Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Low-cost reed switches and computer fans, revisited, along with low-amp lighting
My apologies for taking so long to get this info. I've been living on
the boat full time while I refit in a frenzy, trying to beat the deadline of having to go in for surgery, already once delayed. The data was at home, 650 miles away, where I went last weekend. So, here you go: www.1coolpc.com for the low-draw fans. I used Vantec http://www.1coolpc.com/stealth.htm 120mm Stealth (.08A, 53CFM, 1500RPM, $17) for the spillover and two 60mm Stealth (08A, 12CFM, 2600RPM,$9). His standard deal is to throw in a freebie fan, too www.electronix.com for the NO/NC reed magnetic microswitches. I used part 97-132, $1.99 each http://www.electronix.com/catalog/pr...ducts_id/12714 I'm going to be using 2x 3-cluster (White - ULITE-W3, $3.95) LEDs http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...i?product=UTIL to light the reefer, and one to light the freezer. The switch will turn on the LED, and turn off the circulating fans and the spillover fan, when the door is opened. I'll also use these microswitches and the 3-cluster LEDs for dim lighting in each of the closets and storage areas with doors. For about 6 bux and negligible other costs, as I'll do them myself, we'll always be able to see what's in the closet. Right now, I'm playing with LED rope lighting, having just gotten my first roll, red. So far I've only cut one section, and will put it next to the 4' fluorescent that I put up in the walkthrough/workshop, with an on/off/on red/white switch. However, until I take that fixture down to make the mounting for it, I've got it draped over a couple of places in the nav station. There's ample light to read by, but it's red, hallelujah, for night vision. This segment is spoken for, and thus not any other than just draped, but I'd have to figure out how to mount it so it was tastefully seen/not seen, and not in a position to shine in my eyes. Behind the fixture in the walkthrough, it will be stupendous. I'm hopeful, as easy as it appears to work with (aside from having to figure out how to mount it so it doesn't look like Christmas decoration, easy in under-cabinet and behind-fascia locations but not necessarily so everywhere), that I'll be able to do ambient lighting in amber in most places, but in particular, in the cockpit, for the most-of-the-time leisure we'll spend there. I'm leaning toward running up the bows of the bimini, if I could manage it, and just put the red on the binnacle frame,as in the 8' or so of that length, there would be ample red light - perhaps even too much, and I'd want to make it smaller. Red (and amber) light is about .15A per meter, so we don't have to be stingy with the length! Amortized, if I were to do 4' sections for each light (which, of course, could be longer or shorter, with ~1" per bulb in the rope), adding the additional cost of extra plugs, each would be under $10. It's only because I'm adding the 1.95 per extra plug that it's that much, as 5 come with the roll, along with 150 mounting clips. Max run for 12V operations is ~20m - but that only affects my original thought of outlining my stays at anchor, an admittedly affectatious thought based on, several years ago, having seen a marvelous schooner so rigged during one of the legs of a circumnav with my ex-father-in-law where we crewed in order to see if Lydia really wanted to do this :{)) Hope this is helpful to those who asked, and again I apologize for the delay. L8R Skip, refitting as fast as I can Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig http://tinyurl.com/384p2 - The vessel as Tehamana, as we bought her "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain |