450: Replace the stock L450 cabin lights to red/white

[boom23]

Hi all,

Has anyone replaced the stock L450 cabin/cockpit lights with red/white?

Having red cabin lights is so much better than having just a red/white headlamp during night crossings, especially in bad weather with no moon.

The stock lights seem to be sealed but I may try to take one apart to see if I can retrofit them with red/white LED bulbs. Any ideas are appreciated.

Theo.

Blog: http://www.EtVoilaAdventures.blogspot.com

[jbinbi]

I have this same thread posted in the Yahoo lagoon forum .the new boats have sealed 'pucks'. I have not tried to take them apart. Not sure if you can. I did find replacement red whites, but you need to rewire with either another switch or replace current switch with dual throw types, and lead wire back. I was looking to find red whites that would be on off on switchable but have had no luck yet.

I can't get to my computer with the info I have right now, but will post more info later.

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[boom23]

You should not have to replace your wiring and switches in order to have two-color lights. I believe there are two-color light fixtures out there to replace the current fixtures.

In worst case, I would think that one can cut open the plastic back of the Lagoon lights and replace the guts with the two-color G4 LED bulbs. These led bulbs can be found for $9-$25 (all look the same and probably all come from China). You can find them as low as $3-$4 each through Alibaba, but you have to buy 100 of them. For many lights it may worth it though and you'll have many spares. I think the L450 has somewhere between 30 to 40 light fixtures. For now, I'm interested in doing the salon and cockpit only.

I will be back on my boat in November and I will try to take a light apart then. I was hoping that someone has done it already...

[DavefromNZ]

I took a few ceiling panels down recently to access the winch relays. Here is what the lights look like from above:



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[boom23]

Thank you Dave.

There may be a way to remove the face plate without destroying it. I have to see how the light is put together at the factory.

Otherwise, it would be easy to cut the plastic, bend it up, and replace everything inside with a G4 two-color LED bulb. Some crazy glue could put it back together.

It's already on my project list when I get to NZ this November.

Theo.

Blog: http://www.EtVoilaAdventures.blogspot.com

[SkipMark]

MarineBeam makes a switchable red-white LED, starts red when you turn it on, white when you turn it off and on again.
https://store.marinebeam.com/9-led-d...b-bp-g4-09-rw/

Comes with two-prong side or back mount, or bayonet mount. Also other color combinations.

[boom23]

I got few of them and I like them. Many companies are selling them with different prices...

These are the type of led bulbs I plan to use.

[jbinbi]

Here is what the light looks like. I will have to examine it more closely when I am back at the boat, but I think this is sealed. I would love it to be able to be opened and put in a marine beam replacement G4 light, but not sure that could happen.

I did find lights that are red/white with 2 wires that fit the holes. They are from quick marine, i think they are italian, and they the oem manufacturer of the lights on the boat. They have a model with red/white, but it is 2 hot wires. I put one of these in above the nav station, and have that wired for red only.

There is a US subsidiary in MD, which is where I got my lights from.

Also, these guys have lights, but surface mounted and expensive

http://www.i2systems.com/uploads/spe...le_P1120_A.pdf

If you find out if you can open these lights, and put in a red/white replacement, pls let us know. thanks.

[jbinbi]

Originally Posted by DavefromNZ

I took a few ceiling panels down recently to access the winch relays. Here is what the lights look like from above:
Attachment 132155


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Also, you can take the lights out by just pulling them straight down, they are held in their holes by those spring clips, no need to take down a whole panel, though you said you did so to get to the winches.

[tkeithlu]

I replaced the white Halon bulbs above the instrument panel and nav table with white LEDs, and then covered the lens with the red tape you buy at auto parts stores for patching broken tail light lenses. If you can't get them apart to put in red/white LEDs, the red tape is a quick and cheap solution.

[boom23]

Originally Posted by jbinbi

If you find out if you can open these lights, and put in a red/white replacement, pls let us know. thanks.

I will be at my boat beginning of December. I can't do it any sooner.

If anyone has a bad Lagoon ceiling light (the square ones), I would love to get my hands on it... It might be an easy fix.

Let me know,

Theo.

Blog: http://www.Et VoilaAdventures.blogspot.com

[sailingforfun]

We just bought red colored plastic folders from Office Depot, cut them into squares that fit inside the silver frame that goes around the white light bulb. We pop them in for night crossings and take them out afterwards. It was a $10 fix and takes about 10 minutes to change them in and out.

We also cut blue squares to match the exterior deck lights. We pop them in for a softer matching blue light in the aft salon when anchored or docked.

[boom23]

Originally Posted by sailingforfun

We just bought red colored plastic folders from Office Depot, cut them into squares that fit inside the silver frame that goes around the white light bulb. We pop them in for night crossings and take them out afterwards. It was a $10 fix and takes about 10 minutes to change them in and out.

Thank you for the info! Definitely a solution.

How did you insert the red plastic behind the silver frame? I thought the frame wrapped around the plastic. I'm not at the boat...

[John Holbrook]

Green is better than red for night vision.



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[Steve_C]

Originally Posted by John Holbrook

Green is better than red for night vision.

It is a more complicated answer than just color.

EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE (tm) - Green or Red for Better Night Vision?

While the eye's can generally see with green better at lower light levels because the eyes are actually MORE sensitive to green. The actual light LEVEL is what can cause problems. Because the eye is more sensitive to green, it is only beneficial compared to red if you use a lower light level.

I know of several people who actually prefer blue. the most important thing is t o keep the level as low as you can and still see what you need to see.