Re: [bolger] LED lights
In the last several years there has been some major improvements in the
design of LED's. The technology is almost to the point of replacing more
traditional lights (incandescent and fluorescent) in some applications.
LED's also offer major advantage in size and power consumption that would
make there use in applications that have never been thought of for
conventional lights (Highway lane indicators and signs). The automobile
companies are planning to use LED's for turn signals and tail lights.
The major advantage for shipboard used (particularly for cabin lighting) is
their high light output for very low power. This would allow small
batteries and even solar recharging to be used to provide cabin lighting
Michael Surface
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design of LED's. The technology is almost to the point of replacing more
traditional lights (incandescent and fluorescent) in some applications.
LED's also offer major advantage in size and power consumption that would
make there use in applications that have never been thought of for
conventional lights (Highway lane indicators and signs). The automobile
companies are planning to use LED's for turn signals and tail lights.
The major advantage for shipboard used (particularly for cabin lighting) is
their high light output for very low power. This would allow small
batteries and even solar recharging to be used to provide cabin lighting
Michael Surface
>From: "Mary Ann & Gary " <gbship@...>________________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To:bolger@egroups.com
>To:bolger@egroups.com
>Subject: [bolger] LED lights
>Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 04:34:27 -0000
>
>Has anyone had experience with the relatively new LED (light emitting
>diodes) white lights that are coming out on the market? Practical
>Sailor a couple of issues ago evaluated flashlights and had an
>intriguing article on an LED replacement bulb for some common running
>lights. The gist of the flashlight review is they don't put out as
>much light in a concentrated beam, but it is a more even light and
>the
>batteries last 5 to 10 times longer than conventional flashlights.
>They will continue to put out useable light with batteries too
>discharged to run regular flashlights. I've since purchased a 3-AA
>flashlight with 3 LEDs and like it. Like a 2-AA mini mag light, it
>hurts to look directly in the light, but the beam is more difused and
>much wider. It's easy to read by the light at a distance up to six
>feet or so, and it has a useable light for walking at 20-30 feet. It
>can't be focused like a mini-mag, so doesn't have nearly the range. I
>haven't seen a LED light that could be used to pick up channel
>markers
>at night. The running light replacement bulb used 15 or 18 LEDs and
>incorporated circuitry to turn the lights off, and then turn them
>back
>on before the light fades from the bulbs. It saves a bit of power.
>The
>preliminary Practical Sailor evaluation was the bulb was not as
>bright
>as the normal 20 watt bulb it would replace, but it was brighter
>than the 10-watt bulbs that are in many Coast Guard approved, 2-mile
>visability running lights. The real eye opener is this bulb uses an
>incredible 50 miliamps. Yes, 50. That means it could be on for 20
>hours and burn only 1 amp. Except that is also has a sensor to
>automatically turn it off in the daytime. Also, LEDs are rated to
>burn
>over 100,000 hours, or 10-11 years in constant use. Of course, all
>this comes at a price -- this bulb costs $125! West Marine has begun
>selling a clear anchor/interior LED light. It doesn't have the
>power saving, on-off wizardry of the above bulb, and I think it has a
>couple fewer LEDs. It's power rating is a profligate .074 milliamps,
>or it would burn 12-13 hours on 1 amp. It also has the automatic
>on-off sensor. (Their cost is $39 to $49.) A solar catalog I recently
>received has a three-LED wall mounted "cabin" light, like the reading
>lights you see for many boats. It's rated at .030 milliamps -- 33
>hours from 1 amp. It's cost is $29. Based on the flashlight I have,
>this light should have plenty of output for reading or chart table
>work.
>
>My main concern on extended cruising is power consumption for fans
>and
>lights. It would seem with the Hella fans (200 milliamp consumption)
>and LED lights, the total power consumption could be a few amps a
>day.
>Even a small battery could provide a week's worth of power, and a
>small solar panel could provide it indefinitely.
>
>Has anyone else had much experience with these? I'm thinking of
>putting three of the cabin lights in my revamped boat, and getting a
>couple of the West anchor lights....
>
>Gary Blankenship
>Tallahassee, FL
>
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