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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
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 Nautical brass & glass interior lamps		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5353 Posts
Initially Posted - 03/11/2008 :  22:55:27  Show Profile
I'd like to add several new interior brass/glass lamps to my C25, to replace the square dome lights. I've seen rectangular brass fixtures with standard 120V lamp sockets somewhere, but I can't remember where.

I'd like to use these light fixtures with the new 12V compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) I saw in a catalog on line. The bulbs screw in very much like standard household 120V CFL units, but they operate on 12V battery power.

For light output, the 12V CFLs use 10W of power but generate 45W of light, which beats the incandescent dome lights hands down. No more having to squint to read the newspaper.

Any suggestions on standard brass and glass fixtures? I'd like them to look "nautical".
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts
Response Posted - 03/12/2008 :  11:08:34  Show Profile
I had one of the original brass oil lamps on my boat. It was mounted shoulder height on the bulkhead, just to the left of the door leading into the head. I kept hitting it with my shoulder so I removed it. It simply stuck out too far on this little boat.

That said, I think nautical fixtures look great on a boat. As for type of light, I've converted to LED. Low power draw, inexpensive.
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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts
Response Posted - 03/12/2008 :  11:44:48  Show Profile
Bruce,

I had 5 - yes FIVE 110 amp hour batteries on Zephyr and while we had 2 solar panels and a honda generator aboard, we still battled juice when anchored out for 3 weeks or more. Or even towards the end of the season when usage exceeded inbound..... Swap out the anchor light - if you anchor out - with a LED Bulb. Then swap out the cabin bulbs with led as you already want. The problem I think with the LED situation you propose is that 12v bulbs such as you describe are designed for household use - OFF THE GRID - think solar panels on the roof and a wind generator in the yard. Battery out the boat unless their consumption is less than .2 amps an hour.

Sten

DPO C25 #3220 "Zephyr", SR, FK
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - St. Augustine FL
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 03/12/2008 :  13:51:55  Show Profile
I think 12V screw base fluorescents make a lot of sense for diffuse, bright interior lighting in combination with LEDs for reading lights etc. They are for marine applications and can produce 60W equivalent for the current draw of a 10W incandescent. In combination with LEDs, you can have a functional, cheerful lighting scheme with very low current draw. You could by screw bases to adapt other fixtures that are large enough to house the bulb - I think that is what I will end up doing. I am considering mounting them shielded at the forward end of the shelves behind the settees as indirect lighting and one on the overhead near the samson post under the mast.
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5353 Posts
Response Posted - 03/12/2008 :  18:16:14  Show Profile
I like the idea of using the CFLs for indirect lighting, as they sometimes product glare. I haven't tried the LEDs - do you get enough light to read out of them? Are they extremely focused, or can they be diffused somewhat?
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 03/12/2008 :  19:01:05  Show Profile
It depends on the housing and lens. Light output from an LED is is diffused somewhat by a surface lens, but it is still highly directional. The housing's diffuser/lens further spreads it and reduces hot spots. I have 2 reading lights that are much brighter than incandesents and have a 30ΒΊ-40ΒΊ spread of even light, and they don't get hot. I also have rectangular light about 5"x1" that is poorly designed with multiple hot spots and overlapping shadows. I wouldn't be inclined to buy an LED until I saw its output pattern.
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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts
Response Posted - 03/12/2008 :  20:32:14  Show Profile

These are the LED puck lights I bought at Home Depot. 3 for 17.99

They can be mounted with double sided tape, velcro or screwed on. You can get hard wired versions or the kind that I got, which takes 2 AA batteries. 2 AA batteries will last for about 160 hours. I use rechargable batteries which are very inexpensive and very easy to use. 6 of these will brightly light your cabin. 1 provides plenty of light for reading. Because they don't need wires, you can put them anywhere. The lense is adjustable, so you can direct light by about 20 degrees.
I love these things, they are perfect for how I run my boat.
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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts
Response Posted - 03/12/2008 :  22:48:59  Show Profile
I use the pucks also but still have my red navigation lights and two bright reading lights.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.