Anothe LED project underside of hard top

Go Aweigh2452

Go Aweigh2452

Active Member
Aug 8, 2007
1,163
Olalla, WA
Boat Info
its in my signature
Engines
6.2 Horizon MPI w/guardian system
I found a nice LED that matches the existing lights on the underside of our cockpit and installed it so we could eat with light inside the new camper back. This LED rotates 120* and is also dimmable. Easy to aim directly to the table in the aft cockpit and it is high enough not to be a head knocker...
This is the light: LED eye Ball light
Took me 40 minutes start to finish...
Cut hole 2 1/8 hole saw through taped area. Ran coat hanger to fish wires through...
IMGP3851.JPG

I was surprised at the thickness of the underside:
IMGP3852.JPG

Ran coat hanger to fish wires through:
IMGP3853.JPG

Done: high enough not to bonk me in the head and can be pointed all around the aft cockpit area:
IMGP3855.JPG

IMGP3856.JPG
 
I just checked in a darken garage and the LED is bright (warm white) and I may dim it a tad. But the admiral likes it bright so I may not dim it... ever... ;} I could easily read by the light however.
 
Very nice, did you use the existing switch?
 
Go Aweigh2452 said:
I just checked in a darken garage and the LED is bright (warm white) and I may dim it a tad. But the admiral likes it bright so I may not dim it... ever... ;} I could easily read by the light however.
Click to expand...

I wonder if, size wise, they would easily replace my original arch lights. I will have to measure mine and these new ones. Hopefully they won't be any dimmer than the originals. I see that they only come in the chrome finish.
 
electricaldoctor said:
I wonder if, size wise, they would easily replace my original arch lights. I will have to measure mine and these new ones. Hopefully they won't be any dimmer than the originals. I see that they only come in the chrome finish.
Click to expand...

Go to the ebay store that sells the one I bought. They have a lot of choices in white, etc but not in the eyeball configuration... those only come in chrome...
 
Go Aweigh2452 said:
Go to the ebay store that sells the one I bought. They have a lot of choices in white, etc but not in the eyeball configuration... those only come in chrome...
Click to expand...


Thanx Doug. Ill take a look at E-Bay. Does your new light have any light spread to it or is the light directional to the point that you have to aim it for specific tasks?
 
electricaldoctor said:
Thanx Doug. Ill take a look at E-Bay. Does your new light have any light spread to it or is the light directional to the point that you have to aim it for specific tasks?
Click to expand...

It has a flood type lens that covers 120*... It seems brighter than the two 12v lights in the cockpit hardtop. I'll be switching them out in the near future for LED's as well.

The eyeball light is 77-87 lumen so my goal is to look for that amount of lumen in the new LED bulbs.
 
It certainly looks great. Nice job. A question though: Are you concerned at all that it is made of zinc alloy? I just wonder about the longevity.
 
ktcanuck said:
It certainly looks great. Nice job. A question though: Are you concerned at all that it is made of zinc alloy? I just wonder about the longevity.
Click to expand...

No... it is "sealed" inside the top. As long as I don't get salt water in there, I should be fine.

FWIW, I have replaced all my chrome plated zinc fittings over the years with stainless that were on deck or exposed to the elements. I only have two others (handles) that the PO installed and I am still searching for a similar footprint so I don't have to go through the fiberglass/gel coating process. Actually its three handles. One is inside the cockpit area and has not shown any pitting, etc like the two in the previously open aft cockpit... So based on that, I doubt the base of the new light will have any problems since it is covered like the cockpit handle.

But it is a concern non the less and I try to keep non stainless installations to a minimum.
 
Best thing about LED lights (beyond low power consumtion) - Light Emitting Diodes (LED) do not produce ultraviolet light, and therefore mosquitoes are not attracted to them. This makes LED lighting perfect for outside boating activities!!
 
Re: Another LED project underside of hard top

"Light Emitting Diodes (LED) do not produce ultraviolet light, and therefore mosquitoes are not attracted to them."

Are you sure about that? Seems to me, I recall another member mentioning last year about one colour attracting more bugs than another colour. I could be wrong, but I thought that he was referencing the tri-light arch lighting fixture. :huh:
 
I am considering purchasing a set (8) of these water-proof multi-coloured LED lights for my cockpit area.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250777340078&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

2 to replace the existing arch lights
2 indirect stb
2 indirect port
2 indirect aft seating area

I may also purchase an additional set (8) for my lower salon / galley area. This set would be white led's and not multi-colour like the cockpit lighting.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-Well-Bait-...310?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb41ff64e
 
electricaldoctor said:
I am considering purchasing a set (8) of these water-proof multi-coloured LED lights for my cockpit area.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250777340078&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

2 to replace the existing arch lights
2 indirect stb
2 indirect port
2 indirect aft seating area

I may also purchase an additional set (8) for my lower salon / galley area. This set would be white led's and not multi-colour like the cockpit lighting.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-Well-Bait-...310?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb41ff64e
Click to expand...

Looks like a nice system. If you get the lower salon LED's I'd be interested in the lumen level on the lights. Being waterproof and can use underwater sounds like a winner... as long as the lumen level is high enough...
 
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