Replacing Arch Lights

BarryBoats · **Posted:** Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:09 pm

Has anyone found an descent LED replacement for the courtesy arch lights that fits into the existing holes?

aguyindallas · **Posted:** Mon Nov 07, 2011 4:14 pm

I replaced all of my interior spot lights and my arch lights with LED replacements that I found on eBay....they dont get near as hot and are way more efficient.

BarryBoats · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 1:11 am

Quote:

I replaced all of my interior spot lights and my arch lights with LED replacements that I found on eBay....they dont get near as hot and are way more efficient.

What brand?

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:00 am

Brand does not really matter. There are dozens of places to buy them. They are cheap so just look around and find what you like.
I bought all my LED replacement bulbs for 2 boats from here.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/

JAK · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:50 am

Switching over to LEDS makes a world of sense to me since we anchor overnight a lot, especially the anchor light. However I'm somewhat confused. Can you just swap out the bulbs or do you need new fixtures? Eventually I'd like to convert all lights to LED.

Cap'n...if you just changed bulbs what has been your experience. Any problem with LED failures from your source?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:05 am

You do not need new fixtures, just the replacement LED bulbs. They make an LED replacement for just about anything.

I did have one failure on one of the festoon bulbs in my arch lights about 2 months after putting them in. I replaced it and is still lasting 2 years later. Many of the arch lights and dome lights take the festoon bulbs.

I replaced mine with Blue LED.s as the white was just too bright for us. I have never had a failure yet on any of the cockpit or cabin bulbs I replaced.

A couple more sources FWIW

http://www.superdiscountleds.com/

http://doctorled.com/

JAK · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:53 am

Hope you don't mind that I somewhat hijacked your thread Barry.

Thanks Cap'n for the info. Before putting the boat away I made a list of all bulb base types except for the arch lights because I couldn't get them open. Don't know if you pry off the ring or turn. Couldn't do either.

Interesting that you went with blue leds in the arch. I was originally thinking all soft white in the cabin and cockpit courtesy lighting and bright white in the arch. Based on your experience it sounds like bright white may be to much.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:08 am

Brite white may be fine for you. The orginal bulbs were white, and we just lounge in the cockpit at night, and did not need another "sun" overhead in the evening, so we tried blue and like them. we have cool white on all the floor cockpit lights so you still can see. But if you need light for reading, eating etc. then the white probably would be a better choice.

aguyindallas · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 1:08 pm

We went with "warm white" throughout our boat in the overhead lights.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 1:37 pm

I I like replacing the fixture with a sealed unit. I have seen the contacts rust up. But once it is done, you will never have to touch it again.

I used this on my arch, it folds down if needed. http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/n ... oduct/817/

This on on my bow http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/n ... oduct/801/

They both work great, so far.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:32 pm

Paul I. wrote:

I I like replacing the fixture with a sealed unit. I have seen the contacts rust up. But once it is done, you will never have to touch it again.

I used this on my arch, it folds down if needed. http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/n ... oduct/817/

This on on my bow http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/n ... oduct/801/

They both work great, so far.

Those are fine for Nav lights, but he is asking about the arch (courtesy) lights and fixtures in the cockpit and cabin. No need to be sealed.
This is what he is asking about

Paul I. · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:56 pm

Cap'n Morgan wrote:

Paul I. wrote:

I I like replacing the fixture with a sealed unit. I have seen the contacts rust up. But once it is done, you will never have to touch it again.

I used this on my arch, it folds down if needed. http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/n ... oduct/817/

This on on my bow http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/n ... oduct/801/

They both work great, so far.

Those are fine for Nav lights, if that is what the original question was about. He is asking about the arch (courtesy) lights and fixtures in the cockpit and cabin. No need to be sealesince we anchor overnight d.
This is what he is asking about

I was talking in general and JAK wrote "since we anchor overnight". I do not have the stock FW arch and I do not know about the original lights, but a sealed unit is better. (no contacts to rust up) I was just try to say, that this is the one I have on my arch that folds for "since we anchor overnight" times. For me, if it did not fold, with the boat on the trailer it would go over the 13'6" hight limits of most roads.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:58 pm

I need some LED bulbs. I turn on my running lights and use my spot light with radio cranking, the volt meter dips!!

Paul I. · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:23 pm

ric wrote:

I need some LED bulbs. I turn on my running lights and use my spot light with radio cranking, the volt meter dips!!

I have aways said that FW undersizes there wiring. Check you lights/contacts & wiring for corrosion. It sound like this problem is new, thats way I say, corrosion. The other thing you could do, is run a seperate line for the spot light. That light pulls a few amps.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:32 pm

Paul I. wrote:

ric wrote:

I need some LED bulbs. I turn on my running lights and use my spot light with radio cranking, the volt meter dips!!

I have aways said that FW undersizes there wiring. Check you lights/contacts & wiring for corrosion. It sound like this problem is new, thats way I say, corrosion. The other thing you could do, is run a seperate line for the spot light. That light pulls a few amps.

Florida.... Corrosion of wires, tis' likely.
Doubtful he has a factory wired spotlight on a H180 bowrider. I would wager it is a 12V spotlight he plugs into the 12V outlet/cigarette lighter.
And, I suppose he could wire up a second 12V outlet just for the spotlight if he wanted to.

www.iFourWinns.com

Replacing Arch Lights

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