Anyone Added LED strip lighting to Cutwater Cabin

[wabislander]

We are looking to enhance our cabin lighting without using the intense cabin lights. Wondering if anyone has added any type of LED strip lighting on the track above the window trim?

 

[GaylesFaerie]

I replaced the cabin overhead lights (yes they are bright) with smart LEDs that have 3 brightness settings: low, med and high. You install them and done. You just flip the rocker switch multiple times to change the setting. The hardest part of the whole upgrade is getting the trim off the lights to expose the bulb. Check out MarineBeam.com

HTH, Gary

 

[gallatintug]

Hey Gary. Any hints on best method to get the trim off? I have a C28 but it's likely the lights are the same. We were also looking into a solution to dim the lights. Thanks.

Robin

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Hi Robin, just to be sure we are talking about the same gear, here is a picture of the light I am referring to:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0TvPuLN ... Mc4vsiuPSA

...its the light on the right side of the photo with the multi-faceted lens.

Once you get the trim off it will look like this:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0HN6hWy ... eo3tqvr03Q

You can just barely see the small cut out and nub that the trim snugs into at about 12 o'clock on the black ring.

Once the trim ring is off, just grip the small bulb and pull it out firmly but gently. You might need to wiggle it slightly from side to side to work the two prongs out of their sockets. Here is what the stock bulb looks like:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0sjge0W ... 0VdrVPCgDg

Here is a photo with the LED installed. It almost looks too big to fit when you take them out of the package but they do fit and are quite easy to just push the two prongs firmly but gently into the receiving socket.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0cSvB7C ... UhjO33gzOw

Removing the trim ring is difficult because its hard to get a good grip on the very shallow trim ring. I tried a few times by hand without success but then one day it seemed my strength, grip, humidity and luck were all in alignment and I was able to twist all four of them counter-clockwise (looking up) and they came right off. Do not use any tools or you will almost surely break or mar them. Also don't try to pry the ring off or evil will ensue.

Good luck, Gary

 

[wabislander]

Gary,
Do you have a link to the exact product you used?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[GaylesFaerie]

wabislander...

https://store.marinebeam.com/9-led-side ... l-dimming/

 

[wabislander]

Thanks

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[SJI Sailor]

FYI just discovered some sockets are different. On our C30 we have the same bulbs but they are surface mounted (wires soldered onto them) with no bi-pin plug. Discovered this only after ordering some bulbs, of course!

For anyone interested, I recommend to check in advance that your bulbs actually have a socket. I could have determined that if I had removed two tiny screws, after taking off the brass&glass cover, and then pulled the bulb fixture down.