Does anyone know why my replacement lamps, led, dont light brightly? I've tested the led lamp at home with a 12 volt battery and its bright. When I attach it to the existing wires it barely lights.
Does anyone know why my replacement lamps, led, dont light brightly? I've tested the led lamp at home with a 12 volt battery and its bright. When I attach it to the existing wires it barely lights.
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Corroded contacts. Measure the voltage of the light fixture when the bulb is on. I would think the incandescent would have the same problem.
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
That is on my list of things to do. After buying a volt meter :-) I guess my fear, since the boat is so old, I will have to run wire to all the light fixtures. The incandescents work ok, btw. Prob a little dimmer than when they were new. That's begs another question any advice on re wiring the old Cat?
You may just have to clean the contacts in the fixture with an emery board. Usually, the mechanical connections are the problem rather than the wire. Buy a cheap volt meter and have at it. Make sure you measure the battery voltage first so you have a starting point and reference voltage. This might be a good time to change to LED's.
The bulbs in the original cabin lights in the MK I are single contact type BA 15.
One note, if you still have the original lighting fixtures for the MK I and plan to use those fixtures to accomidate newer LED bulbs - you may find that the shaft of the LED bulbs are too short and the bulb will not not be long enough in to the older fixture. In that case, you can remove white reflector portion of the fixtures innards and this will give you adaquate space to fit the new bulbs in to the original MK I light fixture.
You might try these, or similar bulbs from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TKI4VU?pf_rd_r=Z51XHKDGGDEZF1M80RR...
Bill
Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041 'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'