LED Cabin Bulbs for 2000 FV270

Willhound

I can't get to the boat for a few days, but have a chance to get a deal on some LED bulbs to replace the bulbs in my cabin and deck courtesy lights. Does anybody know off hand which style I'd have in that era boat? A search shows multiple threads here of course, but I see that some are the two pin G4 type and others show the festoon double ended style?

Stodge

I got several LED bulbs for the cabin (G4) and the cockpit (wedge) at https://www.superbrightleds.com/

Just watch the lumen rating and the color.  For the cabin I get the warm white.

Willhound

Pretty safe bet that the mounts are the same in my 270 @Stodge? I'm guessing Rinker didn't change them a whole lot?

Stodge

The ones I got for the cabin are flat, about the size of a quarter, with a G4 mount on the side.  

Like this:  https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/boat-rv-bulbs/g4-led-bulb-12-led-bi-pin-led-disc-rvb/2699/

Liberty44140

These worked great for me. Same base as Stodge's but a different bulb. Your 2000 should be the same base. My 2001 310 used the same cabin bulbs that my 2006 342 uses. 

https://www.amazon.com/Equivalent-Landscape-Replacement-Halogen-Yuiip/dp/B06WRS71VZ/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=yo_ii_img 

tk1973

I just bought these Will last week and they were plug and play in my cabin. Even the color was the same. 

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B071NBPRFS/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Liberty44140

TK - did you buy the 1.8W or 1.2W? The link opens to the 1.8W which is the 20W halogen equivalent. 1.2W is the 10W equivalent and is what most of our boats have. I'd just caution anyone ordering any of these bulbs to make sure if your halogen wattage and get the LED conversion. Maybe some boats have 20W halogen, I dont know. 

Stodge

@Liberty44140 that equivalent is the amount of light.  They use far less current than the bulbs being replaced.  

Willhound

@Liberty44140, is the issue the heat they create?

Willhound

@Stodge, do you have a link to the wedge style so I can try and cross reference? 

Stodge

The wedge bulbs I got were to replace the bulbs in the cockpit.  It's been a couple years.  These look similar: https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/rv-miniature-wedge-bulbs/194-led-bulb-5-smd-led-tower-miniature-wedge-retrofit-rvb/2480/

I'd have to measure the length of the original bulb and compare to the specs on the web page.

I went with blue bulbs and added some blue strip light under the ledge of the wet bar.

Liberty44140

yes - absolutely, the equivalent is the amount of light was my referance. So if you are using 10W halogen, like I was, you want 1.2W LED to have an equivalent amount of light. If you want a 20W halogen equivalent then you go with 1.8W or 2W LED. When I was using 10W halogen bulbs my lights were so hot I could barely touch the outer lense. Now with the 1.2W LED I can touch them all day long. Also the power draw is of course dramatically different. When I had all halogen cabin lights on, the gauge needle on my board would move substantially where as now I can have all lights on and the needle does not even flicker. I was using 80W for all lights on and now I am using less than 10W. Good stuff! Just make sure you get the equivalent amount of light unless you want a difference. 

Handymans342

Remember they come in different colors. I used 5100 on my arch. and 4100 every where else.

tk1973

@Liberty44140 I bought the 1.8. They were a perfect match to the outgoing ones. And no heat. So far so good. 

Willhound

Finally getting around to doing this as part of spring prep. Going with these for the two cockpit courtesy lights and the one on my stairs:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00IXH5UDY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2A5H5E1107UXT&psc=1

And these for the 4 cabin lights:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B06WLHQWZB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2NRICCUCIA9OO&psc=1

Question. While I'm at it was thinking of doing the transom light and arch mounted anchor light. Anyone know what style bulbs these use? Being an exterior/marker light I would assume there's a spec for minimum lumens? Or am I pretty much going to have to change out the entire fixtures? (would rather not). I did see when I searched the one's @J3ff used (holy spotlight Batman!) and the one @Cableguy Greg suggests for the arch.

Stodge

@Willhound there aren't a lot of LED bulbs that are wide enough angle to use as replacements.  I ended up replacing the entire fixture for my anchor and transom lights to get ones that were Coast Guard approved.  I believe they now have some approved replacement bulbs.  Just look for that when you're bulb shopping.

Willhound

Thanks @Stodge. That's pretty much what I've been finding. Looking for total replacements. Mine work, just part if the overall switch to LED strategy.

thepriceisright

I've found that the cheap 12v LED lights from Amazon have overheating issues. 

In particular, these will overheat if run for more than an hour or so, damage themselves, and then never get very bright even after cooling down.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071L1CGJB/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Willhound

I've wondered about that. Will keep an eye on them. It's funny, we spend all kinds of $$ on boat stuff for boats worth potentially hundreds oof thousands and we cheap out on off shore non ULC approved junk.
But...part of the issue is the North American manufacturers either haven't  or don't want to develop LED solutions for all the different bulb types out there. 

thepriceisright

Willhound said:

I've wondered about that. Will keep an eye on them. It's funny, we spend all kinds of $$ on boat stuff for boats worth potentially hundreds oof thousands and we cheap out on off shore non ULC approved junk.
But...part of the issue is the North American manufacturers either haven't  or don't want to develop LED solutions for all the different bulb types out there. 

 I just can't bring myself to spend $10-20 per bulb for brand-name, UL approved bulbs. I know it doesn't make sense but... I just can't do it.

Willhound

Yeah. I hear you. Hence my own Amazon order. Hoping that the water type I ordered dissipate heat better than the all round style you've shown.

gack

@diggin2day1makes some nice cherry lights with LEDs for the cabin.  Installed mine last week and they look great!

Willhound

No doubt. Love @diggin2day1s stuff. Not in the budget this year especially with exchange and shipping to Canada.