12V reading lamp recommendations

[vpbarkley]

Our boat has modern LED lighting throughout. However, the only place aboard that is sufficiently illuminated for reading is the head!

We have some lithium cell wearable lights but they're not ideal for reading.

I'm thinking a 12V, LED reading lamp would be ideal. If you have a reading light that works well for you aboard please let me know. Thank you.

[Bill O]

We use the clip on book lights similar to these.

Unlike hard mounted lights they are portable and more directed light to read by.

[Orion Jim]

I changed over all my lighting to LED two years ago. It took me a while to find a light which had the “warmth” I like for reading. Many LED fixtures are very “cold” and harsh on the eyes. I’m very satisfied with my selection and they are real misers when it comes to consumed amp hours.
https://www.defender.com/product.jsp...541&id=3300505

[Bill Seal]

Put in a USB charger outlet and use one of these
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/jansjoe...lack-70291232/

[RobTryon]

We really like these.
https://www.alpenglowlights.com/stor...th-lights.html

[Bycrick]

+1 on the Alpenglow. Installed one maybe ten years ago. Nice comfortable light to read by in my berth.

[Cheechako]

I'd probably go with a small gooseneck style at your favorite reading location and located near to you, not overhead, one you can direct readily to your book.

[cat34shamrock]

You may be able to change the lights (bulbs) to ones with more lumens. Also check the warmth (color) I bought from this company to change out my halogen and incandescent bulbs, very happy with the results.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/

Jim

[Jazzrockskier]

I just checked the Alpenglow website, they are out of stock on two lamps and the third is discontinued due to supplier problems.

[TrentePieds]

Any light fixture that takes an old-fashioned incandescent bulb with a single filament and a bayonet socket can be most conveniently and cheaply converted LED.

Conversion "bulbs" sell for about 15 or 20 buxapiece. "Bulbs" that have individual little emitters with yellow faces emit light with a colour temperature that is like that of the old incandescents, whereas the "bulbs" with clear emitters have a colour temperature near that of "cool" fluorescent lights.

Any serious chandler will have the conversion bulbs. Power consumption is about a tenth of that of incandescents of similar luminosity. And they last forever, so spend your maintenance money on consumables rather than on replacing fifty year old fixtures. Old fixtures also last forever.

TrentePieds

[joelhemington]

If color is an issue for you, understand that lamp color is based on the Kelvin scale with 3500K (light white) being as near to natural light as possible. 3000K (warm white) is on the red side of the spectrum so softer and the most common Cool White, is 4100k which gives a blueish light subconsciously making you think its brighter. This is not true as lamps of the same wattage will have the same lumen output regardless of color. What you're seeing is glare because most interiors are tannish in color and the blue light doesn't absorb as well. For interior lighting 3000K is very popular as it enhances the look of your wood work and provides less glare (unless you painted your boat blue)

[mikereed100]

Those Alpenglows look like nice lights, but they cost more than my first car!

[jamhass]

+1 on Alpenglow
Failing that, I like the gooseneck style. Ours were inexpensive halogen lights from West M that I simply replaced the halogens with equivalent plug-compatible LEDs.

[Macblaze]

As an alternative, I picked up one of these because the light switches in our berth mean having to actually get out to turn them off. Runs on batteries and 120v and last forever...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NIBRH4/

[Madehn]

I completely redid my entire boat with alpenglow -- give them a call sometimes they have one sitting around the shop that is not on their webpage inventory- they worked well with me and their quality was very good-- they are not cheap but I was happy