Chest freezer and led lights

[barling]

Being months new with so much to learn and add to our 2014 31S, with a generator and AC, we would like to add another solar panel, led lights and a small freezer to the boat. Looking at a Grape Solar 180 watts and a led anchor light for starters. Where should we buy led lights for the best value? What is the freezer with the lowest draw that really works on DC/AC. We added foam to the forward berth and my wife has made bedding. We always anchor out as we did with our sailboat. I'm building shelving for the galley.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

There have been a couple recent threads concerning LED lights. Don’t buy LEDs based on price. Cheap LEDs produce RF interference that degrades VHF radio communication. On my boat, the WalMart grade LEDs installed by the previous owner even disrupted over-the-air TV reception. The USCG issued an alert about LED RF interference:

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO% ... 091109-630

This is a good place to buy quality LED lighting:

https://store.marinebeam.com/

 

[HookedUp]

Good information on the LEDs. I knew about the noise issue, but hadn't seen the Coast Guard method for testing. I'll do it the next time I'm on the boat.

 

[Red Raven]

Regarding the freezer question this is the chest freezer we use. If fits in our port cockpit locker, uses the least power of any I reviewed (similar or less than the refrigerator in the cabin), and keeps things frozen even in the confined space of the locker with little air flow. I removed the handles to make more room.

Engel MR040F-U1 40 Qt AC/DC Portabl...ww.amazon.com/dp/B001SNWCFO/re ... vEbVHYMQ7S[/url]

Love it!

Curt

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Ditto on Marinebeam and Engel. Had both on previous boats. And have Marinebeam LEDs on my tug. Regarding solar, when I upgraded my solar from the factory panel and controller, I went with an LG Neon2 330W single panel with Victron Mppt 100/30 controller and a battery monitor.