After some maths and spending a few bucks on Amazon and Wal-mart, with the help of technology I was able to save myself the hassle of installing a 2nd battery!
Here's how:
I ordered a bunch of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150699060842?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_3344wt_1396Each SMD is 1 watt, so if you don't want it too bright make sure you get the single SMD bulb for nighttime stuff.
My VDO gauges came with 168 bulbs, they are 5 watts each with 9 bulbs = 45 watts of juice just for stupid gauge lights! No wonder the volt needle would drop a tad when I turned the nav lights on.
Not all gauges are getting bulbs (who cares about trim or mph at night) so I reduced my total light power draw also.
Standard Incandescent bulbs:
Gauges = 45w
All Round = 25w
Front Nav = 10w
Total = 80w or 6.5amp
My switch to LED
Gauges = 5w total.
All Around = 1.8w new Attwood LED
Nav = 2.4w new Attwood LED
Total = 9.2w or .72 ampBattery runtime with standard bulbs (standard marine 75amp hour battery to 50%) = 4 hours
LED setup = 35 hours!
Gotta love technology.
Another example: Anchored out at night with the radio on...
Radio (external amp off) turned not loud = 20w
Standard all around light = 25w
Total power is 45w or roughly 4 amps. That gives me around 6 hours of chillin with friends listening to music or fishing before I gotta start er up and recharge.
LED all around? It just jumped up my night time chillin to 14 hours with the radio on.
14 HOURS!Spending $100 in a new LED setup for my boat just saved me installing a 2nd battery and a ton of money in labor, cables, switches, etc.
When upgrading to LED/SMD technology pay attention to the wattage factor of them. Each SMD is 1 watt, so if you get the standard ebay wedge style with 5 SMD's, they are 5 watt bulbs AND REALLLLLLYLYYYYYYYYYYYY BRIGHTTTTT. Also, aftermarket bulbs to fit the old style navigation lights are less watts, but not as low as re-designed dedicated LED fixtures. A replacement LED light for the all-around is around 15 watts. Attwood's USCG rated all around is 1.8 watts. Also check for deals. I got my front led nav in white to match from walmart site to store for $25, west marine wants $60 for the same 3500 series attwood LED and only carries black.
I also got a new attwood 2 pin base for the rear just because they are $14 shipped from Amazon for no other reason but just replace the old one so everything matches nice and new.