Dimmer switch for ceiling lights

[eheffa]

I have 2008 Safari SE 25FB with the overhead halogen incandescent lights in the main salon & BR.

There are 11 of them in the salon drawing 10 watts each (= 110 watts) or ~ 9.2 amps when on (10 W / 12VDC x 11 = 9.2A).

This is a lot of current & also, quite frankly, unless one is washing the floor or packing things up, they are a little too bright much of the time.

The solution as I see it would be to install a dimmer switch. I have searched for parts online & found a few options like these:

Rotary DC Dimmer - yachtlights.com

IML Rotary Dimmers: Rotary 12 volt DC Dimmers - Rotary 24 volt DC Dimmers - ILDIM and ILVPC Dimmers from SailorSams.com

West Marine: Digital Dimmers Product Display

I wonder if anyone else has tried doing this & have any experience or tips to share?

Thanks.

-evan

[lewster]

evan,

Dimmers will decrease the amount of light that your halogens emit, but the voltage draw will be the same unless you use the very expensive electronic type of dimmers.

A better solution might be converting your halogens to G-4 LED bulbs from IMTRA Marine. These are direct replacements for your 10 watt halogens and come in the warm white color value, but emit only about 60% of the light, which definitely tones down the 'runway' lighting you now have.

Other benefits are greatly reduced current draw (for boondocking) and virtually lifetime longevity of the bulbs.

Originally Posted by eheffa

I have 2008 Safari SE 25FB with the overhead halogen incandescent lights in the main salon & BR.

There are 11 of them in the salon drawing 10 watts each (= 110 watts) or ~ 9.2 amps when on (10 W / 12VDC x 11 = 9.2A).

This is a lot of current & also, quite frankly, unless one is washing the floor or packing things up, they are a little too bright much of the time.

The solution as I see it would be to install a dimmer switch. I have searched for parts online & found a few options like these:

Rotary DC Dimmer - yachtlights.com

IML Rotary Dimmers: Rotary 12 volt DC Dimmers - Rotary 24 volt DC Dimmers - ILDIM and ILVPC Dimmers from SailorSams.com

West Marine: Digital Dimmers Product Display

I wonder if anyone else has tried doing this & have any experience or tips to share?

Thanks.

-evan

[eheffa]

Hi Lew,

Thanks for your suggestions.

I have considered LED's & might go that route for some of the dual task lights to use for boondocking but thought I would try the dimmer route for the overhead salon lights first. LED's unfortunately will not allow the use of dimmers.

My understanding is that a decent electronic dimmer will reduce electrical consumption by increasing resistance through the circuit & reducing the light and the current draw and the same time. A dimmer that dies this without reducing the overall current would be quite wasteful & a potential hazard as it would produce a lot of heat as a by-product...?

Anyways, I have found another source for a 12V dimmer made by the same company that makes the original equipment switches in the unit (American Technology Components)

See:
NEW RV AUTO TRAILER BUS 12V ROCKER SLIDE DIMMER SWITCH - (eBay.ca item 370069549769 end time 23-Jul-08 10:33:11 EDT)

I have ordered a couple of these to try.

-evan