Is anyone using LED spreader lights and are they bright enough for deck lightin

[caguy]

I replaced my incandescent lights with halogens last year, primarily because the casings on the old lights fell apart. I am concerned however about the battery drain. I know in the past they have not been sufficient, but I was hoping that some of the newer ones work better. Frank

 

[Ross]

I have an LED flashlight that uses 3 AAA cells

and is as good as any small flashlight with an incandesant bulb. I should think that you could get spreader lights at least as good. If you just need a little light they should be fine but if you plan to read the paper they will come up short.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Spreader light usage

Unless you leave your spreader lights on for extended times, the battery drain should be pretty small. If I have mine on for 15 minutes (not even every day) and they draw 5A, that is only 1.25AH of 12V power. That's about the same amount of power that you would use for a single interior lamp for an hour and 15 minutes.To answer your question, I would be surprised to find any LED lights that are bright enough for lighting the deck, but I haven't looked. I do have a single halogen lamp and it is adequate, but more light would certainly be better.

 

[Rich (P303)]

I haven't seen them...

however with all the rest of the LED stuff... you won't get any concentrated light. Just some general dim light.

 

[oreana123]

Lighting

The new LED lights are awesome. Check out superbrightleds.com. Though LEDs tend to be directional, the angle of light emission is listed in the specs for the particular light and might fit your application.I don't want to see a big discussion about incandescent vs LED. Here is what I decided. My navigation or running lights have lenses that are no longer clear. The replacement festoon LED lamps I chose illuminate the lenses at least as brightly as the incandescent lamps do and have an emission angle suitable for Coast guard specs. There are 9 super bright leds arrayed in an arc on the new lamp.The website listed has direct replacement lamps for any fixture. That means that the led lamps have the same base sizes as the original incandescents, but require much less power and last way longer. Built in voltage regulator chips maintain internal voltage and thus extend life. If you only got 1/10 of the possible lamp life from a led conversion, that would still be 10,000 hours of night running, I am not about to see that much night time sailing soon.YMMV

 

[Roger]

55 watt halogen spreader light

I have just purchased but not yet mounted a single 55 watt halogen spreader light. It is actually a automotive driving light, but since it is sealed, and I sail in fresh water only, (and the price was right), I thought I would give it a try. It certainly seems bright enough when tested in my dark basement. I tried a few LED bulbs but as others have posted, the brightness is just not there. One of my thoughts, that you may want to consider as well, is to mount the light on one side of the mast rather than on the spreader. This brings it closer to the deck making it somewhat brighter. As well, I can stand on the boom to change the bulb. My boat is only 20 LOA so climbing the mast is not an option.A related question is switching. Does anyone use a 3 position push pull switch for their nav/steaming/spreader lights? I have seen one in boating stores and thought that it would be quite handy to have all three on one switch. The first position turns on your bow and stern light for sailing, the second position adds an all around white light for motoring, and in any positon a twist turns on the spreader lights. That way the spreader light could be turn on while sailing, motoring or when all other lights are off. Anybody else do this with success, or determine any pitfalls of this system? I have to replace my switch anyhow as it is getting finicky.

 

[jimq26]

Pitfalls? Illegal - check your nav lighting rules

(nm)

 

[caguy]

I'm not questioning you Jim but what part is illegal.

I thought about keeping one of my Halogen spreader lights to help when mooring at night. Frank

 

[Ross]

There are certain lights that MUST be displayed but

there is no prohibition concerning other lights. Most of the tugs pushing barges on our river are lit up like Christmas trees. But they all show the required lights. If you want to light up your boat like a Las Vegas Casino it is alright as long as you also display the lights required.

 

[Dave Groshong]

The Doctor LED bulbs......

Available here are Coast Guard approved. They are designed for AquaSignal nav. fixtures. Not all LED's are approved.http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?fno=400&group=851Dave GroshongCustomer ServiceSailboatOwners.com

 

[oreana123]

Masthead Police

You know those Coast Guard guys are just waiting to climb the mast and make sure the LEDs are approved....

 

[Anchor Down]

Lighting Evades Disaster

No CG requirements for spreader lights, AFAIK, so knock yourself out.For required lighting w/ CG specifications: no, none of us expects to be inspected and cited, but if any of us is involved in a collision and it comes out that he was running a light that didn't meet CG requirements, guess who loses the court case on a technicality?The risk (the value of my yacht, all my worldly possessions) is too great for me. I'm just speaking for myself.Fair Winds,Jeff

 

[Rich Winslow]

radio interference

I have read that LED lights cause radio interference (static)unless measures are taken such as are used in the automotive industry. If so, it seems to me that puting the light next to a mast where the radio cable runs, would not be completely helpful.