Internal Lighting Options

[ChiTownSail]

I am interested in removing the 3 factory Square Lights (V, Lav, and over galley area), and the one rectangle light (over table) and putting in a better looking fixtures in my 78' H25. Mine are just worn out. I have considered LED lighting...I would like to have something match up hole-wise so I don't have to re-drill. Anyone have any ideas that have worked?

Thanks for your time!

 

[navigator97]

I replaced all of my cabin dome lights (Galley, Dining Table, Vanity, Head, Nav Station, Aft Cabin, etc.) a few years ago. I put in 5-1/2" round Dome Lights with white enamel housing, and clear/translucent lens. They all had a "Wht-Off-Red" switch so I could run any with white lights or,when underway at night, with Red lights. The were W.M #1471408.

 

[Bill Roosa]

You could make custom LED lights. I did this for my courtesy lights. Then you can engineer the size, color etc.
it is a no brainer doing the electrical as it is just wiring the LEDs in series. Just have to make sure the Vf (voltage forward) adds up to something more than 14.4 volts. Most LEDs have a Vf of 2.3 volts so (14.4/2.3=) 6.2 and round up to 7 LEDs for each fixture.
If you need help email me.
I'm thinking a wood frame would be very salty if you are at all handy with wood working tools.

 

[C Jones]

This is a red/white LED cabin light I plan to install in my h23 when the weather warms up.
One in the v-berth and two in the cabin

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Seasense-7-...970522&pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&vxp=mtr

 

[kloudie1]

Just this week replaced a couple of festoon bulbs with leds.. These are in the "hocky puck" dome lights in the 34. I used this one : http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=331
in the Vee birth and this one: http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=453
over the nav station. The light is a bit on the blue side but really bright and useful. I am going to keep 'em .. Used this one in the "eyeball"reading lamp that I use..
http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=757
I am very pleased.. The one with the
three panels lights the whole main cabin. It has to be persuaded to fit amoungst the wiring in the fixture, but it really is bright and useful.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Having redone the inside of my H25 I have not settled on complimentary cabin lights. I would prefer black or SS to brass (nothing else would match it) or white plastic. I found a few, surprisingly, at WM.

I have also contemplated refurbishing the old ones, possibly painting them (as the boat has no teak left below) and replacing all the electrical connections. Might be a fun winter project.

As far as red-white lights are concerned, I found a few with no switch and am wiring each to a DPST switch. Both red and white wires will go to the breaker panel, so that I can switch off the white circuit and have only the red at night. Activating the switch will turn on the appropriate bulb no matter which breaker (or both) may be switched on. It will avoid having someone else cause a white-light flare-up in the open hatchway at night.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Sounds like a great Idea DofB
If you are going to put a red/white switch on the light anyway why bother to run two power wires to the panel? Just wire the power to the center and red and white to the supply terminals. Perhaps I'm missing something.

 

[Maine Sail]

Sounds like a great Idea DofB
If you are going to put a red/white switch on the light anyway why bother to run two power wires to the panel? Just wire the power to the center and red and white to the supply terminals. Perhaps I'm missing something.

With LED's you really don't need to go to the trouble of all the extra wiring. When it gets to dusk I simply flip on the red LED lights and there is no more need to touch the switch until we get to port and switch over to white. The idea of turning lights on/off is left over from incandescents..

The reds I switch on draw all of about 0.3A... Set and forget it..

 

[ChiTownSail]

Great information, thanks all!

 

[Jackdaw]

Depending on what kind of bulbs you have, look at these replacement LED bulbs. No extra wires needed, just toggle it off/on and it switches from red to white. As Maine says, leave one or more on all night as a night light.

http://store.marinebeam.com/g4-led-replacement-bulb-red-warm-white.html

 

[ChiTownSail]

Very nice...

I have the old original lighting (I am pretty sure)...there are 3 square fixtures with 1 DC-Bayonet in them, then one large rectangle (basically two square fixtures as one) over the table with two DC-Bayonet bulbs in it. I could just throw LEDs in them, but the fixtures are weathered and worn out, let alone ugly. How bright are those LED round with the red option fixtures? When installing them are people just drilling more holes? I was hoping to find something that would fit right up to the original holes but that isn't going to happen...

Thanks!