Florescent light replacement with LED(39)s-gctid344373

[Guest]

We have a 85 3870 that has the floresecent lights above the salon windown (F308T's) has anyone replaced these with LED's ?? If so what did you use, where did you get them and Cost ?? Also looking at doing the same in both heads replacing the (F13T5's) LED's I know use much less power and put out more light, just a project I'm looking at doing and looking for some help.

Thanks

[Guest]

+1. Also would like to replace the florescent lights in the forward stateroom, and most other lights on the boat.

[Guest]

On my old 38, I replaced the salon bulbs over the table with 9 LED SMD boards- quick and easy change out. As for the forward cabin and main cabin fluorscent lights, the plan was to replace them with 12v rope lights- but I upgraded the boat instead

[seaclusion]

HI MIKE AND DEB , i replaced the lights over the salon windows on both sides with led rope light in a track system 12 volt i used ww that is warm white is the color very easy on the eyes and gives a warm feel to the suroundings in side not a washed out look that some cheaper rope lights can give you in cool white of super white colors . you can buy it at a lot of places i got mine from salior sams .com on line it has been in for 2 years now works great i had also change the head bathroom lighting to leds as well again i used ww leds from super bright leds i also added strip lighting under the countertop working areas as well .

[Guest]

spent time today searching the net for Rope lights, (and watching it snow) found a place CB conceptLED store, they have a 66' package in either warm white or cool white including 30 mounting clips, 3 end caps, 2 connectors, power cord and 1 T fitting for $129.99 plus shipping. When the snow clears I'll go to the boat and measure to see IF the 66' will make the loop in the salon, or how far it will go, you can also get a dimmer for another 6 bucks..........so it works out to about $2 per foot some places were up to $11 prer foot OUCH. Does anyone know which is brighter the warm white or cool white ??

Hope this helps anyone else looking at doing this

[Guest]

Cool white is colder and can be brighter- think of a car with annoyingly bright aftermarket lights with a blue tint vs a new car with factory HID lights.

Both are brighter than a standard auto headlight, but the new car's light is in the more useful part of the spectrum, while the annoying lights are too blue to be truly useful.

Warm white is not so clinical in hue- more like incandescent light.

[capt._ron]

Mike I measured the length of the floresents in the salon it would take 8' on each side if this helps.

[Guest]

or you could do each side seven times with some left over . . .

[Guest]

reel time wrote:
Does anyone know which is brighter the warm white or cool white ??

Hope this helps anyone else looking at doing this

I say WARM! That's what I put in anyway... Just to forewarn, I was disappointed in the amount of light - it is more mood lighting. But that's OK - supplemented with other lighting as need be... I do think it's perfect amount of light for entertaining and/or watching TV.

I used approximately 11' on each side, plus 10' across the front - so I have a solid rope all the way around.

[Guest]

Did you use mounting clips or the track that you snap the rope light into, the above listed web site has shorter versions for less $$$'sand all the accesories need for doing a project like this, was also thinking about running a strip over the aft salon wall and under the windows in the master state room and getting rid of the florescent's up there also, as you say mood lighting can be a good thing.

[seaclusion]

tracks are the best set up ......the rope snaps direct in and holds its position ......... with clips u can get drooping along the run when it it very warm in the boat during the summer or down south and yes i agree with the comment that they are not real bright and you most likley will not read a book while using them .....but it makes a nice light for appeal to the salon area at least to mine . and don't forget the low amp draw you can almost run them for ever abour 18 feet of rope draws under 1 amp on 12 volts according to my promariner battery monitor head device.

[Guest]

Neil:

Did you mount yours with the tracks, If so what did you use to mount the tracking. Just trying the learn as much as possible before I buy all this stuff,

Thanks for all the comments and help.

Love this site, so much great information.

[Guest]

reel time wrote:
Did you use mounting clips or the track that you snap the rope light into, the above listed web site has shorter versions for less $$$'sand all the accesories need for doing a project like this, was also thinking about running a strip over the aft salon wall and under the windows in the master state room and getting rid of the florescent's up there also, as you say mood lighting can be a good thing.

I used the tracks. VERY easy - just a small screw into the ceiling (like a #6) ever foot or so, then pushed the rope light into the track. I opted for pretty much "solid" track so the rope isn't loose and sagging anywhere.

[TimeLess32]

I augmented the lights in the salon (on the port side, that's where the Admiral sits and reads) by installing a 6 foot set of tubes I got at COSTCO, for $30. They attach via little stickie pads and come with (4) 90 degree attatchments (I didn't need them, my lights are in a straight line). The tubes are about 1/2 inch in diamter, contain 6 LEDS and the set comes with a remote and dimmer. The tubes are held by small clips that allow the the tubes to be rotated and the light path "adjusted." Downside; they're 110v. If you have an inverter, no problem. That s what I will use on the hook. On the same subject, how the heck do you access the round ceiling lights in the salon? Mine have a brass ring around them with little dimples. I figured you just pry on the ring by the dimples and it would come off, exposing the fixture. Nope. The whole thing wants to come out of the ceiling. What's the trick?

Frank

[Guest]

The lights I have over the table in the salon have 4 square frosted plastic covers about 4 or 5 inche squares, mine you just squeeze the sides and they come off, sounds like you have different lights than I do. I'm looking at getting 4 to 8 eyeball LED's depending on their size(the ones you can move the light around around)and remaking the table light. Saw someone on here that did the same thing his looked great. more light and adjustable, I also want to be able to turn any or all on and off depending on how much light is needed. Will see what the boatshow in Seattle has on Monday.