| Compare Fluorescent, Halogen, LED and Mercury Vapor Lights |
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| Lights by Comparison |
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| SMD3528 LED's consist of (1) LED per piece SMD5050 LED's are larger and consist of (3) LED's in one |
| What's the Difference in LED's? |
TM
| 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM CT Monday thru Friday |
| An Underwater Fishing Light Company, LLC |
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| Great for Crappie, Flounder, Shrimp, Speckled Trout, Walleye, Smelt, Tuna, White Bass, Lobster, Red Fish, Lady Fish, Snook, Squid & more! |
| Fishing |
| Docks |
"Fluorescent Lights" have become very popular in recent years because of their low voltage draw
on your battery.
The biggest advantage fluorescent lights have over other lights is the low amperage draw from your
battery. Most 4' models only draw 3 to 4 amps which will let you run all night on one battery. Another
advantage is they can be used in the water or out of the water if so desired. While there is an array of
fluorescent lights on the market, we believe the only fluorescent lights bright enough to attract good
numbers of fish are the 4' models which run anywhere from $150 to $250 each.
The biggest disadvantage to Fluorescent Lights is they utilize a ballast which in most cases can not be
replaced by the consumer. The ballast (electronic inverter) takes 12VDC from your battery and
converts it to AC voltage to run the fluorescent lamp. The ballasts are made up of electronic
components which must maintain a constant voltage range in order to work properly. For instance, a
nominally rated 12VDC ballast will operate over a range of 10.5 to 14-volts which is typical of a 12-volt
storage battery during charge and discharge cycles. Operation of the ballasts on higher than rated
voltages (which many times happens using a generator or charger) will result in ballast overheating
and shortened lamp life. Low-Voltage Operation will cause poor lamp starting and excessive
blackening at the ends of the lamp. As you fish with the lights the battery voltage drops and once it
falls below 10.5 volts, damage to the ballast and bulb start to occur. Like any fluorescent lamp, it's not
a matter of if the ballast will burn out, it's a matter of when. So, in order to prolong the ballast, be sure
to operate the light within the required voltage range. Other disadvantages is their large size makes
them hard to store in most boats, most have to have additional weight added to them to fully submerse
them, they only come in one color and they can cost upwards of $300 for a good model.
"Halogen Lights" are probably the most popular lights on the market because of their Small Size,
Lack of Electronics, Brilliant Light Output and Modest Price. Unlike fluorescent lights, halogen lights do
not utilize electronic inverter ballasts, and they are not affected by low voltage or cold water
temperatures. Not all Halogen lights are created equal though. Some halogen lights expose the
halogen bulb directly to the water, which will result in the bulb turning black and burning out. Halogen
bulbs have to burn hot in order to keep the bulb burning bright. For that reason, we would advise
staying away from lights that do not utilize an inner globe. For more information on this see "Halogen
Cycle". Our halogen lights utilize replaceable bulbs which are easily replaced by the consumer and
available at most hardware stores. Their small size makes them easy to store in your tackle box or
glove box, and you can easily change from one color to another with some models. The 300 watt,
120VAC models generate over 4800 lumens and omit more than 1.5 Million Candle Power of light.
The disadvantages of 12VDC halogen lights is their hunger for electricity. Halogen bulbs burn
extremely hot and bright and therefore they require more amperage to run. While you can still get up
to 14.5 hrs. of runtime per battery charge using a 100-watt light, they do require more amperage than
a fluorescent light unless you are using the 120VAC models. Unlike fluorescent lights, Halogen lights
must also be submerged in water to use and can not be used as a utility light. However, since they are
completely submerged under the waters surface, the wind and waves have no affect on them, and
there is no light lost to reflection off the waters surface. Therefore, since Halogen lights cost less than
fluorescent lights, utilize replaceable bulbs, allows color to be changed and are compact and easy to
store, most fisherman feel halogen lights still offer the best value for their money.
