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How Many Galley Lights do you use?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:57 pm
by Siouxgirl2
I am trying to decide on galley lights. How bright do you need the galley and how many lights do you install there? I figure that area will be used a lot for and I want to make sure it is not to dim to enjoy. What suggestions are out there for appropriate galley lights. Do florescent strips add better lighting? I was looking at some long florescent strips and am wondering about installing a few of those. I did see a thread where someone used a few porch lights for galley lighting. Suggestions?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:07 pm
by Mightydog
We have two, each about a third of the way in from the side on the hatch so they're directly over head. They are on their own switches so you can have one or the other or both on depending on the need. We did this because if you have one light, the shadow is always on your work, no matter where you are in the galley. With two lights, the shadows pretty much go away. It's a little too bright for my wife, but I like how bright the galley lights up.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:13 pm
by Siouxgirl2
Thanks Mightydog. Do you have two of the florescent strips or two of the porch lights? The shadow elimination makes sense. This is the kind of feedback I'm looking for.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:20 pm
by Cliffmeister2000
I have one light, it's a porch style. However, in hindsight, I wish I had two independant lights. My light broke once, and if I have been camping, I would have been in trouble. It's on my to-do list to add a second.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:30 pm
by planovet
I use a single fluorescent light in my galley and it provides more than enough light for my taste. When I'm camping I don't like a lot of harsh light anyway. The light has 2 small fluorescent tubes in it. I also have some red LED lights on the hatch for mood lighting. Sometimes it's all I need to grab something quick and it won't ruin my night vision.

Here is a LINK to a similar light on eBay. I have no affiliation with the seller.

The first picture is in a dark garage with the fluorescent light on. The second pic is with the LEDs on.


Image

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PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:53 pm
by mwallace61
Not to be a thread robber, but are the lights you have LED's or something else, and are they 12v or 110?

Mike

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:26 pm
by Aaron Coffee
On #1 I have an led light strip that is sold at Menards as a display cabinet light, it comes in a couple different lengths. It has 5 leds in it, and gives a nice light that is not too bright and not too dim. It is in the cabin but on #2 I plan to use one in the galley and then also will have an as of yet undecided on 12 volt light.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:59 pm
by Woodbutcher
I used 3 in the hatch. They came out of an early 90's Buick if I remember right. Picked them up at a junk yard for 2 bucks each. I have them wired so I can turn them all on seperately as needed. The dome light has 3 lights in it.




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PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:02 pm
by Shadow Catcher
Two LED puck lights under the top cabinet one G4 marine LED light next to the cook top. I am thinking once we have the rear awning/shelter/tent I may put in reading lights on the galley hatch.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:10 pm
by Miriam C.
We have a florescent light at the top of the counter and one on the top shelf. There is a stick on puck light for low light needs. I also use an orange rope light for night. Lots of light and no bugs. If I were going to make something complicated in that galley I would want more light.

The other nice thing about the rope light is it doesn't blind you if you are walking up to it. Nice way to find the TD in the dark...........

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PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:22 pm
by Juneaudave
One 12v Lil Bear (I think)...it is plenty for the work surface for what I do.

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PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:25 pm
by Sparksalot
I'm supposed to use lights?? Aw rats, I knew I forgot something.





When I find some I like, I'll probably use two.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:02 pm
by bdosborn
I used three LED lights. One big one for the counter/upper cabinets and two little ones for the lower cabinet faces.

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Bruce

P.S. I had a fluorescent light but the tubes kept burning out in cold weather. So I gutted it and stuck an LED strip light in it.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:08 am
by Mightydog
We have two dome lights that look like this one:
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:27 am
by bobhenry
Being a cheap skate, I gutted a battery back up emergency exit sign. This gave me 2 ~ 25 watt 120 volt ac lights and 2 ~ 7 watt 12 volt dc lights. It has proven to be plenty of light to work by whether we are with ac power or off grid and relying on the onboard battery.