We grew weary of using the head in the dark or with a flashlight, so we rerouted the power from the compass to simple tape lighting I had left over from Mod 1 (stern berth lighting). It was a simple matter to disconnect the compass light, install a rocker switch, and fish the load line to over near the sink. The bottom of where the side of the compartment meets the lower half of the vessel made for an excellent spot—it shines down so it’s not in your eyes and illuminates your hands or whatever you might be reaching for.
Since we live in the PNW we reckon we have little use for a compass light—in the summer the nights are so brief we don’t plan to ever be under way at night. And our compass light’s illumination is too weak to be useful anyway. Much better use of the power supply to illuminate the head.
Looks nice! Certainly a great addition. As for me, I just popped up one of those battery powered lights that you only have to touch to turn on. We use it so rarely that it seemed to make sense.
One thing that surprised me about LED strip lighting is they draw a lot of power. Each LED has its own resistor to drop the voltage and that causes heat which uses power. Before installing them I tested them coiled on the spool. After a while it got HOT. A true sign of wasted energy.
LEDs are still vastly more efficient than an incandescent bulb.
I have LED strips under the aft berth, under the table, in the head and in the v-berth all on a single remote so I can dim them. These are the mulitcolor LEDs so I can turn them all RED for night vision.
When all on full, they draw 4.5 amps which surprised me. When I dim them the power consumption dropped dramatically.
pitchpolehobie wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 12:18 pm
I remember reading about a concern that LEDs interfered w vhf any truth to that in your experience?
Yes the US Coast Guard put out an post & an alert on that a few yrs ago so I,m sure it, was a big concern for them to them , I think the main issue was if they were placed to close to a radio , an antenna, antenna VHF cable or any electrical Navigation equip. also any wiring close to any such equip. should b braided to help against static & magnetic noise build up , u can braid ur own wiring or buy it already braided & shielded ur choice , here,s a link for Info on the subject, I believe most better quality computer , wifi & sensitive electronic external wiring is braided & shielded
