Whole Boat LED install

[Skysurfer2010]

David- my cupholders were just $20 replacements. Simple and easy one piece.

 

[David D]

Sorry to post so soon after my last question. I found an answer to my thickness question from different thread. @txav8r had a series on his project that answered my question. He also suggested I verify seating comfort before assuming that placing the acrylic ring under the lip of the current cup holder is the right way to go.

Geez -- this is fun -- more there's more to think about that just connecting the lights up. That's the easy part!

 

[David D]

David- my cupholders were just $20 replacements. Simple and easy one piece.

Thanks @Skysurfer2010. I may consider that option now. I want ambient light, not bright light and I'm concerned my original plan may be a little overwhelming at night.

 

[Skysurfer2010]

I wanted the same. The cupholders I chose are perfect. Not very bright. Just ambient lighting. No need for dimming. The LED speaker rings I did were blinding. I put them on a dimmer switch since again, I was just looking for low key ambient lighting.

 

[maboat]

Whole boat leds? Check!

 

[Glassman]

My cup holders arrived yesterday....I can't count.

Well, sort of....You see, I have these insulated thingamabobs that live in the forward cockpit cup holders (port & starboard) so I didn't think I should illuminate them - the insulation would block the light on the internally lit cup holder, But as my wife ever so accurately pointed out, the current cup holders are white plastic. I intentionally selected them over stainless because stainless gets ridiculously hot in the summer and I usually boat in the summer....soooo, I went with plastic.

So I'm going to leave those two alone and the ones I drilled into the boat just in front of the windshield as well - since they would just boil anything you put in there if they were stainless.

I'll swap out six of 'em and see how it looks. I know where to get more if I need them, besides, I want to install two new ones on the rear platform when I get the time to do that.

 

[Albysure]

Man that looks good..,I'm on the same mission...doing the stainless steel cup holders now...but here's some pics of what I have completed so far

 

[jcyamaharider]

Those transom lights are bright!!

 

[redthumper9]

Turned these on a few nights ago for the first time in the dark (well, it was almost dark). Its two of the Abyss s1800's. Can't wait to see how this compliments the interior lights. One of the mods I'm most excited to use!

 

[CDENsomnia]

How is everyone securing the LED strips to the various surfaces? The double sided tape wouldn't seem like it would hold up very well with moisture. Also, I am not an electrician...how are you powering these all up? With my house I have an LED power supply and controller, maybe its a difference because we are talking AC vs. DC?

 

[David D]

How is everyone securing the LED strips to the various surfaces? The double sided tape wouldn't seem like it would hold up very well with moisture. Also, I am not an electrician...how are you powering these all up? With my house I have an LED power supply and controller, maybe its a difference because we are talking AC vs. DC?

I have a similar question about mounting. I'm going to try a silicone adheasive. I'll let you know how it goes.

Regarding power: these LEDs run off of a 12v supply - which happens to match the battery on your boat. They don't draw much power at all (like about 2A). I added a fuse block off of the main power cutoff switch, then ran the wires and switches from there. Another option is to tap into the courtesy light power.

This form has a bunch of reference material regarding wiring diagrams, parts, supplies, etc. I'm replying from my phone - but later may be able to cross reference with some of those links.

 

[Andy S]

How is everyone securing the LED strips to the various surfaces? The double sided tape wouldn't seem like it would hold up very well with moisture. Also, I am not an electrician...how are you powering these all up? With my house I have an LED power supply and controller, maybe its a difference because we are talking AC vs. DC?

My led strips with double side tape have stayed put since I installed them 3 seasons ago and none of them seem loose. Mine are tucked out of the direct weather and unless yours were going to be exposed to direct weather then I would just used the double side tape,.

 

[Jim Robeson]

Mine had an adhesive backing already on them. I cleaned the surface with alcohol then applied. Haven't had any problems yet.

 

[jcyamaharider]

Mine had the cheap 2 sided sticky tape so I got all of that off and put on good 3m 2 sided tape. Has held for 2 years. Under the swim platform I did clear silicone.

 

[soggyshoes]

@CDENsomnia Some double sided tapes are not just like old fashion Scotch Tape. Tapes are used to hold airfoils on race cars, keel protectors on boats, and even skins on high rises. One of the best is 3M VHB ( http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Adhesives/Tapes/Brands/3M-VHB-Tape/ ). I think they are even used in holding airplane wings on (these may be thermally cured epoxies).

 

[David D]

OK, so I was well on my way with this project -- until I had to solder wires onto the LED light segments. What a pain in the a$$. I'm having NO success here.

I tired to remove the epoxy layer, but apparently I'm leaving a very thin layer or something. I can't get the solder to stick to the connectors at all. It just beads up and away -- won't stick to the copper connectors. I've tried a couple different solders, most recently a 40 tin / 60 lead version - I even bought a higher wattage soldering iron. Still no progress. I tried soldering to the back of the strip as well; same results. I was expecting this to be the easy part of the project but it's proving otherwise.

What am I missing guys? Now I know what some of you bought the pre-wired cup holders and small light strips! I'm trying to get this done tonight or in the morning. We've got great weather and it's time to get on the water, not mess around in the driveway cussing.

@mdopp, we're hitting the water Sunday no matter what! Lol.

 

[jcyamaharider]

@David D just get the quick connect clips, less stress and mine have held for 3 years now.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/bar-strip-accessories/nfls10-4cpth-flexible-light-strip-pigtail-connector-clamp/1040/2499/

 

[soggyshoes]

@David D You could try lightly scratching the surface with some very fine sandpaper. I have had success doing that when repairing electronics. It seems like sometimes there is a thin epoxy coating.

 

[BigN8]

You need to use a pencil tip soldering iron. Make sure your not using plumbing solder. Touch the iron to the copper tab, let it heat up then apply the solder to the copper tab and wire at the same time.

Watch a few videos on YouTube on how to solder then go do it.

 

[David D]

Thanks @BigN8. I started having success this morning. Apparently the problem was a very thin coating of epoxy over the copper terminals. I thought I had removed it, but apparently there was another layer. I'm soldering to the back of the strips rather than the front ... that will work in my application, but may not for everyone.