Led lights

[RandySh]

I have tried two different brands of led light bulbs in my 26M and neither work. Does MacGregor wire the light sockets so the center is the negative?
I have tested the bulbs on the battery and they work. Any suggestions?

[eric3a]

..

[kmclemore]

I have tried two different brands of led light bulbs in my 26M and neither work. Does MacGregor wire the light sockets so the center is the negative?

Yes!

For confirmation see here:

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... 8297#78297

Picked up an all-round LED bulb for the interior lights from a trucker supply outfit. Just wanted to see how much light it put out, replacing the 1141 stock bulb. Popped off the lens, stuck the LED in, no light. Hmmm. Put the 1141 back in, lit fine. Ah ha! Seem to recall that LED's are polarity sensitve (Duh!). Checked the light's socket polarity, found the pigtail was negative and the socket ground was postive. Checked the other 3 interior lights, all the same. Now it's hard to fault the assembly line worker, he just connected the black to black and white to white wires, probalby didn't even notice the lamp assy had black hot and white ground.
There wasn't enough slack in the wiring at the circuit panel to reverse the polarity there, so I had to cut the wires and reverse the polarity at the lights. I did all four in case I do decide to change all to LED's. When I removed the light above the table, the black wire pulled out of the poorly crimped connector up in the liner. Had to enlarge the hole in the liner to dig out the wire and re-crimp.
After it was dark, I put the LED in the light above the table near the mirror. It was adequate, but not great. Two of these would be better, but at $40 (cdn) ea, I think they'll have to wait a bit.

[KayakDan]

I just changed over to LED's and had the same experience with the polarity. Fortunately I was expecting a problem,as the vendor had very good info for installation. I just cut and swapped the feeds at the lamps.

http://www.superlumination.com/

I also found a replacement LED bulb for the Davis MegaLight. Much brighter. The price for 4 -18 led interior bulbs and the bulb for the Davis,and shipping came to about $60.00 as I recall.

Next up is 2 concealed strips of yellow LED's for the cabin-and possible 2 strips of warm white as well.

[Highlander]

Hi guy's

In Canada I bought my led bulbs at Princess Auto reg. price was $12-15 depending on the bulb and colour waited for them to go sale got them for $7-9 bucks each If I want a real lot of light I use my 12volt 12" flourecent light center cabin roof, shop tight shop right thats why I got money for my mods

john

[ronacarme]

1. What is the identification of the LED unit for the Davis Megalight?
2. Am curious as to whether this is a single 20mA LED, an array thereof, or a single Luxeon 1 or 3 watt (or equivalent).
More particularly, LEDs (unlike incandescent bulbs) are of internal resistance which drops with increased voltage and current, and so tend to instantly fry (due to thermal run-away) if subject to a voltage slightly above their rated maximum. Single white LEDs usually have maximum input voltages somewhere in the 3-4 volts range, and so would need at least a voltage dropping resistor (cheap) or, much safer, a constant current driver circuit ($15-$20), if driven by our 12+ volt boat battery. Indeed, if there is a risk that the boat battery is, or was recently, under charge (as by the alternator when running the engine) and hence at above its usual 12.6 volt fully charged rest level, a dropping resistor may be inadequate protection, i.e. a dropping resistance hi enuf to prevent LED frying by a 15 volt battery output would tend to seriously dim the LED operated by a 12.6 volt battery output. Hence my curiosity as to the LED unit replacing the incandescent in the Megalight.
Thanks
Ron

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

here's a stern and masthead LED.

Stern LED

Masthead LED

probably the same bulb, huh?

Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[DLT]

They don't look like the same bulb.

But, my concern is: Are they legal? Do they provide the requisite 2nm visibility?

[paj637]

I have converted to LEDs in the stock cabin lights. I also mounted some cold cathode tube white lights in the aft berth and they really put out some light for minimal power.

[balloonist]

I just replaced my navigation lights with Luxon LEDs. The trick to limit thermal runaway is to limit the power to less than half the LED rating. I used 4 red LEDs (port) and 3 green (starboard) in series with a 33 ohm current limiting resistor for each string. Four reds have the same total voltage drop as three greens. This set up limits the current to about 100mA with a full charged battery and about 60mA at full discharge. The calculations show I should have in excess of 3NM visibility even at full discharge battery voltage. The stern white is the same as the green with 3 LEDs. One word o caution is if you try to use a cool white LED for the bow light it will not work well. Cool white has yellow and blue content and little or no red and green energy. The nav lights are now very bright, about five times the stock bulbs at less than half the power. I try to post a mod with some detail when time permits.

[James V]

I have the Davis Megalight and do not like it as an anchor light. It can be seen. I was anchored in Key Largo Sound at Johnpennycamp and returned to the boat after dark. There was another boat and shore lights and a clear sky and moon. I could not tell where my boat was and it was dim compaired to the other boats and shore lights. When I was less that 1/4 mile away I could tell my boat. I have now put on a stern all around light powered by the battery. Very bright and you can see the cockpit and anybody around from inside the cabin. Easy to board at night.

[KayakDan]

[quote="ronacarme"]1. What is the identification of the LED unit for the Davis Megalight?
2
The bulb is a Ba9s Bayonet Base Matrix 5 LED in white

I don't know all the specs,but I suspect the info is on the website.
I plugged the light in-it works-it's bright-I'm happy

The instructions did caution not to use the lights while starting the engine,or when charging the batteries.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

These are the LED cabin lights Practical Sailor said were the best they have ever found. Bright, warm, not that cold white, wide coverage pattern, low power use. They make a bayonet base that allows it to plug into our fixtures. I've got one on order to try out.

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

I have a SS version of one of these as my anchor light,

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/196977441msk.htm


Its really bright, yet it's power use barely registers. It makes my Davis Mega Light look like a dim candle compared to it's bright white light.

I also have one of these in the cabin,

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/196790653.htm



OK light but very stark white and quite directional. We use it during movies as it gives us light to see yet doesn't put any light on the computer screen. As a overall cabin light it is not sufficient.

I added a single 12v LED to my head light on a separate switch. It's current draw is not detectable. We leave it on all night so there is no need to ever turn on the full head light when using it during the night.

[kmclemore]

I added a single 12v LED to my head light on a separate switch. It's current draw is not detectable. We leave it on all night so there is no need to ever turn on the full head light when using it during the night.

Ohhhhh... GOOD idea, Duane! Mind if I steal shamelessly?

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Be my guest.