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32 volt lighting

Discussion in 'Electronics' started by Matt46post, Jan 9, 2017.

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  1. Matt46post, Jan 9, 2017
    #1
    Matt46post

    Matt46post Senior Member

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    Hi
    I am looking at a 1978 Bertram 58 sport fisher with 32volt systems , I want to update the lighting thru-out the boat with new led puck light fixtures , are they available? this is probably a stupid question but will the 24 volt fixtures work? The boat needs a lot of work and changing out starters ,alternators voltage regulators ,heads,pumps etc wouldnt be that much of an issue because it probably all needs attention , but I don't want to change out the wiring, being that the existing wire will handle 32volts should 24volt fixtures be ok with with the wiring? , I have considered setting up a 24volt panel next to the 32volt panel and 24volt battery bank and just move over lights, heads ,pumps etc as I change them out., but I am ok with the 32volt system ,I am not much of an electrician ,I just want to be able to buy the cool fixtures, any advice would be greatly appreciated
    Thanks
    Matt
  2. Pascal, Jan 10, 2017
    #2
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    While most 24v fixture may be marked 12-30v making you believe 32v would be close enough keep in mind that while charging voltages can reach 36, 37v. You need 32v fixtures or bulbs which are a bit hard to find

    Instead of using LED fixture, look for halogen pucks and swap the G4 bi pin bulbs with halogen replacement. Cheaper and probably easier to find

    Switching lighting to 24 v leds can be done with the existing wiring since the leds use a lot less power. Now when it comes to pumps, heads, etc you may have issues especially with 40 year old wiring which was probably untinned
  3. Dave Stranks, Jan 10, 2017
    #3
    Dave Stranks

    Dave Stranks Member

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    I put an LED rated 12>30 in a 32 volt socket
    burnt out quick and boy did it stink
    We moved a lot of 32 over to 24 v and main lighting from 32 to 115 v --135 swirly fluorescents bulbs worth as they burn out we go to LED
    Usually every area has its own fuse like outside deck lights so it was simple to make a separate bank of 24 on the panel and switch wires.
    We have 12 v 24v 32v 115v 230v in our main panel a lot of tight work to getting it looking good
  4. Capt J, Jan 10, 2017
    #4
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    There is a brand of LED lights that are rated 10-36 volts. I forgot which brand it was. But they will obviously work with 32 volts and charging system going up to 36 volts. I would use g IV fixtures for 24 volt and the LED replacement bulbs. BUT make sure the 10 watt LED replacements will fit in the fixtures. I'd recommend thinking about switching the boat to 24 volt OR you can get Newmar DC to DC converters to go from 32 volts to 24 volts and solve the voltage problem that way. The wiring is absolutely heavy enough to go to 24 volt bulbs if you go to LED. LED uses about 1/10th of the electricity of halogens. I did a boat with 65 bulbs and converted it to LED, with ALL 65 bulbs lit (24 volts) we were using 1.8 amps of electricity. A MAJOR improvement, before everytime I'd walk on the bulb 2 bulbs were out somewhere, and a lot less heat load, the 10 watt replacements are brighter than the 20 watt halogens they replaced, and in over a year of heavy usage no failures.

    RCRAPPS and I have very different ideas on 32 volt systems. He likes to keep them. I find it's getting very hard to find 32 volt items and prefer to convert to 24 volts if it's feasible. I'm repairing the vessels, not owning them, and spending 2 hours on the internet looking for a 32 volt part is not my idea of fun.
  5. Capt Ralph, Jan 10, 2017
    #5
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    In the fame of 32Vdc systems, it takes planing and spares. I'm currently stocking 32 & 48Vdc parts for other customers.
    NO, there is not 32Vdc parts on most walk in suppliers shelves. They are available on order. AND not in the wide available of options as 12 & 24Vdc components.

    I shop e-bay and other venues. I have brand new 800 GPH, 32V pumps on hand as an example. Out of production for many years.

    Sadly, the newer LED devices will not reliably work on the 32 to 38Vdc scale. I have advised to tap off the third battery (24Vdc) to run these options.
    Many of my customers have done so very well and report good results.

    When I started here on YF, (check my dates), I was concerned about 32Vdc. I have no worries now.

    I do agree with Skippy J that one at a time 32Vdc option shopping is a pain and is a billable time in resourcing. Planing and stocking spares reduces these sudden pains in the check book.

    Be the Boy Scout in you,,, Be prepared,,, And 32Vds systems will not be an issue.
  6. Matt46post, Jan 10, 2017
    #6
    Matt46post

    Matt46post Senior Member

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    Thanks guys for all the info, has anybody used a inline 32v to 24v converter ? It seems finding nice/contemporary 32 volt heads is tough, but $150 converter with each 12-24volt head might do the trick? If your going add in new puck lights in all your cielings thru-out can't you just run a converter for the new wiring?i would assume the cost savings and the available selection of new 12-24 volt fixtures,heads etc ..more than out ways the costs of having to buy 32v products?
  7. Capt J, Jan 10, 2017
    #7
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yes, a 1979 58' Hatteras YF had a Newmar 32v-24v dc to dc converters for each Vaccuflush head and it ran the head just fine with no issues. I was involved with the boat for over 5 years and we never had an issue with it.

