Ok, I checked and you are correct. The LED bulbs being sold for home use are now more efficient than similar CFLs, but this is a fairly recent development, 2013-2014.
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=18671 It is still the wild wild west in the 12 volt domain as far as I can see, there being no CSA or UL standards to meet, or anyone checking product claims at all. Steve Thomas C&C27 MKIII Port Stanley, ON ----- Original Message ----- From: Marek Dziedzic via CnC-List To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Marek Dziedzic Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 11:04 Subject: Re: Stus-List Salon Lighting 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ 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 greatly appreciated! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ 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 greatly appreciated!
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