LEDs have made an impact on the boating world. LEDs are loved by all boaters regardless of size or make. They have a high output, cost-saving and long-lasting lifespan. While most boaters now know about the many benefits of using LEDs to replace old incandescent lights, not everyone is aware of all of them. This can lead to many people overlooking what makes LEDs so special. Here are five top reasons why switching to LEDs for your boat lighting is a good idea. Some of these you might already know, some you may not. And still others are more complicated than you thought. You can follow along to find out more about LEDs and how they are so useful for your boat.
1. Efficiency.
This is the most important and responsible for boaters switching to LED lighting. It can be very difficult to manage power consumption when using onboard lighting, as any boater will tell you. One pair of high powered halogen spreaders will drain batteries in no time. The thought of using them in tandem with cabin lighting can send skippers trembling. LEDs eliminate the concern about power consumption, allowing skippers to enjoy their onboard lighting as it was intended. A typical LED boat light produces 90 lumens per Watt, whereas a halogen light emits 17 lumens/watt. Skippers can therefore cut down on their total power consumption. The boat that once used 32 amps to run all its lights will now draw only 8 amps. This level of efficiency is not possible with incandescent lamps, which allows skippers to have a lot more fun with their onboard lighting.
2. Longevity.
It’s not easy to climb up a mast to fix an anchor or replace a headlight. This is even more true for larger boats, which have masts that are very high and incandescent bulbs that can go out or die several times a day. However, you will only have to replace the lights about once every 5-10 years. This is how long LEDs can last for boaters. Even luxury yacht owners, powerboaters, and yacht owners, can reap the benefits of LEDs. LEDs can last for up to 10 year, so you won’t need to replace bulbs as often, will spend less time and money maintaining them, and won’t be faced with the problem of bulbs breaking down at the worst possible moment. While they are more expensive at first, their high efficiency combined with their long life expectancy means that they will be worth it in the end. Then, you’ll enjoy your new, hassle-free lighting.
3. High Durability.
One of the biggest complaints from boaters, especially long-range and power boaters, is that their incandescent lighting can fail in rough conditions. The incandescent bulb is fragile and can’t withstand the punishment of heavy seas, rainstorms, or plowing through waves. Most often, the bulb’s thin wire filament simply fails under the strain of constant vibrations and being banged around. LEDs, however, are a completely different animal and can handle such conditions with ease. Solid state lighting refers to LEDs as they are more like a small transistor than a regular light bulb. LEDs do not have a glass bulb, internal gases or vacuum, and, most importantly, there is no wire filament that could break or burnout. Marine grade LED lights can be used in harsh environments that would otherwise cause an incandescent to burn out. They are also able to run in any type of housing and with no flickering.
4. Multitasking.
Many people think of LED boat light fixtures as something that looks similar to our incandescent fixtures. It is important to remember that LEDs are solid state electronics and are small in scale. Even though they are small, they can produce a lot more light. These LEDs can be fitted in many non-traditional housing and fixture designs. This gives boaters an even wider range of lighting options. You can even make LED strips. These strips can be taped to or glued in place beneath cabinets, gunwales, along stairs edges and other places. This will allow boaters create bright, effective lighting without the need for any actual fixtures. You can make them into small wall washers for hallways or closets. They can be modified to work with spreaders or spotlights. They can also be used in color-changing configurations. They are also available in traditional designs, which will instantly replace your cabin lights by changing the bulb. Let’s look at how an incandescent bulb can do this.
5. Money Savings
Yes, that’s correct. LEDs will help you save money. Although you may not believe it initially when you see the price of an LED spreader lamp, we promise you that you’ll end up saving money over time. For example, a 50 watt halogen spreader lamp. A 50 watt halogen spreader light will cost between $50.00 and $100.00, depending on its quality. It will use approximately 5 amps per hour. You will need to replace the bulbs approximately every 500 to 1,500 hours for $5.00 each. This is due to harsh operating conditions. An LED spreader light, which costs $120.00, produces the same amount but draws 12-14Watts at 1.5amps per hour. It will also not require a replacement bulb for more than 50,000 hours. You’ll need to replace the halogen spreader bulb 50 times in order to match its longevity. When you consider replacement lenses, housing seals, and other wear items, the halogen spreadinger suddenly becomes less valuable.
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