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Interior lights.. LED vs incadescent.. and suggestions or co

Posted: Apr 21st, '10, 16:04
by IRGuy
I am approaching the time when I need to think about what I will do for overhead lights in the main cabin, head, bunk cabin and forepeak. I am trying to install only LED fixtures everywhere so the current draw will be minimal, plus I like the fact that they last much longer than incadescent, but I don't have any experience with them..

Who has installed what? I would appreciate any comments you all might want to offer!

Thanks

Frank

Posted: Apr 21st, '10, 18:47
by Bruce
I've used many types of led. It boils down to pricing and design.
Some can be multicolor.

What are you looking to spend per fixture?

Posted: Apr 21st, '10, 19:28
by JP Dalik
Check these guys out. Should be able to find something you like through them. We are in the middle of redoing the headliners and wiring in the lighting and dimmers later this week.http://www.imtra.com All of the lighting products came from this company.

Next week its the air conditioning and then finally I can show some pics of the inside.

Posted: Apr 21st, '10, 19:48
by ZeroCavity
Like JP said, www.imtra.com
Flush mounted LED with dimmer

Image

Image

Posted: Apr 22nd, '10, 16:29
by Mikey
Getting to this point this summer. New interior lighting. Want to use LED's but can't figure out what is what. Being one of the older guys I understand incandescent from years of use, but when I read the stuff on LED's I don't understand how bright the different items are and are they all dimmable? Like the old thermos joke, how do it know?

Posted: Apr 23rd, '10, 13:19
by IRGuy
Bruce..

I was hoping to not have to pay more than $50-60 per fixture, but in the end I try to balance quality vs cost. If I need to spend more for quality so be it. My problem at this point is that Imtra and other light fixture mfgrs have the same LED light priced at near 2-3 times more than the same fixture with traditional incadescents. I bought new nav lights with incadescent bulbs this year, after having confirmed that I can replace them with LED bulbs in the future, and I assume in a year or so LED replacement bulb prices will come down.

JP and Zero Cavity...

Thanks very much for the pics and info.

Mikey..

You and I are in the same boat! (Pardon the pun!)

Posted: Apr 23rd, '10, 14:15
by Face
Led "bulbs" will use less current but are still susceptible to corrosion (the weak link). Especially in exterior applications. Sealed led fixtures, while expensive, minimize this problem.

Posted: Apr 23rd, '10, 14:24
by In Memory Walter K
Yes, energy can be conserved, at twice the price. The new formula. Green really means the color of your money. Save the world my ass. See the George Carlin bit on the politics thread.

Posted: Apr 23rd, '10, 14:25
by Capt. DQ
IRGuy,

Buy the time you purchase the LED replacement lamp for an old recess puck or ltg., the LED lamp might not last that long to begin with. The cost is not that much more. I'm a Imtra dealer and can purchase the lights for you, if you give me the model # you want. But be sure that's what you want because its yours once I order it.

DQ

Posted: Apr 23rd, '10, 14:50
by JP Dalik
For the amount of use a boats lighting actually gets why not use the 12v halogen. At $30.00 per fixture its pretty cheap and clean. If 12v is what your trying to get away from just run a transformer from 110v to 12v. Put the transformer after the dimmer and your good to go.

I can't remember the last time I've changed a halogen 20watt bulb.

Posted: Apr 23rd, '10, 14:56
by Carl
My only tidbit to this post is, unlike incandescent lights it does make a difference which way you hook up the wires. One way you have light...the other way your trying to figure out whats wrong...ask me how I know.

Posted: Apr 23rd, '10, 16:17
by Capt. DQ
Actually the best I can suggest is putting Xenon 12V pucks which could be recess or surface mounted. These are shown in 3 colors and is whats in my B31 and have never replace a bulb yet which last about 10,000 hrs and less heat than halogen. These are price at $29.95 ea including the bulb. If you want a transformer for a 120v line which would drive 4 ltgs. add $29.95. PM me if your interested.

[img][img]http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r210 ... lighti.jpg[/img][/img]

Posted: Apr 26th, '10, 09:21
by IRGuy
DQ....

I just sent an email to you through this forum's email feature.