Would appreciate cabin light recommendations:

[kayakrguy]

Hi everyone,

I began playing with the cabin lights today. We have 4 interior cabin lights. They are all LED, two reading lights and two dome lights....

We are happy with the reading lights but the dome lights do not give enought ambient light for our taste. Also, we will need a light to allow us to see into the cabinets.

So if you have general/ambient cabin lighting that you like, your suggestions/recommendations would be welcome.

Got the battery today, have wire waiting for the converter to arrive and need to get a fuse subpanel...

Hope all is well with you and yours,

Jim

[Tripmaker]

Jim,

When I was in NY a week or so back I stopped in an RV joint and bought a double bulb 12V RV ceiling fixture for $5. I've seen them other places they are readily available. Where did you find the LED reading lights? I also bought some 12V hallogen undercounter lights from Lowe's that they were closing out. They are made to use in a kitchen off 110V with a power supply but work with 12V DC. I plan to use these in the galley since they tend to put out heat I may not want inside the cabin in the summer. Someone eles suggested checking with truck suppliers for LED lights. I think I will use LED's for my stop/turn lights. I was getting ready to start wireing when .....well you know the story.

Jim

[doug hodder]

Kayak...check out camping worlds web site..they have a fairly large selection of interior lights...Doug

[kayakrguy]

Jim,

Slow down! <g> We got the LED lights at Boater's World--one on the web, the other at the local store.

Jim

[asianflava]

I'm using LED dome lights that I got from Boater's World. They aren't super bright but they are just bright enough. You'll be amazed how bright a light is inside the tear at night.


Edit:
Here is a link:
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/196790653.htm
And a picture of the light I used. The outermost trim ring didn't come on mine.

[bdosborn]

Kayak,

What are you using for the overhead light? I used a row of these


in a fluorescent light housing and it works for us.

Bruce

[sdtripper2]

Jim:

Here are some websites that might help you?


Dome brass 12 volt:
http://tinyurl.com/g5w8z


http://tinyurl.com/j9ptt
Some like the above but smaller or larger in diameter:
http://tinyurl.com/zeh3r

First class recessed or surface mount light selection:
http://tinyurl.com/jorct


http://tinyurl.com/klubt
ARCON 12 VOLT 10-WATT HALOGEN LIGHT WITHOUT BEZEL- BRASS 18517 $14.99


http://tinyurl.com/o9xsz
ARCON 12 VOLT AIRCRAFT-STYLE LIGHTS- SQUARE SINGLE: BRASS 18087 $10.99
ARCON 12 VOLT AIRCRAFT-STYLE LIGHTS- ROUND SINGLE: BRASS 18091 $10.09


http://tinyurl.com/ewe3g
Marinco Dome Light 3" or 4"with switch (I like this brass round dome light) $20.99


Raul (ralaco) from Mexico has this light in his rig: You would have to contact him to get details: click here

Here is a link to reading lights that others have used with longer stems:
http://tinyurl.com/jvtjd

[bledsoe3]

I put a couple of these in my cabinets. http://tinyurl.com/ycwq72 Not a lot of light, but like Rocky said, a little goes a long way in a dark tear. I have two in my cabin cabinets and two in my galley cabinets. This shot is looking up from the cabin before any finish work or the roof was on.

[Sonetpro]

I used the marinco one's in stainless. I tried it on top but it shined in my eyes when laying down. I put one on both sides. Lotsa light and it lights the cabinets.

[Ira]

I used the marinco one's in stainless.

Not everyone has your kind of money!

MARINCO!

What did those run you--89 bucks a piece!?

(I still cringe at that company's name when I think of how much I spent for my shore connector.)

[Sonetpro]

I used the marinco one's in stainless.

Not everyone has your kind of money!

MARINCO!

What did those run you--89 bucks a piece!?

(I still cringe at that company's name when I think of how much I spent for my shore connector.)

I wish I had as much as you portray.
EBAY ! EBAY !

[Steve_Cox]

I liked the little lights in the cabinets idea. But for mood lighting these small boat lamps are pretty cool, and you don't have to be rich to buy them at less than $40 each. For excitement there is nothing like an open flame in a wooden trailer.

[kayakrguy]

Rocky, Steve, Jim and all,

Thank you very much! In fact, Rocky's picture of the dome light from Boater's world is EXACTLY the same as the two we tried out. How many are you using, Rocky?

Jim, those cabinet lights are clever...I will see what the boss says about those...

Not being experienced with 12 volt lights, I am not sure what is reasonable to expect. I think, but am not sure, that the incandescent bulbs give more light than the LED's but, of course, eat up more amps....

Please keep the ideas coming...drives out a lot of crazy stuff in my cranium <g>

Jim

[kayakrguy]

Bruce,

I just saw the light stick you used in the flourescent housing...
Is that LED? Where did you get it? What's it draw in amps?

Thanks fo the info,

Jim

[asianflava]

Thank you very much! In fact, Rocky's picture of the dome light from Boater's world is EXACTLY the same as the two we tried out. How many are you using, Rocky?

I have 2 of them, both are probably 12"-18" away from the sidewall. I put them there to make it easy to reach the switch after you open the door.

Like I said, they don't give off too much light but they also don't blind you either. I was kinda dissapointed with the output when I was playing with them. I kept them because I drilled on one and couldn't return it. After installing and using them, I'm happy with the performance. You really don't need too much light inside the cabin, a little goes a long way. On nights when I can't sleep, (which is often) there is still enough light for me to read a magazine without using my reading light.

They pull very little current so I used a 16ga wire to the 2 dome lights. 16ga wire was a lot easier for me to run across the roof.