Location of transformer for salon and MSR overhead lights?

Hello, I am new to this site and have a 2000 43 Ocean SS as well. I agree with your comment about the halogen fixtures and would like to upgrade. Were you able to find the transformers?

My Ocean is more vintage but the halogen lights in the salon are 120 volts, the controller is on the Stbd post and wired to the AC. I have two lighting circuits. Wondering if you have 10 12v bulbs wired in series and driven by 120 volts?

No you cannot wire 10 bulbs is series. You have a couple of options. You can leave the switch at 120v, then after the switch install a LED driver rated for the appropriate wattage. Then from the driver go to the lights that are already wired in parallel. I did this on my Hatteras.

You can probably also find a LED driver / switch that will fit where your existing switch is. This would be a nice option as it would probably be dimmable.

https://www.amazon.com/Diode-LED-12...switch+driver&qid=1552237549&s=gateway&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/PLUSPOE-Dimm...switch+driver&qid=1552237549&s=gateway&sr=8-7

I have 1992 42’, are you sure you lights are wired to 120 AC side of your breaker panel? All of my original gold rimed recessed lights in the salon, galley, over step going below, head, guest and bow master staterooms are wired to the 12V DC side. All the bulbs are Halogen 10 w G4 bi-pin base, on either a dimmer rotating knob that does not turn fully off or on a separate on/off switch. There are 2 exceptions, in the head and over the steps I have replaced the halogens with Scandvik G4 Led side pin, 12 & 24 volts DC, bulbs #41030P 10w (very bright) and #41020P 5w. I tried the Scandvik bulb on the dimmer but I’m guessing since it could not be fully turned off there was enough current passing through the dimmer they would softly glow. I think I have found a dimmer online that will work, just have not pulled the trigger yet. All that being said, I also have fluorescent lights in the salon mount in a valence over the port & starboard side and over the back bulkhead, wired to 120 AC. I have thought about go to all new Led fixtures, but I think I would open up the headliner and that’s not going to happen.

I installed the same Scandvik bulbs on a 62' Sunseeker 3 years ago. 65 of them to be exact. We have not had a single failure and they dim perfectly and do shut off with the factory Sunseeker dimmer switches.

Trak: He is looking for his transformer, I'm suggesting that he may not have a transformer.

If he does not have a transformer, the suggestions I had will work for him. They are both 120v to 12vdc options. The dimming looks like PWM dimming.

If the OP does have a transformer that is 120vac to 12vac, then the ac/dc leds will work. I have found longer bulb life with led drivers rather than running them with 12vac.

Hi Prospective, I am now seeing this post, but I recently had this same issue with the 43. I found the transformer behind the wooden panel on the aft stbd side of the salon next to the salon door. The boat came with half the salon lights wired to the DC panel and the next half to the AC panel.

Hi prospective, that is not a bad idea. the transformer for my salon lights went bad, and I thought about putting all the lights as 12 volt, but then the hassle of running the extra 12 volt wire looked to be more difficult than replacing the transformer. So I chose to do that instead.

Prospective. Transformers are AC only devices. They are not required on the DC side. Bulbs must match voltage supplied to fixtures. Sometimes a DC voltage reducer is used to step down the DC from 36v to 24 or 12v

Can't you people just simply follow the wires on a 43' boat?

Capt J Capt Ralph, I appreciate your good advice and assistance as always, but if you look up at post 10, you will see where I have done just what you have said to do. So I dont quite understand your comments. Also sometimes its worth spending a few minutes asking a question on a forum instead of needlessly ripping apart panels and headliners looking for an AC to DC converter that is not shown in the wiring diagram.