Cockpit table lights

[jo_que_se]

Hi to all!

I know some of you already did a mod like this, but I wanteed to share mine...

The LED's are RGB, controlled by a RF remote controller, so you can adjust the color and the intensity (great if you want a little of red light when sailing at night...)


The source:

http://eud.dx.com/product/hml-waterproof-72w-300-x-smd-5050-led-rgb-light-car-decoration-light-strip-12v-5m-844281682#.Vhz8SPntlBc

http://eud.dx.com/product/2-4ghz-touch-sense-rgb-led-controller-white-dc12-24v-844217455#.Vhz8S_ntlBc

the results:

[dawntreader]

Looks very good. The problem I have is that the led strip I used has broken down despite claims it is 'waterproof'. How long has your installation been in place?

[solar]

Looks great!
Can you please show and explain how did you wire everything together?
Any drilling needed? where?
Thanks

[jo_que_se]

Sure!

I'll take some photos to post them here.

As I consider it as a part of lighting system, I took the power from the ceiling light of the aft cabin which is the closest light to the rudder wheel. In this way, all the cabin and cockpit lights are controlled by the same switch of the control pannel.

I made some new "faston" connections from that ceiling light and then (that was the difficult part) carried the new wires to the stern through the space bettwen the ceiling of the cabin and the seat of the cockpit.


once I got the wires in the stern of the boat (and removing the cover that is inside the aft cabin and under the cockpit table, it was easy to drive the wires to the cockpit panel where all the electronics intruments are installed. 

The RGB control unit of the light are inside the cockpit panel and the wires fron the controller to the led's strips, are passing through a small drill (made from outside) in the space that is under the edges of the cockpit table.

I'll take some photo in order to explain all that a little bit better....  I beg your perdon for my poor english       

[willfinch36]

Lights look really smart in the pictures! 

If you could post up some info on the actual wiring etc.

Thanks,

Will

[Craig]

I don't know about other models but my Bavaria 38 ( 2009 model) has a light switch on the panel that turns on the compass light.

If you have a similar situation you can take your power off the compass light wiring in the binnacle. You will need a switch on your Led lights so that they will not be always on when you need the compass light on. Just drill a small hole in the binnacle below the cockpit table for each LED outlet. The LED lights look great mounted out of sight under the cockpit table and away from where they can be damaged. The Binnacle should be easy to get into to do this. There are 6 screws holding on a cover behind the wheel on the 38.

My question is whether your legs look better under Blue, Green or Red lights as you enjoy a meal in the cockpit???

Craig
s/v "Shirley Valentine" 

[jo_que_se]

hahaha!!

As you suggest The first idea was to use the compass light as a power source, but i think it makes more sense to load the lighting circuit. (a liitle bit more complicated but more logical from my point of view).

But what is definitive is that checking the PANEL 301 specs, you'll see that the maximum load for the compass light is 10W/1A, and at a full power in WHITE color (all RGB leds on), this consumes more that 1.2A (14W at 12V).

The control unit is installed in the space that you are talking about.


As you may already imagined, one can set these LED's to emit WHITE light as well.

The great point of changing the color and luminosity is that you can use it in RED to serve as sailing light by night in order to move safely without disturbing your eyes response.

And we use to set it BLUE to make a "lounge-relaxing" enviroment to have a drink after dinner   

Anyway, my legs look horrible regardless the light color !!

[willfinch36]

Thanks for the starting the thread, it inspired me to install some!

I bought pretty much the same as you, just a kit off ebay instead for about £20 posted.

See below:

[jo_que_se]

Bravo!!!

 

[sailprincess]

Anyone have any cool cockpit lighting ideas for the Bavarias in which the cockpit table folds down?