LED lights for overhead

[sam]

Anyone changed out the bulbs in the overhead spots to LED'S? If so I would appreciate any input on bulbs used, warm vs cool, etc.

Thanks

Sam

LONGHAWK #9

[clayton curtis]

Sam,

 

I replaced all the overhead halogens with warm LEDs. In fact, I installed toggle switches on all of the lights in the cabin so I could turn on only the ones I want on. Yeah, I'm a control freak.  It's pretty easy because the guides are already there - you can see them on the inside of the silver plastic covers- and just need to be drilled out.  The toggle switches are cheap and easy to wire and attach. 

http://www.opentip.com/product_info.php?products_id=1263112

 

Also, my girlfriend thought even the warm LEDs make her skin look ghoulish.  So, I bought a sheet of rose colored filter from a camera studio and cut little circles and inserted them in between the LED and the glass covers.  It worked great. Nice warm light.  I "think" I used a 1/2 stop:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/118244-REG/Rosco_RS4615_4615_...

 

/Clayton

[Jeff Shukis]

The term is "color rendering index" or CRI. A higher CRI will do a better job of rendering "true" colors. The sun ranks as CRI 100. You might think that a higher CRI bulb would be better, but it isn't true. High CRI LED lights are quite blue. The "warm white" bulbs have a lower CRI but look much more like the halogens we are used to.

 

Jeff

[Jeff Shukis]

I replaced all of the overhead lights with LEDs and also added nine more overhead lights of the same style to fill in the dark corners and make reading at night more pleasant. The original lighting scheme was pretty disappointing, but I imagine that they were working to an amperage budget that precluded adding more halogen bulbs.

 

Color temperature is critical. "Warm White" bulbs can be anything from 2700K to 3500K. I greatly prefer the "warmer" (more yellow) 2700K bulbs.

 

I went with www.marinebeam.com. I selected the 12 LED dimmable micro brick style. The non-dimmable 15 LED "light hammer" model was uncomfortably bright.

 

Jeff

[Mike Brown]

Went with Imtra Warm White and am very happy with the brilliance and color. I did leave at least one light in each cabin with the original bulb for ambiance. Really don't care for a bright white light when the mood calls for something a bit more romantic, if you know what I mean :)

Mike

[Harry]

Hi, I'm a long time follower of this site and have gain a lot of valuable info. So here is my first post/contribution. I just installed 4 SCAD Technologies Sensibulb LEDs to replace 4 of my overheads in the salon. I could not be happier. They are a little pricey but includes a regulator and heat sink. The color looks natural not LED harsh. A previous version of the LEDs  were a Practical Sailor recommendation. I got the newer version from Sailor Solutions at. http://www.sailorssolutions.com/?page=ProductDetails&Item=SEN10W. I saw them online at Defender but I was afraid they might be still selling the older version. So I ordered from Sailor Solutions.

 

I have a 2008 B40. Its my first keel boat so i have a lot more to learn than contribute. I can't say enough good about my boat but I was a little disappointed about the brightness of the overhead lighting, especially when trying to read in the salon in the evening. I had been researching LED reading light options and was about to pull the trigger on a set of 2010 and later OEM LED reading lights from Beneteau. Now with the Sensibulbs I don't see the need for the reading lights. Over time and when I really need to be concerned with power consumption, I replace the rest of the bulb.  

 

Harry