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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Cabin Light

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/27/2008 : 22:24:30

As I mentioned in the Solar Panel topic, I am hatching a plan to provide what I believe is a very functional and classic lighting fixture in the Catalina cabin.

I want to install an "anchor lantern" inside the cabin on the bulkhead just under the mast. This fixture looks just like an old brass kerosene lantern you see in the old movies and photos. I like brass, and if I can keep it coated with poly or varnish, I will be able to retain the brass finish.

I can fit the lantern out with a standard "edison screw base" 110V socket. Then, I plan to purchase a Feit (brand) 12 volt compact fluorescent lamp (used in RVs) that will screw into the screw base.

Viola! I've got a 13 W "60 W" CFL bulb just like the ones I now use almost everywhere in my home. It takes about 1.1 Amps at 12 volts, but puts out as much light as a 60W incandescent bulb.

Yes, I know, you can't beat the color temperature of tungsten or halogen lamps compared with the CFLs, but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make so I can read the fine print, the newspaper or magazines or my paper charts while lounging at night.

I currently use a GE Steelbeam battery operated CFL lantern that produces about 40W of light using four rechargeable D cell batteries, but I'd prefer using the brass lantern, having it in a fixed location and having it wired into the battery power, rather than using unpredictable D cells.

Have any members had any experience with refitting these lanterns with a screw base, using a 12V CFL or wishing they hadn't bolted a fixture onto the bulkhead?

I can imagine hitting my head on it regularly unless it is mounted in just the right location.

Obviously, in this location, the light would hit me right in the eyes while sailing at night. Would it be better above the sink and galley?

I want it in a location where it will light the cabin fully (I have the dinette style layout) and avoid making dramatic shadows.

Any experience using a single bright light versus several smaller lights around the cabin to provide a more uniform glow?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2008 : 23:29:01

First, keep it off when sailing at night. Have a lower-intensity red light for looking at charts or whatever is necessary, to minimize the impact on your night vision. Otherwise, no lights but running lights at night. Night vision on the water is tougher than many people think--take the story about the cop on the lake in California...

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 16:10:41

Ya know that sounds pretty cool. It would also be pretty easy to add a remote/dimmer. I wouldn't have only that for light but it'd be nice looking with the right lamp and a conversation piece for sure!

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 16:17:52

Can you use a dimmer on an LED?

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 22:18:47

A standard dimmer switch uses 120V AC. It cannot be used on DC systems.

It works by switching the current on mid-phase, that is, if you look at a 60 cycle sine wave, a dimmer switch delays the time that it delivers current until a portion of the sine wave has passed. Therefore, if the dimmer is set on low, you get a small portion of the cycle, and thus, less power. If the dimmer is on high, you'd get most or all of the cycle and most of the power delivered to the light.

DC dimmers operate on a different principle. They are giant resistors, or rheostats, that are adjustable resistors.

Similar to a volume knob on your stereo, when the DC dimmer is set on low, it cuts available voltage and current (and therefore power) to the lamp by absorbing some of the power (which it dissipates as heat) within itself.

When the dimmer is set on high, most or all of the available voltage and current can be applied to the light, and the corresponding power.

Incandescent lights work fine with either AC or DC, so a 120 VAC light bulb responds well to an AC dimmer, and a 12 Volt DC light bulb works well with a DC dimmer.

LED lights are intrinsically low voltage devices (approx 2-3 V) and since they are diodes, they are DC devices.

In multi-diode 12 volt devices, 6 lamps can be wired in series, so each diode receives 2 volts apiece. Multiple series can be wired in parallel, so the manufacturer can put together 12, 18 and 24 LED fixtures.

Compact fluorescent bulbs should never be connected to any kind of dimmer. Because these devices use a lot of electronics to run the fluorescent tube, the internal circuitry can be damaged if they receive less voltage than specified.

Long story to a short question, a resistive dimmer can be used on a LED.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2008 : 10:46:33

I wonder if you could rip on of these guys apart and apply it to your brass lamp?

<center>Stansport Water-Resistant Remote-Controlled Lantern</center>
<center>

</center>
[url="http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7933633"]here's the link to the sales page[/url]

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2008 : 22:40:10

Dave -
I will certainly take a look at it next time I'm in the store.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2008 : 23:20:49

my boat came with a brass oil lantern on the bulkhead just under the mast. I hit that thing with my shoulder or forehead or elbow pretty much everytime I went past it.

I think you've got a great idea with the light, but I don't like the location.

I've gone with LED puck lights that run on rechargable AA batteries throughout the cabit and use an LED light lantern for my mast light. The recharger works with my inverter, and my batteries are charged by my solar panel. I think it's a great system.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 13:01:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Compact fluorescent bulbs should never be connected to any kind of dimmer...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I bought some "dimmable" compact florescents for my kitchen ceiling fixtures... It turns out one works OK, but four on the same dimmer are a problem--lots of flashing and noises!

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 21:53:44

Mike - When I positioned the fixture with the Admiral inspecting (I'm still working the bugs out), that was the first thing I though of. I bonk my head on the doorway tops and slider, so I thought I'd be sure to hit my shoulder on the lamp if I mounted it onto the bulkhead below the mast.

We've decided the space above the aft sink in the galley would be a better spot. Less WOW appeal when you look in from the companionway, but much more practical location.

As soon as I get it set up, I'll try and post a photo.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 23:27:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">As soon as I get it set up, I'll try and post a photo. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No. there is no try, only do or do not. Post it you will.

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