LEDs revisited

[Tim R.]

I received my marinebeam LED(6 led warm festoon) bulb today. I hooked it up to a 12 volt battery at home and am very pleased with the brightness and color. I compared it to an LED headlamp and reading lamp and the color is so much better than those.

I purchased a Superbright LED(6 led warm festoon) today and will compare the brightness, draw and color between the incandescent, Marinbeam and Superbright once I receive it. I will also try and find a cheapie at my local auto parts store. Unfortunately Senibulb does not have a festoon type bulb yet so I cannot compare those but I will have Maine Sail look at these to see what he thinks.

 

[ITMaster]

Look Forward to Hearing About Your Results Tim

I know how much Maine Sail likes that Sensibulb, and I saw them at the boat show a couple weeks ago. They even offered me a deal with no shipping costs or tax, but I didn't have my WD-40 with me and didn't want to hurt anyone's ears since I have trouble prying open my wallet. So, I'm holding out on the sensibulb for now, but I really want to try one, or two, or three or more. So I will be intrested in hearing how it compares, but I suspect that Maine Sail is going to find the Sensibulb will be the kind since I think he checked a bunch of them out before getting that one.

Also, the Sensibulb didn't look like it would fit in my Comet fixtures, but the reviews that MS gave it were pretty high.

 

[Maine Sail]

Tim & ITMaster...

I too ordered some bulbs from Marine Beam and plan to do a comparison. I also ordered the "warm white" anchor bulb for my AquaSignal 40 series. It will replace the POS Dr. LED bulb I have in there now. I'll let you know how the Marinebeam light compares to my Sensibulb. BTW it only saves $11.00 over a Sensibulb but if works as well might be a somewhat less expensive option.

 

[ITMaster]

Thanks Maine Sail

I look forward to the results. At an $11 each saving, it doesn't take many to save the cost of one Sensibulb. Shoot, I have 12 fixtures alone in the main salon and galley area. It will take awhile to phase one in and the others out. Hopefully I can find someone to buy the Comets and their bulbs, if I can.

 

[John]

Re: Thanks Maine Sail

So I take it from these comments that to change over to led's one might have to change the fixture too, is that right?

 

[sailingdog]

Re: Thanks Maine Sail

John-

Sensibulb and several other vendors make replacement LED bulbs that will fit many brands of fixtures, so it depends.

 

[Maine Sail]

I got my bulbs !!!

I got my bulbs today, took them to the boat and immediately did a little impromptu comparison.

The bulb I ordered was the Marinebeam MR11 LED SMD Power Cluster (LINK) it is designed to replace a G4 halogen bulb in a vertical fixture. The bulb has six flat style LED's and has a great "form factor". I really like the design and form and the way it fits the fixture much better than the Sensibulb. The Sensibulb on the other hand will fit vertical and horizontal fixtures with the so it is more versatile than the MR-11.

The MR11 is a great bulb for the price! It draws .2 amps per hour, the exact same current draw as the Sensibulb.

Here are the Sensibulb (left) and the MR11 (right).

The Sensibulb uses only two LED's but they are of a very, very high quality and are quite costly. The Marinebeam bulb needs six to get close to the performance of the two in the Sensibulb. The LED's SCAD used in the Sensibulb are the same bulbs Nikon uses in medical imaging equipment. It stands to reason the bulb would cost more.

So what did I think? I think the Marinebeam MR11 represents a terrific value in a warmer LED bulb. At 24.99 retail it is $15.00 less than a Sensibulb at retail and the performance is fairly decent. It is not a Sensibulb performance wise but it is a very good bulb. I've tried many LED's and the Marinebeam MR-11 is, by quite a long shot, the second best bulb I've used. The Sensibulb is still warmer, brighter, wider and throws the light a longer distance, but all at a cost.

I tried as best I could, without my tripod, to capture the intensity, warmth & distance of the bulbs. OK so warmth does not work so well on a camera but you can see the differences in light output and some in warmth if you are observant.

This is the Marinebeam MR11. Look closely at the area around the speaker and you'll see that the light is really not illuminating this area very well and barely making it there in full intensity.

A zoom of the MR11 illumination area:

Here is the same set up only this time on the port side using the Sensibulb. Notice the intensity, distance and illumination around the area of the speaker.

A zoom of the Sensibulb illumination area:

If you compare both photos you'll also notice a warmer more yellowish glow to the Sensibulb vs. the MR11. I purposely did not use a flash for these photos and apologize for the camera shake and slight blur.

Here are the two bulbs installed in vertical fixtures:

Marinebeam MR-11:

Sensibulb:

The bottom line is this. If you are picky about your lighting the Sensibulb is the way to go. It is still the closest bulb to an incandescent, in warmth and illumination, that I have physically tried. LED technology changes every day and I'm sure the Sensibulb will soon be eclipsed by another bulb but for now they are still my favorites despite the cost. If you are cost conscious, and can survive a little less warmth in your lighting, then the Marinebeam bulbs are truly a great value. I will repat the form factor issue again because the Marinebeam wins hands down in this category. One only has to look at the two photos above to see this.

I will be ordering one more MR-11. I plan to put them in the v-berth, one on each side. My daughter tends to poke at the lights up there and the Sensibulb is just to darn delicate (form factor)..

BTW Jeff had the bulbs to me with standard shipping the next day. Apparently he shipped them the same day I ordered. Both companies, Sailors Solutions (Sensibulb) and Marinebeam are great to deal with.

 

[sailingdog]

I can see why you'd take the MarineBeam over the Sensibulb when they're in poking range of your daughter...

