Switching Arch Lights to LED

pcmpete said:
I am thinking of changing Cockpit and Arch lights to LEDs?
I am looking changing the color to blue. Has anyone done this and can you share a photo and your thoughts?
I found these online, might be worth a try
https://saltypetemarine.com/products/2pcs-blue-round-marine-boat-6-led-courtesy-lights
Thanks
Click to expand...

I use led's lights like the ones you reference for the courtesy lights, but in white.

I use these lumitec's for the arch lights in white/blue dimming. I had circle plates (starboard) made up from boat outfitters to cover the arch holes. the original owner had done a poor job of replacing those light and I had to cover up his mess. You may not need the circle plates.
 
I replaced all of my arch, cockpit, helm lighting with blue LED bulbs. I measured the length of the festoon bulb and just swapped them out. I'm in the PNW and we do not have any bug issues.
 
I prefer this Lumitec light and have it in the arch of both boats.

http://lumiteclighting.com/product/mirage-flush-mount-down-light/

Get the White dimming, Red fixed, Blue fixed with the polished bezel. The white is SUPER bright and can be set where you want it. The red and blue create the overall color effect throughout the cockpit. All controlled by the switch you have now.

Turn on your current switch and the white light comes on and brightens over 20 seconds. A quick off then on locks the white at the point of brightness it was when you clicked it. A third off/on turns on the red and the fourth turns on the blue.
 
With my ol tub, just trying to find a replacement bulb has been tough. So many different bulbs through out the boat. So far 6 different bulbs and I have yet to move on to the deck. LED's are the way to go for sure.

As for not having a bug problem in the PNW, we have strange bugs down here. You guys had the murder hornets.:p
 
I believe some have swapped the bulbs with 3 color bulbs that cycle between white, red and blue as you turn off then on quickly. Seems like a great idea so you can use blue when you want, but switch to red if the bugs are bad (red seems to be the least attractive to bugs). My arch lights are just red now. Its good for at night to leave on and if I need to quickly use them while running at night, its not as bad for night vision.
 
Did mine all in blue, I live in NJ where the state bird is a mosquito. I have not found that they attract them more at all. Dash lights, arch lights and under water lights. Love it. Easy swap out. Changed all other lights to white LED
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MonacoMike said:
I prefer this Lumitec light and have it in the arch of both boats.

http://lumiteclighting.com/product/mirage-flush-mount-down-light/

Get the White dimming, Red fixed, Blue fixed with the polished bezel. The white is SUPER bright and can be set where you want it. The red and blue create the overall color effect throughout the cockpit. All controlled by the switch you have now.

Turn on your current switch and the white light comes on and brightens over 20 seconds. A quick off then on locks the white at the point of brightness it was when you clicked it. A third off/on turns on the red and the fourth turns on the blue.
Click to expand...

I just installed these on my 340 Sundancer. Easiest install EVER. Took out the old ones, connected the new ones with butt connectors, and snapped them into place. Work great and man are they bright. The fact that it's designed to work with the existing switch to either dim or change colors is FANTASTIC.
 
Do you guys have any photos of white fixtures vs stainless steel fixtures, installed on an arch?
 
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What was cost of lights? I did just bulbs to blue and would love the option to change colors, last time i saw something like these they were almost $200 a light
 
The lumitec fixtures are about $100ish each on various websites.
 
After the above about LED and VHF, I did some research. Not a good thing if your a ocean going cruiser. Some of the news stories has me just leaving the standard bulbs in and leaving it at that.

Becides, my arch lights are sort of hidden by the canvas.
 
My boat came with blue LED's installed in the Perko fixtures, but the blue light was a bug magnet, and the Perko fixtures
were getting beyond their useful life with loose connections and corrosion.

I wanted something that did White and Red at a minimum, and tried some various festoon bulbs and various fixtures with marginal results (read I was being cheap). I should have known, buy you last set of lights first, it would have been cheaper in the end.

I finally bucked up and bought a set of Lumitec Shadow down lights in RGBW (white with spectrum color) --> http://lumiteclighting.com/product/shadow-flush-mount-down-light/. These are extremely bright and in my opinion worth every penny. I think they were $115 each. They fit in the same hole. The Mirage listed above are similar.

I liked them so much, I bought a set of the Mini Rail 2 (again in RGBW) --> http://lumiteclighting.com/product/mini-rail2-utility-light/ to install over the back of the cockpit. I'm going to attach them to a section of bimini tube and hang it from the camper top framework for lighting over the cockpit table and boarding area.

While I only really wanted/needed white and red, I chose the RGBW version because all of the colors are dimmable ( a big plus, because these things are extremely BRIGHT, and for a few extra $ give you some more options/control.
 
dtfeld - thanks for the great info. I have the perko lights and the variety of festoon bulbs but I like this dimmable full spectrum. Adding to my list!
 
DTField, when the option is "Spectrum RGB", do all of those models allow you to dim as well? So you get dimming and a full range of color?

Have you noticed any issues with your VHF?
 
jmauld said:
DTField, when the option is "Spectrum RGB", do all of those models allow you to dim as well? So you get dimming and a full range of color?

Have you noticed any issues with your VHF?
Click to expand...

The 2 RGBW spectrum versions I have get you fulling dimming on all colors. I cant speak to all their models, but the website does a great job of showing the options via dropdown menu.

No issues with the VHF whatsoever.

I have several dockmates that dumped their festoons and switched to Lumitec after seeing mine, and are extremely happy.

One other thing...while expensive, Customer Service is top notch. I actually cracked the first one I installed and it was completely my fault, but they replaced it under warranty. I prepaid for one to be shipped immediately, and they credited me back once the received the cracked on one back.
 
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