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| Bernina:1230 (Sewing Machine) | | Viewed 881 time(s) | | Review rated Helpful by 1 people Very Helpful by 9 people | | Reviewed by: | johnr55 | 
 | About johnr55 | | TX USA | | Member since: 3/22/08 | | Reviews written: 65 | | Sewing skills:Intermediate | | Favored by: 7 people | | sewing machines reviewed: 20 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 10/18/09 6:12 PM | | Approx price paid: | $70 | | Had this machine for: | 1 month | | Recommended? | Yes | | | What johnr55 likes about this machine
I am unsure whether this review goes here, so if it doesn't, please feel free to remove or move it.
There has been an item for the 10 series up to at least 1530 running on the auction sites. It is an LED conversion kit. Those of you who have an 1130 or the other series probably know about the little light bulb with the holder you have to use to remove it.
This kit replaces that bulb with 10 LED's. My main complaint on the 1130 has always been its dim lighting. Finally, I decided to order one of these kits; it came to roughly $70 with shipping. It arrived, beautifully packed.
If you look on the underside of the arm where the needle goes up and down, this little white panel is made to fit this opening (with a cutout for the needle/foot machanism, of course). This is advertised as changeable by the sewer, but my 1130 was due for its annual tuneup so I had my Bernina dealer do it for me. One thing that pleases me is that this LED setup plugs into the old light socket. Therefore, if someone wanted to go back to the old light, this accessory is easily removed and replaced by the traditional bulb.
What's it like? In a word, great! It is certainly brighter than the old light system, and the light is the cooler light closer to daylight than the yellowish tinge of the old incandescent. Additionally, particularly for a machine embroiderer like me, it puts out no heat. There is no glare with this accessory. It certainly isn't as bright as something like the new 830, but it is a really great improvement over the old bulb.
Another thing I really like about this LED system is that, unlike the Bernina CFL I added on my Activa, it doesn't rob any space between the arm and the needle plate. Though I like the CFL on my Activa, I'm constantly bumping either my hand or my hoop on it.
These LED's are projected to have a life of around 60,000 hours.
Again, I know there are a bunch of 10- and 11- and 12- and 15- series machines out there and I haven't seen a review of anyone's purchase. I am planning on buying another one of these to install in my 1031. This time I may take advantage of the excellent installation instructions included and do it myself! Highly recommended. What johnr55 does not like about this machine
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| Reader Comments | | karen149 | 10/18/09 | Thanks for telling us how great this light is. I, too have seen it on eBay and wondered if it was worth the money. You can add this review under Sewing Reviews:Sewing Supplies | | * * * | | Mufffet | 10/18/09 | Notions....that's where it goes. :) Thanks for it though. Never knew this was possible! I wish it could be done for other brands. :) | | * * * | | dbsewer | 10/18/09 | At first I was confused - $70 for the Bernina 1230? What a lucky guy. Then, oh, it's for the light. Yeah, it goes on the notions thread. You had me going for a minute there, thinking I could land one of these babies for a song. :-) | | * * * | | johnr55 | 10/18/09 | I'm sorry, but I don't know how to move it. Do I rewrite it somewhere else? | | * * * | | hese61 | 10/19/09 | Thanks johnr55. | | * * * | | Nancy Rhodes | 10/19/09 | Thanks! I use my 1230 as my daily stitcher... and could easily make great use improved light. Now at the very top top top of my wish list... might be this year's Merry Christmas to me item. Again, Thanks! excellent review. | | * * * | | Karen K | 10/19/09 | I have an 1130, so I'm very happy to know this. Thank you for your review. | | * * * | | Woolygal | 10/19/09 | Thanks, I never heard of this - and I just had the bulb replaced on my 1130. | | * * * | | PaulaM | 10/19/09 | I bought it for my 1230, and I LUV it. You can buy them direct at 123sewinglights.com, and the site has a search feature so you can determine if they have a light to fit your machine -- it's not just for Berninas. I'm not affiliated with the company, but I do love the light I bought. | | * * * | | PaulaM | 10/19/09 | Ooops, my booboo -- I posted a duplicate comment. | | * * * | | slpslee | 10/19/09 | Wow, thanks for posting this under sewing machines. I would have missed it entirely otherwise and don't spend much time on eBay any more, either. Now I'm curious to check it out and see if it would work on my 185. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! | | * * * | | johnr55 | 10/19/09 | I appreciate PaulaM letting me know about the website. I can tell you that I just bought a 3-LED light that will fit a standard sm bulb, so it'll fit my Bernettes, my Necchis, and a few other generics I have. It is such a great idea, just makes me wonder why the oem's themselves didn't think of it. When the 3-LED light comes in-and it just screws in, in place of the regular bulb-I'll put a mini-review on it here. Could I ask, where are reviews of notions and such? I've never been in there, on here. | | * * * | | Peggyv | 10/21/09 | I bought a LED light for my 1130 a few months ago. It worked very well for a month and then stopped working. They sent another and that one lasted about three weeks. I be curious if anyone else has this problem. | | * * * | | annenet | 10/23/09 | I just got one for my Bernina Activa 220 and it installed easily. It's a lot brighter than the original bulb so I'm really happy with it. | | * * * | | Karenza | 11/10/09 | This sounds like the answer for all of us who have older less-well lit machines. The mfr has kits to fit most makes and models. | | * * * |
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