Got A Light?

How we light our boats is changing, inside and outside, here’s a primer on how to change with the times.

With all due respect to Thomas Edison, the incandescent bulb may be a marvel of technology, but it’s not a particularly efficient one.  Luckily Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have come of age and boaters looking to capitalize on their benefits have more choices than ever.  Let’s take a look at the advantages they offer over their incandescent predecessors and how they can help reduce your energy budget afloat.

How they work

Incandescent bulbs produce light by jamming large amounts of electrical current through a resistive tungsten filament, which gets so hot it begins to glow.  It works, but the problem is only five percent or so of the energy used is actually converted into light, with the remaining 95 percent being lost in the form of heat.
LEDs on the other hand, produce light as current moves from one type of semi-conductor crystal to another type of crystal within the LED.  Much of the energy used to light an LED is also lost as heat, but what makes them more efficient than incandescent bulbs is that they can produce the same amount of light with up to 90 percent lower amperage draw.  As the amount of power draw (and heat generated) is so much less than the finger-searing bulb mentioned above, an LED remains cool to the touch.
LEDs require a “driver” (essentially a self-contained power supply) that provides constant current-regulated power over the LED’s range of operating voltage (10VDC to 30VDC for example). The regulation provided by this driver not only provides a more consistent level of light output throughout the operating range, but (unlike incandescent bulbs) also allows the LED to be dimmed without changing the color of light produced (i.e., white becoming yellow).
Most LED units have the driver built in, however some models use an external driver to provide power to one or multiple LED arrays.  Systems with external drivers cost less to produce, but are in general are not as good as each LED having its own driver.  One major disadvantage is that if the external driver fails, all of the lights it powers will stop working.
With such great energy saving potential, it’s easy to see how replacing only a few incandescent bulbs can generate a noticeable reduction in power requirements.
Navigation lights (some of which draw up to 25 watts of power) certainly have potential in this regard, particularly while under sail or at anchor.  While LEDs and navigation lights seem like a perfect match, LED technology (which has been used commercially since the ’60s) has only recently been able to produce LEDs of sufficient color, intensity, and beam patterns suitable for use as navigation lights.

Replace or wait
LED replacements can be in the form of new fixtures or LED bulb replacements to retrofit your existing ones.  As with incandescent bulbs however, not all LED lights are created equal.  Before swapping out existing incandescent lights, make sure that the new LEDs are as bright as the factory installed originals.  This is especially crucial when replacing navigation lights–always ensure the ones you install have been tested to and comply with U.S. Coast Guard specifications. LED manufacturers, such as Dr. LED, (doctorled.com) provide a chart so that you can select replacement bulbs that will fit the size and brightness requirements exactly.
If swapping out the entire fixture, you should need nothing more than the basic tools—wire cutter/stripper, heat shrink butt connectors and crimper, screwdrivers, perhaps nut drivers or a socket set.  If you’re retrofitting a bulb to the existing fixture, no tools would likely be needed, although you may want to have a screwdriver handy to open the fixture up when swapping out the bulb.
For exact replacements, there’s no need to replace the fixture assuming it is working properly (clear lenses, good wiring, etc) unless you simply want new fixtures.  There will be no need to replace or upgrade the wiring when switching to LEDs as they draw a lot less current (assuming the existing wiring is in good condition).
If you wish to upgrade to something with increased brightness, you may have to replace the existing light fixture (depending on the LED’s physical size and mounting configuration) but in most cases I’d say even then that the wiring will likely still be of sufficient size, although it wouldn’t hurt to verify.
If cost is a consideration then retain your existing lighting. A quality LED can be pretty expensive relative to the old style. I just bought a new LED to replace the one in my anchor light (retaining the old fixture). West Marine’s price was $49.99 – the original bulb was probably less than $4.00. That can mount up if you swap out the entire boat’s lighting. Consider, though, that you’ll likely never have to replace one and won’t worry about draining your battery during nights at anchor.