LED lighting

While replacing the headliner, I decided to upgrade the 12v lighting with LEDs. I'd never used it before but had heard interesting applications for LED ribbon, which at an online retailer is $14~$17 for 5m (300 LEDs on the ribbon) is a pretty cheap way to get highly efficient lighting (each 5m ribbon consumes 1 amp @12vdc). The cheaper LED ribbon is not listed as waterproof; the more expensive one linked above has a silicon gel coating enclosing the whole thing. Since the ribbon can be cut into segments as small as 3 LEDs (roughly 2" or 5cm) or any multiple of 3 LEDs, it has given me some opportunities to innovate. All sorts of colors are available--I bought bright white for use in the engine room, AC/storage space, over the batteries and inside storage lockers. I used warm white in all living spaces and will put red and white LEDs (switchable) at the helm and aft deck.

VERY IMPORTANT: for anybody trying this out at home--you must use a 12v converter or you greatly shorten the life of the LEDs, which cannot tolerate exceeding 13v for long. I am running mine on my house/inverter bank, which charges up to 14.4vdc and when equalizing it goes higher. Voltages this high will kill LEDs without a converter. I found some 12v to 12v converters for ~$10. Like the LEDs, they're not marked ""marine grade", but at this price point I can't complain.

My first approach was indirect or mood lighting. Since the 1968 Commander 42 has painted mahogany valences hiding the window shades all around the salon, galley and aft stateroom (and since I was already replacing the headliner), I wired up segments of LED ribbon and drilled holes to run the wire. Then, just peel off the 3M backing paper on the LED ribbon and press along the entire length to fasten it to the horizontal board to which the window shades attach.

The effect is quite good, though it might put more light in the room if I had used a plastic L channel to support the LED ribbon near the bottom of the valence. Still, it works out OK and the lights work fine.

The effect at night is very pleasant. The photo doesn't capture the full effect in the room, but it's nice and (most importantly) the missus likes it!

I also had a few classic Perko light fixtures that were used for 12v lighting. After removing the original bulb and socket, I cut the warm white LED ribbon into 6-LED strips, then soldered them together + to + and - to - in series. After cleaning the Perko reflector, I removed the 3M two-sided tape backing paper from the LED ribbon and pressed the ribbon onto the reflector, taking care to ensure that the leads for the LED string came out the hole where the old socket used to go. Here's what they look like powered up and installed.

Frankly, while I like being able to update an old, inefficient fixture with LEDs, these LEDs don't put out anywhere near what a 60w 12v light puts out. Then again, the incandescent bulbs consume 5 amps while the LEDs nibble only 0.08 amps. In combination with the mood lighting behind the valance, these are terrific.