Panel lights?
 

The switch panel at the helm of my boat is very well laid out and marked,
but for whatever reason, is not lit. While running at night, it's not
possible to see which switch is which without turning on an overhead light
or using a flashlight.

I'm a pilot and know that on the instrument panels of many airplanes, there
are small "post lights". These lights illuminate the instruments if they
are not back lit. They have a small hood on them so they don't shine in
your face, but on the panel instead. Something like this would be a perfect
solution to my problem...just drill a small hole and mount the light and
wire it up, however, I doubt seriously that they are water proof.

I just spent several minutes searching the web for something similar to this
for marine use, and came up empty handed.

Does anyone know of a source for these, or perhaps a better solution to the
problem?

Thanks!

Gary

Go to e-bay and do a search for LED lights. You can get a set of 10 LEDs
and resistors needed to connect to 12vDC power for about $10.00. Then you
will need a cover of some kind. I have a friend that owns a marina and I
get little black covers used for covering the transom holes for depth finder
transducers. They are small black plastic covers w/ a bubble in them for
the wire. LED fits perfect.

Or you could try this. It is an LED step light (may be too bright though).
http://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cgi...t_id=861337213

Or you could try this. May be a bit big though.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....ref=25&loc=YHS

Tony


"Gary" wrote in message
om...
The switch panel at the helm of my boat is very well laid out and marked,
but for whatever reason, is not lit. While running at night, it's not
possible to see which switch is which without turning on an overhead light
or using a flashlight.

I'm a pilot and know that on the instrument panels of many airplanes,
there
are small "post lights". These lights illuminate the instruments if they
are not back lit. They have a small hood on them so they don't shine in
your face, but on the panel instead. Something like this would be a
perfect
solution to my problem...just drill a small hole and mount the light and
wire it up, however, I doubt seriously that they are water proof.

I just spent several minutes searching the web for something similar to
this
for marine use, and came up empty handed.

Does anyone know of a source for these, or perhaps a better solution to
the
problem?

Thanks!

Gary

Or change the switch to one with a lighted toggle.
Bill

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:4HLAd.659001$D%.291403@attbi_s51...
Go to e-bay and do a search for LED lights. You can get a set of 10 LEDs
and resistors needed to connect to 12vDC power for about $10.00. Then you
will need a cover of some kind. I have a friend that owns a marina and I
get little black covers used for covering the transom holes for depth
finder
transducers. They are small black plastic covers w/ a bubble in them for
the wire. LED fits perfect.

Or you could try this. It is an LED step light (may be too bright
though).

http://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cgi...t_id=861337213

Or you could try this. May be a bit big though.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....ref=25&loc=YHS

Tony


"Gary" wrote in message
om...
The switch panel at the helm of my boat is very well laid out and
marked,
but for whatever reason, is not lit. While running at night, it's not
possible to see which switch is which without turning on an overhead
light
or using a flashlight.

I'm a pilot and know that on the instrument panels of many airplanes,
there
are small "post lights". These lights illuminate the instruments if
they
are not back lit. They have a small hood on them so they don't shine in
your face, but on the panel instead. Something like this would be a
perfect
solution to my problem...just drill a small hole and mount the light and
wire it up, however, I doubt seriously that they are water proof.

I just spent several minutes searching the web for something similar to
this
for marine use, and came up empty handed.

Does anyone know of a source for these, or perhaps a better solution to
the
problem?

Thanks!

Gary

I bought a light at Pep Boys for about $3. It's about 2" long and hooded. I
either used red nail polish on the bulb or bought a red bulb - don't
remember. The hood didn't block enough of the light from view, so I extended
the hood by lining the inside of the lens with foil; it blocks the light,
and reflects it. I mounted it so it would cast light on my row of switches.
I've been satisfied with it for over a year and it's helpful to others using
the boat who aren't familiar with the switches - now they can read the
labels. Cheaper than replacing all switches with illuminated toggles.

"Gary" wrote in message
om...
The switch panel at the helm of my boat is very well laid out and marked,
but for whatever reason, is not lit. While running at night, it's not
possible to see which switch is which without turning on an overhead light
or using a flashlight.

I'm a pilot and know that on the instrument panels of many airplanes,
there
are small "post lights". These lights illuminate the instruments if they
are not back lit. They have a small hood on them so they don't shine in
your face, but on the panel instead. Something like this would be a
perfect
solution to my problem...just drill a small hole and mount the light and
wire it up, however, I doubt seriously that they are water proof.

