stated by this link:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/festoon.html

I bought the reading light replacements for the cabin from Marine Beam. All cockpit and Nav lights I use the Superbrights as they are much less $$. Cheap enough to have a few colors on hand as well if you want to experiment.
 
So do the 6 light Festoon Bulbs from super bright fit in the Perko Fixture? I want to try colored bulbs and they don't seem to have the blue festoon in the 3 light LED at Super Bright. What Blue 42 MM LED's are others using?
 
Larry&Leisa said:
Jim at BOE has the Apeiron tri-color lites that several have used here (including me). Nice to switch between white/blue/red at times. Mine fit right into the old arch light spots.
Click to expand...

Which ones in particular? They have several now.
 
I dont know about anyone else but i worked stage crew while in school..... gels change the stage light colors. In the console over the helm i made them red. The bridge is very well lit and your night vission is not affected. I had a local glass co make me a bunch of the round clear covers and now have complete sets of red , blue , green, yellow, and amber. You can also dim them with a second gel app. Very cheap.... very easy.... i like to put a diff. set in each night. everyone wants to know how i glow diff every night.
 
Hi Mike, Can you please tell me what part number of the bulbs you use are (The blue in the arch and the warm white replacement bulbs). I would like to try the same as you did, blue in the arch and warm white on the lower lights. I just can't seem to find the correct bulb size and color for my perk lights. I have read that Jim at doe helped but i don't know what company that is or what is my replacement bulb. Thank you
 
I have. I put a total of eight in the cockpit. Mine are the 4 color, non-dimmable. I love them. They light up my cockpit so well, you can actually see!
 
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