"LED Lights" consist of multiple LED's in various colors and configurations. The biggest
advantage LED lights have is over incandescent and CFL lamps is their low amperage draw and
durability. You can run an LED light for days on a single battery charge and since there is no filament
in them they will take a great deal of abuse that other lights will not. Even though LED's project a
pinpoint light which only illuminates straight forward...this can be an advantage to penetrating murky
water if the LED's are configured in such a way as to project a 360 radius.
LED technology has come a long way in the last year, and Fishing Lights Etc. will always be on the
cutting edge of new technology. Our White AquaStar 192 LED light is a favorite for making the
Banjovie Flounder Light Stick and our Magnum 552 LED light are the only White LED lights we
currently make.
Our New AlumiGlo SuperBrite and DockPro Series LED lights are hands down the best
quality...lowest priced LED lights on the market. They are made from all anodized aluminum and use
no plastic or glass. The lights are Unbreakable, Bright, Self Weighted, come in 3-sizes and come in
both 12VDC and 120VAC.
"Mercury Vapor Lights" These high powered lights consist of a 120VAC Mercury Vapor Bulb, a
transformer and some type of weight to keep the light on the bottom. The lights are designed to sit on
the bottom and light up the surrounding water. The good thing about Mercury lights is that they are
very bright! The downside to them is their price ($275 to $400) and their hunger for electricity.
Mercury Vapor lights utilize a transformer that can be troublesome in time and can be quite expensive
to replace. While there are now new models that have replaceable bulbs, the bulbs on most models
are exposed to the water and easily broken. Replacing the bulbs isn't easy or cheap since the bulbs
are epoxied into the socket to waterproof them. The bigger problem is Mercury Vapor lamps have
been targeted as a contributor to pollution and the lamps will no longer be manufactured in the near
future. If you want this type of light...be sure to buy a Sodium light that contains no Mercury.
on your battery.
The biggest advantage fluorescent lights have over other lights is the low amperage draw from your
battery. Most 4' models only draw 3 to 4 amps which will let you run all night on one battery. Another
advantage is they can be used in the water or out of the water if so desired. While there is an array of
fluorescent lights on the market, we believe the only fluorescent lights bright enough to attract good
numbers of fish are the 4' models which run anywhere from $150 to $250 each.
The biggest disadvantage to Fluorescent Lights is they utilize a ballast which in most cases can not be
replaced by the consumer. The ballast (electronic inverter) takes 12VDC from your battery and
converts it to AC voltage to run the fluorescent lamp. The ballasts are made up of electronic
components which must maintain a constant voltage range in order to work properly. For instance, a
nominally rated 12VDC ballast will operate over a range of 10.5 to 14-volts which is typical of a 12-volt
storage battery during charge and discharge cycles. Operation of the ballasts on higher than rated
voltages (which many times happens using a generator or charger) will result in ballast overheating
and shortened lamp life. Low-Voltage Operation will cause poor lamp starting and excessive
blackening at the ends of the lamp. As you fish with the lights the battery voltage drops and once it
falls below 10.5 volts, damage to the ballast and bulb start to occur. Like any fluorescent lamp, it's not
a matter of if the ballast will burn out, it's a matter of when. So, in order to prolong the ballast, be sure
to operate the light within the required voltage range. Other disadvantages is their large size makes
them hard to store in most boats, most have to have additional weight added to them to fully submerse
them, they only come in one color and they can cost upwards of $300 for a good model.
"Halogen Lights" are probably the most popular lights on the market because of their Small Size,
Lack of Electronics, Brilliant Light Output and Modest Price. Unlike fluorescent lights, halogen lights do
not utilize electronic inverter ballasts, and they are not affected by low voltage or cold water
temperatures. Not all Halogen lights are created equal though. Some halogen lights expose the
halogen bulb directly to the water, which will result in the bulb turning black and burning out. Halogen
bulbs have to burn hot in order to keep the bulb burning bright. For that reason, we would advise
staying away from lights that do not utilize an inner globe. For more information on this see "Halogen
Cycle". Our halogen lights utilize replaceable bulbs which are easily replaced by the consumer and
available at most hardware stores. Their small size makes them easy to store in your tackle box or
glove box, and you can easily change from one color to another with some models. The 300 watt,
120VAC models generate over 4800 lumens and omit more than 1.5 Million Candle Power of light.