I just spent several minutes searching the web for something similar to
this
for marine use, and came up empty handed.

Does anyone know of a source for these, or perhaps a better solution to
the
problem?

Thanks!

Gary

Hmmmmmm,,,sounds like a neat product, but I really don't want to have to go
and replace all of my switches. I'd rather just add a small light that
would light up the panel so that I could see the labeling of all switches
whether they were on or off.

Here's what they use on many aircraft panels:

http://www.edmo.com/s4/A350CNWBS4.asp


This would be ideal, but since it's not really made for marine use, I don't
know how well they would hold up.


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Somebody is now building rocker switches that are internally illuminated.
The
switch function is cast into the face, with translucent letters. When a
switch
is engaged at night, it is easy to see that the switch is on as it will be
illuminated. The labeling discourages the accidental selection of an
unwanted,
but adjacent switch.

Gary wrote:
The switch panel at the helm of my boat is very well laid out and marked,
but for whatever reason, is not lit. While running at night, it's not
possible to see which switch is which without turning on an overhead light
or using a flashlight.

I'm a pilot and know that on the instrument panels of many airplanes, there
are small "post lights". These lights illuminate the instruments if they
are not back lit. They have a small hood on them so they don't shine in
your face, but on the panel instead. Something like this would be a perfect
solution to my problem...just drill a small hole and mount the light and
wire it up, however, I doubt seriously that they are water proof.

I just spent several minutes searching the web for something similar to this
for marine use, and came up empty handed.

Does anyone know of a source for these, or perhaps a better solution to the
problem?

Thanks!

Gary


I have an old aircraft cockpit light in my old cargo van. It
illuminates the heater controls, doghouse deck, radio and the
ashtray. It is dimmable, steerable, focusable, and has a filter for
red or white light. It was durable enough to serve in an aircraft
for ten years, and then in several trucks for another ten, after I
repaired it grom scrap. It has never even needed a light bulb
except the 12 V replacement for it's original 24 v lamp. I will take
it to my next old cargo van.

Today, I would get an LED and make a focus tube to illuminate only
desired areas.

That should work. I don't think you will get enough water on it to hurt as
it appears to have a housing around that would help protect it.
Only problem I see is how far out it sticks. I would constantly hit it
probably.

Tony


"Gary" wrote in message
om...
Hmmmmmm,,,sounds like a neat product, but I really don't want to have to
go
and replace all of my switches. I'd rather just add a small light that
would light up the panel so that I could see the labeling of all switches
whether they were on or off.

Here's what they use on many aircraft panels:

http://www.edmo.com/s4/A350CNWBS4.asp


This would be ideal, but since it's not really made for marine use, I
don't
know how well they would hold up.


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Somebody is now building rocker switches that are internally
illuminated.
The
switch function is cast into the face, with translucent letters. When a
switch
is engaged at night, it is easy to see that the switch is on as it will
be
illuminated. The labeling discourages the accidental selection of an
unwanted,
but adjacent switch.

Many of the illuminated switches are only illuminated when they are in the
"on" position. That doesn't help you find the switch to turn it on.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Somebody is now building rocker switches that are internally illuminated.
The
switch function is cast into the face, with translucent letters. When a
switch
is engaged at night, it is easy to see that the switch is on as it will be
illuminated. The labeling discourages the accidental selection of an
unwanted,
but adjacent switch.

Many of the illuminated switches are only illuminated when they are in the
"on" position. That doesn't help you find the switch to turn it on.


I think the function is based on the principle that a boater will know where
the bank of switches is located. After very little time with a boat, one will
know the general order in which the switches are arranged.
The illuminated switch will confirm that the
circuit completed is the one intended.

I guess so, but if you could actually see the switches before you turn them
on, it would eliminate the need to count switches in the dark. I have 14
switches on my panel. The windshield wiper switch is right beside the horn
switch. If it's drizzling lightly, and I don't want to leave the wipers on
all the time, I must toggle it on and off periodically and have to count
switches to make sure that I'm not blowing the horn by accident.

I like the idea of an illuminated switch, but still need the actual panel
illuminated as well.


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Many of the illuminated switches are only illuminated when they are in
the
"on" position. That doesn't help you find the switch to turn it on.


I think the function is based on the principle that a boater will know
where
the bank of switches is located. After very little time with a boat, one
will
know the general order in which the switches are arranged.
The illuminated switch will confirm that the
circuit completed is the one intended.