SHLED

                   Ship's Engineer Antone Durgan

The installation of led tube lights on the F/V Polar Lady was accomplished in the spring of 2013. In 2015 Antone said "The installation of these lights has been dramatic. Nothing has changed in four years. I won't be replacing a ballast or picking up broken glass from an old light. But, really, I'm just looking for a good woman." 

This installation took place in the spring of 2013. The ships voltage is 208VAC, the lighting circuits are 120VAC. Due to the intermittent starting of large motors the voltage regularly fluctuates. In the past this was hard on fluorescent lights and ballasts. A vessel taking stores for 3 months required a few ballasts and a case of glass tubes. With the installation of these new LED tube lights there have been no failures, no requirement for spares.

One of the most common lights shipboard is the 4 ft. fluorescent tube. We replaced these engine room lights with led tube lights. In addition to the fine quality of this lighting, these lights are very rugged and pose almost no handling difficulties.

"We may have to wear sunglasses in the engineroom."

Owner/Skipper

Gary Stewart.

These tube lights operate on line voltages and are not harmed by small voltage fluctuations.