Usually, LEDs are better in light efficiency (luminous efficacy) - CFLs run
around 50-60 lm/W, and LEDs at 80-120 lm/W. Obviously, they are directed light.
Some fixtures use diffusers to distribute the light more evenly.
Additionally, depending on the application of course, the cooler light of the
LEDs can work better for lighting the area (with fewer lumens per unit of area).
Unfortunately, some of the really cheap LED bulbs don’t have the voltage
regulation circuitry built in and they produce all kinds of unexpected (and
undesirable) results. This is a real problem on a boat, where we regularly have
voltage variations from around 11 V to 14+ V, depending on the source (battery
vs. the alternator).
Obviously, switching from the fluorescent to LED won’t buy you that much (at
best halving of the power usage). Not to mention that the drop-in replacement
“bulbs” or “tubes” are much more difficult to find for the fluorescent
fixtures. The real benefit is in switching form incandescent to LEDs. I did
that and I replaced 20 W incandescent with 1.5 W LED light sources. Suddenly I
don’t care anymore if the light is on or not (I admit to leaving a cabin light
on for a couple of days (forgot to turn the main switch off) without any ill
effect on the battery (the solar panel managed to keep up with the light); not
something you could do with an incandescent bulb). I left the last remaining
fluorescent, as is; the replacement would be too complicated.
One other thing that might count for you if you want to switch to LED – most of
them them come in white/red combination, quite useful when sailing at night.
Marek
C270 Legato
Ottawa, ON
From: S Thomas via CnC-List
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 10:22
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: S Thomas
Subject: Re: Stus-List Salon Lighting
The original "Thin-Lite" fixtures are still available, but they are not
cheap. RVs use them, and there are several sellers on Ebay and Amazon.
That said, most of the listers here have recommended LEDs of some sort when
this question was raised before.
I am faced with the same decision and still undecided, but I bought a couple
of cheap LED strips to play with. LEDs should last longer, but the better ones
have an electronic constant current source, and long term reliability is
unknown. Resistive ballasting is more reliable but the resistors have to be
sized to the maximum charging voltage and the LEDs will be dimmer when on the
battery. Also, some constant current electronic LED ballast devices generate
RFI.
I bought some cheap led lights from China, and they are now quite dim
compared to when new. They are a square array wired to a bulb bayonet but with
no visible current limiting device. Even at the rated current, LEDs are not as
efficient as fluorescent lighting in lumens per watt.
All in all, my perception is that LEDs are better for a directed light
source, and fluorescents are better for area lighting.
Steve Thomas
C&C27 MKIII
Port Stanley, ON
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Coleman via CnC-List
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Bill Coleman
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 08:53
Subject: Stus-List Salon Lighting
Most of the older C&C’s had double rectangular fluorescent lights in the
main cabin, which are nowadays woefully inadequate. I eventually gave up
finding a replacement that would cover all the holes and I purchased 4 Aqua
Signal lights,
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|65136|2312540|2312542&id=1607497
But unfortunately there is no space behind the light for wire termination.
What have others used for replacement overhead lighting in the cabin?
Bill Coleman
C&C 39 Erie, PA
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This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are
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