LED Lighting

I changed much of the lighting in my Mac26X to LED lighting. This includes cabin lights, cockpit lights, transom lights, anchor light and steaming light.

For the cabin lights:
I purchased some small RV type light fixtures for about $2 ea. on ebay. I removed the bulb and placed several of the LEDs in the fixture. The fixture has a lens that diffuses the light. Some of the LEDs I aimed towards the cabin top or sides for indirect lighting.

I changed the way I had them installed originally. Originally, I had a series of 3 LEDs with a single resistor. Since each LED has a 3.6 volt drop, you can series 3 of them in a 12 Volt system using a 60 ohm resistor. The problem is that when the voltage in this system is raised to 14 Volts, the current goes to over 50 ma. which will destroy the LEDs in short order. By using a 470 ohm resistor in series with each LED instead,  the range goes from 18 ma. @ 12 Volts to 22 ma. @ 14 volts. This keeps the LEDs in a good operating range without having to add voltage regulation to the system.

Basically, I said all that to say; Use a series resistor with each LED.

I have 4 of these fixtures in the main cabin and 1 in the aft berth on a separate switch.

The supplier I used for the LEDs was: http://stores.ebay.com/Computronic-Outlet
I tried a few different sources for LEDs but this supplier had the whitest (warmest color, low blue component) that I found with a high output LED.

Note, the picture below shows the fixtures before I put a resistor on each LED.

More Mods can be seen on my pages:
Mac26 X Mod Page 1
Mac26 X Mod Page 2
AutoPilot Mod page

Home Page

	Photos	Click Thumbnail Picture for Full Picture
		The left light shows the unmodified light fixture. On the right, it shows the 6 LEDs relpacing the bulb. 3 are pointing down, the other 3 to the sides. 6 LEDs is probably more than required. My cost was about $2 for the fixture and $7 for 6 LEDs.
		The unmodified and modified fixtures lit. The unmodified draws 300 ma. The modified 110 ma. The LED fixture is much brighter and has a more pure white light. The stock Mac cabin lights draw 1.5 amps each.
		Another picture taken of the lit fixtures using no background lighting. The LEDs are extrememly bright 15000 MCD I am placing 4 of these in the cabin for a total draw of less than .5 amp. The two stock Cabin lights draw more than 6 times this amount.
		This is a schematic for the LEDs. I use a 470 ohm 1/8 watt for each LED in my setup. The reason is that this gives me 18 ma. per LED @ 12 Volts and 22 ma. per LED @ 14 V. This is a good range.
		I removed the bulb from the Davis Mega Light, glued a plastic convex mirror (walmart $1) in the top and aimed 2 LEDs at the mirror for my anchor light.
		The LED on the left is a 21,000 MCD with a higher blue component and more focused light (Thanks Chip Hindes). The one at the right is the LED I use which is 16,000 MCD and a bit whiter.
		One of the several LED fixtures mounted in the cabin. Also note the fluorescent fixture.
		This is my answer to the desire for spreader lights. A small fixture with 3 LEDs in an arc mounted on the mast. It lights the entire deck at night.
		Here is a picture I tried to take at night to show how the deck is lit by the LEDs. The boom shade is on or you could see the aft portion lit as well.
		When I added the swim handle I needed to add a port. I used clear and mounted LEDs behind to light the transom. Great when coming back to your boat at night. I also used a photocell so the LED will turn only at night.