LED Upgrade - Replacing old ThinLites

[obelisk]

Just used my last in a seemingly inexhaustible cache of flourescent ThinLites that I picked up years ago for a steal. A note on the problem first: I am getting full voltage to the light and then only 9V downstream of the ballast. For all intents and purposes, this light is shot, correct? I think that if the ballasts are even still available the cost would not be justified.

I want to go with LED fixtures but I have read horror stories about Dr. LED product failures and the non-existent customer service. Any recommendations on another brand or good experiences? Also, where are the best deals?

[boatpoker]

I've posted this before but here we go again.....
Cheap LED lights for your boat

[smurphny]

Don't know if this URL pasted in right but the website is tmart.com I replaced all my old 12v incandescent bulbs with l.e.d. bulbs from these guys. They are very cheap and seem to work just fine.

http://www.tmart.com/E27-3W-12V-20-L...b_p111184.html

[mikieg]

i am considering replacing my exterior nav lights as well. where would be a place to get uscg approved led for this?

[luken7]

Look at the Imtra brand at defender.com. I recently replaced all my cabin lights with theirs. Love them so far.

[obelisk]

I just received a Dr. LED Polar Star Tricolor bulb and it does not look like the tricolor listed on the website. the one i have has instructions to place colored foil over the red and green sections but does not provide any foil or info on where to obtain it. Anyone else have this problem?

what i thought i was getting:


what showed up:


I have had one like this as my masthead for several years and was very surprised to find it identical to the "tri color" i ordered. the only difference is the "tricolor" box on the packaging is checked on the new one

thus far, no response from the customer support team at Dr. LED

[Dog Ship]

I just purchased a set of navigation lights from Attwood.
I bought a 3nm, USCG approved stern light, and port and starboard side lights USCG approved for 2nm.
About $300 for the three fixtures.
I plan on replacing every light with LED but I haven't decided which fixture I like best for the mast light and deck lights.
There are not to many companies to chose from when it comes to "approved" navigation lights but there are all kinds of interior lights available.
I prefer to replace the entire fixture rather than just the bulb, but that's just me.

[obelisk]

I replaced my deck level lights with Aqua Signal full fixture sealed LEDs in 2008 when i completed a major overhaul--love them, but the masthead was put off. Unfortunately, a masthead stack with masthead/tricolor combo was not in the budget then and is just getting the "quick-fix". well, i thought it was going to be a quick fix but this problem with the foil has made it seem as though I should have just ponied up for the whole unit . another lesson in cutting corners...

[treilley]

Cheap LEDs are exactly that. CHEAP.

I have used Sensibulbs in the past with great satisfaction with both the product and hte service. They can be found at LED lighting, soundproof, Sailor's Solutions Inc.

[chef2sail]

Imtra, Sesibulb for bulbs, but that may be shortsighted.....We replaced our fixtures with Alpenglow. Amazing interior lights especially the overhead ones in the frames with two white and red light intensities. They have small prisms in the lens which spreads the light. Their color white is also very easy on the eyes. All LEDS are not the same and when you go cheap you eaither get harsh light or you get focused pinpoint lights. The cost for the whole Alpenglow fixtures is not much more than some of the bulbs alone.

Dave