The disadvantages of 12VDC halogen lights is their hunger for electricity. Halogen bulbs burn
extremely hot and bright and therefore they require more amperage to run. While you can still get up
to 14.5 hrs. of runtime per battery charge using a 100-watt light, they do require more amperage than
a fluorescent light unless you are using the 120VAC models. Unlike fluorescent lights, Halogen lights
must also be submerged in water to use and can not be used as a utility light. However, since they are
completely submerged under the waters surface, the wind and waves have no affect on them, and
there is no light lost to reflection off the waters surface. Therefore, since Halogen lights cost less than
fluorescent lights, utilize replaceable bulbs, allows color to be changed and are compact and easy to
store, most fisherman feel halogen lights still offer the best value for their money.
"LED Lights" consist of multiple LED's in various colors and configurations. The biggest
advantage LED lights have is over incandescent and CFL lamps is their low amperage draw and
durability. You can run an LED light for days on a single battery charge and since there is no filament
in them they will take a great deal of abuse that other lights will not. Even though LED's project a
pinpoint light which only illuminates straight forward...this can be an advantage to penetrating murky
water if the LED's are configured in such a way as to project a 360 radius.
LED technology has come a long way in the last year, and Fishing Lights Etc. will always be on the
cutting edge of new technology. Our White AquaStar 192 LED light is a favorite for making the
Banjovie Flounder Light Stick and our Magnum 552 LED light are the only White LED lights we
currently make.
Our New AlumiGlo SuperBrite and DockPro Series LED lights are hands down the best
quality...lowest priced LED lights on the market. They are made from all anodized aluminum and use
no plastic or glass. The lights are Unbreakable, Bright, Self Weighted, come in 3-sizes and come in
both 12VDC and 120VAC.
"Mercury Vapor Lights" These high powered lights consist of a 120VAC Mercury Vapor Bulb, a
transformer and some type of weight to keep the light on the bottom. The lights are designed to sit on
the bottom and light up the surrounding water. The good thing about Mercury lights is that they are
very bright! The downside to them is their price ($275 to $400) and their hunger for electricity.
Mercury Vapor lights utilize a transformer that can be troublesome in time and can be quite expensive
to replace. While there are now new models that have replaceable bulbs, the bulbs on most models
are exposed to the water and easily broken. Replacing the bulbs isn't easy or cheap since the bulbs
are epoxied into the socket to waterproof them. The bigger problem is Mercury Vapor lamps have
been targeted as a contributor to pollution and the lamps will no longer be manufactured in the near
future. If you want this type of light...be sure to buy a Sodium light that contains no Mercury.
TM
| Copyright © 2003 Fishing Lights Etc LLC Privacy Policy All rights Reserved |
TM
| Customer Service Hours 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM CT Monday thru Friday 785-621-2646 |
| Building "Quality Lights, Fisherman Can Afford" for 31 Years! |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| The below chart compares LED, Fluorescent and Incandescent lamps |
Did You Know: Even though the DockPro 1700 and DockPro 2600 have less overall lumen's
than some other lights, they can produce more overall light coverage. The lights are 4' wide and
illuminate a 5' to 10' area in front of the light, so the overall light coverage is 20' to 40' of water
depending on the clarity of the water.
than some other lights, they can produce more overall light coverage. The lights are 4' wide and
illuminate a 5' to 10' area in front of the light, so the overall light coverage is 20' to 40' of water
depending on the clarity of the water.
| Continental US Shipping only |