    There's a cheap dc-dc 15-55volt to 12 volt converter from Marine Beam just for LED lighting and would be easy to hook up for each area. It's $29.99
  8. Capt Ralph, Jan 10, 2017
    #8
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    If you really have a hard on for 24Vdc, just tap off the 3rd battery. No converter needed. That's the real positive of the system.
    Keep moving your breakers to a 24Vdc buss till all is converted.
    My point is with planning and spares, you don't have to convert.
  9. Capt J, Jan 10, 2017
    #9
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    He wants to put in new toilets. The only 32 volt toilets I know of are the old style Galley Maid toilets.
  10. Capt Ralph, Jan 10, 2017
    #10
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Raritan still supports their 32Vdc Crown heads.
    I believe they still offer newer heads in 32Vdc.
    Headhunter also (although, it's just a water (adder) valve here).

    But, still, if needed tap the top of the third battery for a great 24Vdc.
  11. Matt46post, Jan 11, 2017
    #11
    Matt46post

    Matt46post Senior Member

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    Wow thanks for all the info , these forums are really a wealth of info, I don't have a problem running 32volts on a boat,it probably nice to have the extra juice in the mechanicals and pumps , the real issue for the amount of time and money it takes to do a remodel/refit on your boat interior, it's always nice to be able to have the maximum choices for light fixtures and heads, I am kinda of an interior design nut, and from what I have been reading on the forums is you can get parts and rebuilt components for old school 32v fixtures and heads, it just seems like all the companies are putting there R&D into building 12-24volt stuff, so your stuck paying top dollar to keep old parts and technology, it's like remodeling your kitchen at home and using reusing the flourescent light fixtures and putting a $600 new compressor in an 40 year refrigerator that burns 3 times the energy and doesn't make ice
  12. Caltexflanc, Jan 11, 2017
    #12
    Caltexflanc

    Caltexflanc Senior Member

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  13. Matt46post, Jan 13, 2017
    #13
    Matt46post

    Matt46post Senior Member

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    Has anybody reconditioned dead batteries?the boat has been sitting for several years , in the past I have bought reconditioned marine battery's and had good luck with them, I would assume the reconditioners are just changing out the fluids in the batteries and seeing if they will take a charge again, if they do hold a charge they resell them as reconditioned , being this boat is in Hawaii and is 32 volt, I could spend $3500-5k on new batteries, and they look like a project to get in and out of the boat,it would be nice to try and recondition them first, does anybody have any or experience reconditioning batteries ?
    Thanks
    Matt
  14. Capt Ralph, Jan 13, 2017
    #14
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Where you once a snail boter?
  15. Capt J, Jan 13, 2017
    #15
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Uhhhhhhhhh NO. I wouldn't touch reconditioned batteries. I dealt with those when I owned a used car lot decades ago and half of the time a few months later they were bad again. JUNK. As bad as they are to change, think of how bad it would be to change them twice. Buy new batteries and be prepared to change them every 2.5-3 years usually......
  16. Matt46post, Jan 14, 2017
    #16
    Matt46post

    Matt46post Senior Member

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    i have had good and bad luck with reconditioned batteries , when I owned several auto dismantling yards I sold many batteries to the battery rebuilders ,so the price was right (free)and they always warranty them for me,they had contracts to replace emergency generator batteries every 18months regardless of condition and they were catapillar batteries like new, As a hobby I have rebuilt several sunk and burned yachts I bought from insurance companies over the years and tended to put cheap batteries in them because I would usually sell the boats within 12 months........not sure what a snail boter is ,but if I buy an old Bertram should I expect to become a "snail boter"?.. big thing is getting them in and out, I thought if I could buy a chemical powder or change out the battery fluid where they sit in the boat for a couple bucks and a couple hours of time ,see if they hold a charge and I get the boat started and check the systems ,and then change out the battery's when the boats at the yard when the refit is done, I have put new batteries on a boat and a year later when the project is done the batteries have to be replaced because they weren't cared for by the people doing the work on the boat, i like new batteries to be one of the last things I buy during a project
  17. Ormond Bert54, Jan 14, 2017
    #17
    Ormond Bert54

    Ormond Bert54 Senior Member

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    If you are upgrading this boat, you will want 24v available and a NewMar converter or two is a great solution in my opinion. New toilets will be one of the best upgrades you can make. I'm very happy with my Raritan Atlantis toilets. I believe mine are 24v even though I think they were available in 32v.
  18. retired, Apr 4, 2017
    #18
    retired

    retired New Member

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    what is options on a 32 volt system on a boat should it be changed to a 12or 24 volt system???
  19. Capt Ralph, Apr 4, 2017
    #19
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Leave it alone.

    If you really, really must, 24Vdc.
    The wires will be to thin to deliver 12Vdc current.

    This thread and others some of us agree, some don't on converting to 24Vdc.

    I started working on my 32Vdc Bertram over 12 years ago. Still a 32Vdc boat.
    I have no problems.
  20. retired, Apr 4, 2017
    #20
    retired

    retired New Member

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    ok what about getting parts light bulbs- starters and alternators etc. and price on 32 volt parts and availability of them
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