Article by Capt. Steve Katz
Flip the switch to LED lighting
There is a reason we now see a huge selection of residential LED lights in our local hardware store and on internet shopping sites. It’s because LED lights produce the same light output while using much less electricity. Power companies like this and often subsidize the cost of the bulbs at stores located in their service area. From a power company perspective, if they can get all of their consumers to use a little less electricity, it will add up reduced demand that could reduce the power companies need to build another power plant.
What does this have to do with our boats? Well the same is true for boaters; the reduced electrical load is a benefit to new boat builders and retrofits for existing boats. While the LED bulbs at your local hardware store may not be the type you need on your boat, there are many marine retailers selling LED replacement bulbs that fit the popular marine fixtures.
Let’s start with navigation lights. While there may not be a significant savings due to electrical loads, there is an advantage for the new LED navigation light fixtures. Most of the current LED navigation lights are enclosed in a one piece sealed unit, allowing the light to be fully waterproof. This style eliminates the cleaning of the contacts inside the fixture resulting in bulb replacements that never seems to happen at a good time. Installing a replacement LED bulb into a standard incandescent navigation fixture may not have any advantage and the light output may not meet requirements.
A new LED fixture is a much better idea. As an example, Attwood marine warranty’s their LED navigation light fixtures for 10 years. Whether it actually lasts that long, we won’t know for a few more years, but it seems Attwood is confident enough to offer the warranty so maybe they do have a trouble free product. Lopolight has a 5-year warranty, Hella LED navigation lights have a 7-year warranty other manufactures also have warranty periods beginning at one year. Combining a long warranty with the maintenance free sealed unit seems like a great justification to switch to LED navigation lights.
If you are buying LED or any navigation lights, be sure they are marked and approved for your vessels requirements. The USCG indicates that some manufacturers are producing and distributing navigation lights that do not meet the certification. These lights are typically less expensive, making them a tempting choice for uninformed consumers. Use of lights that do not provide the proper chromaticity, luminous intensity or cut-off angles could result in the issuance of a notice of violation or potentially cause an accident. The USCG indicates that recreational boaters should ensure each purchased navigation light contains the following information on the light or its packaging:
•USCG Approval 33 CFR 183.810, MEETS ABYC A-16 or equivalent, tested by an approved laboratory.
•Name of the light manufacturer.
•Number of mode.
•Visibility of the light in nautical miles.
•Date on which the light was type-tested.
•Identification and specification of the bulb used in the compliance test.
If you are looking into interior lighting and courtesy lighting, there are many competitive products available to help you update your boat.
Often there are two options, a replacement bulb or a replacement fixture that already has a LED inside. In retrofit applications, installing LED replacement bulbs into existing fixtures is a cost effective way to convert to LED. Installing new LED fixtures is a good way to update an older boat and takes advantage of the multicolor light option offered by many retailers.
LED bulbs have a low current draw (milli-amps vs. amps). For example, the popular G4 halogen two-pin bulb, which usually uses about 20 watts, can be replaced with a disc-type LED bulb that only requires 2 watts of power for the same light output. This cuts your electricity usage by a factor of 10 and reduces the lights heat output also.
Be sure to know what voltage your lighting system is operating with. If it’s a larger boat, does it use AC or DC power? The most popular LED lighting for boats are 12V DC and if your system is something else, special LED’s are often available. Otherwise, a transformer, driver or other electrical device may need to be installed for proper operation.
How do you decide to upgrade? Get one LED replacement bulb or one complete fixture and give it a try. With so many manufacturers and styles, there is certainly a bulb or fixture that will meet your needs.
Captain Steve Katz is the owner of Steve’s Marine Service and holds NMEA, AMEI and NMEA2000 certificates along with ABYC Master Technician certification and factory training from many manufacturers. To reach Steve, call (631) 264-1600.