 

[Maine Sail]

I can see why you'd take the MarineBeam over the Sensibulb when they're in poking range of your daughter...

I only wish the bulb had a clear plastic or glass cover over the LED's but heat is a killer for LED's so I know it's out of the question. It's never good to touch the little "yellow dots"..

If she wrecks a 24.99 bulb the $15.00 I saved by not buying a Sensibulb only makes the next MR-11 $10.00!!!!! Husband math, as my wife calls it!!

 

[sailingdog]

ROFL... More like Daddy math...

 

[Ross]

When compact florescent lamps first came onto the market they were about 10 dollars each. Lately I am seeing them for less than a dollar. When LED flashlights came out they were also very expensive, last week I bought four for 10 buck with the batteries. These other LED lamps will get a lot cheaper before the ones bought today need replacing.

 

[Maine Sail]

When compact florescent lamps first came onto the market they were about 10 dollars each. Lately I am seeing them for less than a dollar. When LED flashlights came out they were also very expensive, last week I bought four for 10 buck with the batteries. These other LED lamps will get a lot cheaper before the ones bought today need replacing.

But a house bank upgrade would have still cost a LOT more than the bulbs I bought.. We were burning more than 10 amps per hour on lighting plus 10 amps for an anchor light. We now burn 1 amp per hour for lighting and 1 amp for the entire nights worth of anchor light..

It's nice to be able to not shut lights off so my daughter can explore the cabin and not be in the dark when she's doing so..

Hey I paid a lot more for my plasma TV than I should have but I'd do it again in a heart beat. While everyone else was watching Discovery on low def waiting for prices to come down I felt like I was there... I'd do it again too.. You only live once and can't take it with you....!

 

[Ross]

Mainesail, I quite agree, But what you don't spend you don't have to earn.

 

[Maine Sail]

Mainesail, I quite agree, But what you don't spend you don't have to earn.

Where do you draw the line? I think you need to sell your boat asap!!! I bet the difference in what I pay for my mooring, $175.00 per year for one and $30.00 per year for the other, as opposed to a dock like you use, more than makes up for my gawd awfully waste full spending on a few light bulbs..

Perhaps you might consider a mooring as opposed to a dock then you might have to "earn" less..? Surely there are moorings available somewhere? I can't imagine a dock slip costs the same as a mooring on a per year basis? A dock slip up here for our boat will run well over 3k. $3000.00 - $205.00 (for two moorings) = $2795.00 in SAVED money I don't have to "earn" and that I get to spend on LED's .... Husband math !!:dance::dance:

P.S. A nice row to a mooring is good for your health. Perhaps you can be like Olin Stevens, live to 100, and save money while doing so..

P.S. I'd surely like to have "spent" the money I've recently lost in the market crash. Jeesh I could have owned the Morris Justine after all...?

 

[Tim R.]

Nice work Maine Sail. I will still post a comparison between the different festoon LEDs against the original incandescent for those of us who have lamps with this style bulbs. I suspect that Marinebeam will be the best considering Sensibuld still does not have a festoon bulb or adapter.

BTW, it's not a loss unless you sell now. This is a great time to do some buying especially if you did it before today.

 

[Maine Sail]

BTW, it's not a loss unless you sell now. This is a great time to do some buying especially if you did it before today.

I know I haven't "realized" any losses at this point. I actually upped my 401K contribution again while it's down. Buy low... Hell I don't need the money for a long time so all is not lost. Except for that used Morris Justine I saw evaporate in the last month.....

 

[Ross]

Mainesail, I can feel your pain! I had hoped to retire in ten years when I turn 80 but unless the economy gets a lot better I shall probably die in my work clothes. ;D

 

[Tim R.]

Update

We were on the boat Friday night so I took the opportunity to try out the Marinebeam and Superbrightled bulbs.

The first photo shows the Marinebeam on the left and the conventional incandescent on the right. As you can see, the Marinebeam puts out a colder light. My wife and I both agreed it made the wood look green rather than the warm golden red you get from the conventional bulb. We decided not to purchase any more and we will likely install this one in the head where it is not as noticeable. It is hard to see in the photo but the Marinebeam led was not bright enough to comfortably read by.

The next 2 photos show the differences in construction between the Marinebeam and the Superbrightled. That's right, they are identical so if you want to buy some of these bulbs, Superbrightleds charges about $5 less. Superbright is not a reseller of Marinbeam bulbs so I have to conclude that they both buy their bulbs from the same manufacturer. I am not sure if any of the other products are the same. I only looked at the festoon type bulbs.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Well if you own a cheap MacGregor like me you'll find the SuperBright LEDs fit right in with the rest of the inexpensive design. Actually I sprang for the SuperBrights before getting a chance to read MaineSail's review but still they are just as bright as the bulbs I replaced and the four I needed just plugged right into the same sockets and I put the lens covers back on and the difference is minimal. Works for me.

 

[Maine Sail]

Tim..

It's really weird that the 6 LED festoon you bought has that green tint. I have the MR-11 bulb, also with six "yellow dot" type LED's, and it is not as green as yours was. While the color was not up to the Sensibulb it was fairly decent.

I have ordered a Dr. LED MR-11 style bulb to do a more in-depth review between the Sensibulb, Marinebeam MR-11 and the Dr. LED MR-11.

I'm surprised at the circuit topology of the Superbrite vs. the Marinebeam seeing as Jeff says the Suprebrites are knock offs and that their bulbs are proprietary to Marinebeam?

They certainly don't look like a knock off to me and they really look like they rolled out of the same production line..??