Led spreader lights
- Thread starter Summertop511
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Hookup1
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kirk a
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I recall it being quite simple to swap out the old ones for new Taco LED lights. New ones are significantly brighter and use less power.
Sardinia306Canyon
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If you find the correct bulb you can try it,
however, LED bulbs are rather sensible to heat and if the housing don't provide adequate cooling the lamp will die.
As Hookup1 wrote, i would replace them with new LED lights, but not go for the cheapest ones.
I got some from WM for my Venture 34 and they fogged up and leaked after a year.
Dimmable ones (if available) would be best solution as some LED lights are crazy strong, so strong that at 100% output can be too strong.
I am in the same situation and the bow spreader light is normal bulb and too weak so i will try to upgrade the bulb as mine (at least the bow one) are recessed in the hard top.
Chris
however, LED bulbs are rather sensible to heat and if the housing don't provide adequate cooling the lamp will die.
As Hookup1 wrote, i would replace them with new LED lights, but not go for the cheapest ones.
I got some from WM for my Venture 34 and they fogged up and leaked after a year.
Dimmable ones (if available) would be best solution as some LED lights are crazy strong, so strong that at 100% output can be too strong.
I am in the same situation and the bow spreader light is normal bulb and too weak so i will try to upgrade the bulb as mine (at least the bow one) are recessed in the hard top.
Chris
luckydude
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Is what came on my 228. I replaced them recently, the originals stayed with my hard top.
It's worth noting that, at least on my year, the spreaders were controlled by a finger sensitive switch on the dome light. I hated that for two reasons: (A) the lights would come on from the boat vibrating, and (B) these LEDs have two modes, bright and colored (red or blue, I got blue). You have to toggle the on/off quickly to get to the blue and I was never able to do that with the dome switch. I wired them into an accessory switch on my my switch panel (and even got a new top that said "spreaders"). Happier with that setup.
Sardinia306Canyon
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Nice find LuckyDude and i put it on my GW shopping list.
Not cheap, but after bad experience with cheap boat lights i prefer to buy from a well known company.
Yep, i have same switch on my dome light, but only for bow light, cockpit lights are on a rocker switch.
As i will pull the 220V Inverter ex owner installed i will have a free rocker switch on the switch panel and will wire it there.
My dome light switch did (till now) not came on by it self, but sometimes i forget to switch it off when i leave and next day it omes on when i activate the battery switches and i don't see it burning. A rocker switch with a "On-Light" will avoid that.
Chris
Not cheap, but after bad experience with cheap boat lights i prefer to buy from a well known company.
Yep, i have same switch on my dome light, but only for bow light, cockpit lights are on a rocker switch.
As i will pull the 220V Inverter ex owner installed i will have a free rocker switch on the switch panel and will wire it there.
My dome light switch did (till now) not came on by it self, but sometimes i forget to switch it off when i leave and next day it omes on when i activate the battery switches and i don't see it burning. A rocker switch with a "On-Light" will avoid that.
Chris
I replaced mine with Black Oak LED this spring. Super bright and less power, and not much more $$$ than just a bulb replacement. Housing is also smaller than those original brick size.