Whole Boat LED install

[jwells]

Anyone have pics of a whole boat LED install? Any pics of the finished product would be great.

This is one of my mods this spring and want to see where people ran all of the LED's.

Going with Wet Sounds for their RGB controller, light rings and spools.

https://wetsounds.com/pages/products/led-controllers-xs.html

https://wetsounds.com/pages/products/led-spools.html

iI've got them to all my speakers and tower speakers I'll get some better pics if the weather ever let's me pic it up

 

[David D]

I'm taking on this project next week. I have a laser etcher at the shop that will cut the acrylic rings for the cup holders -- but it sounds like you're saying the rings are too bright. When you put the strips inside of the cup holders, which, at least on the surface looks much easier, it must not interfere with your drink, eh? I know this is all personal preference, but I'm interested in your experiences.

ALSO, someone posted a "cool" switch the other day that a couple guys liked. I can't seem to find that post -- anyone recall seeing it? It was a small round switch with a single LED -- but it was rather small and "clean" looking -- I don't know how else to describe it.

 

[txav8r]

It is personal preference. I don't like seeing the light, only the result of it shining. LED's are extremely bright to look at, that is why they are using them in tail lights, marker lights, etc. They are just attention grabbing. In a boat at night, you want to see the light they emit, not the light itself. Again, personal preference, but I found no amount of dimming would reduce them to the tranquil setting I preferred at times. My cupholders, being illuminated inside still reflected some direct lighting, but not like the speaker and cupholder rings. Your choice, no wrong answers here, just go with what you like. I am going to say that the interior cupholder lighting is harder than an exterior ring, IMO. Because you have to drill and sand the stainless cupholder to remove burrs from drilling it, you need to elongate the hole so the wire won't chafe. And then you have to make a fairly tight radius with the strip to get it in there. I found that if you curled the strips in a jar with less diameter than my cupholder, it assumed some curve and I could install it easier. I had to seal each end of the strip with both silicone and inside a heat shrink on the end to waterproof them, but they were 100% waterproof after I finished, I tested them for 24 hours underwater. Also, use IP66 waterproof strip. Here is a whole spool, 16', of RGB with controller and the remote for $13.92.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-5050-RGB...475?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c1873443
Try this, you can take your pic from hundreds of switches...
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro....H0.Xled+switch.TRS0&_nkw=led+switch&_sacat=0

You are only limited by your imagination! Good luck on the install!

 

[Jim Robeson]

I think you can tell from my avatar that I added a few LED's. I ordered everything off Amazon with the exception of the bulbs that went in the courtesy lights which I ordered from Super Bright LEDs. Was really simple and took about half a day. Hardest part was running all the wires to the helm but the results were exactly what I wanted. I used four LED strips...two on each side of the bow and two on each side of the stern. I ran the bow lights and stern lights on their own on/off switch so I can turn off the bow when I am under way. The courtesy lights are also on their own switch.

 

[Glassman]

So, I just happen to be browsing this thread on my iPad when my wife walks in....

I toss it aside so I can grab the bags she has in her hands and I trot off to the kitchen.

(You know where this is going)

She picks up the iPad and I can hear her say," Oh these look great! We should do something like that."

I remind her that we've had LED courtesy lights on the boat for years....."yeah, but they're white. I like the blue " she says.

Hmmm, is this a set-up or have I just been authorized, make that instructed, to spend money on the boat for something electronic??

Whoa...let's not blow this I say to myself....play it cool, open up the Amazon app and get it done before she changes her mind!!

Yeah, consider that trigger pulled.

I just went down to the garage to check the charge on the boat batteries.

 

[Glassman]

I think you can tell from my avatar that I added a few LED's. I ordered everything off Amazon with the exception of the bulbs that went in the courtesy lights which I ordered from Super Bright LEDs. Was really simple and took about half a day. Hardest part was running all the wires to the helm but the results were exactly what I wanted. I used four LED strips...two on each side of the bow and two on each side of the stern. I ran the bow lights and stern lights on their own on/off switch so I can turn off the bow when I am under way. The courtesy lights are also on their own switch.

Jim, are the bulbs you ordered for the existing courtesy lights on the side cavities? Would you happen to have the number handy?
Thanks!

 

[Jim Robeson]

@Glassman ... Here are the bulbs that I ordered:
3022-B9 Blue

Yes, these are the ones that are on the passenger side just above the grab handle and the one by driver's side. Real easy to put in too.

 

[Belleville_Boater]

I think you can tell from my avatar that I added a few LED's. I ordered everything off Amazon with the exception of the bulbs that went in the courtesy lights which I ordered from Super Bright LEDs. Was really simple and took about half a day. Hardest part was running all the wires to the helm but the results were exactly what I wanted. I used four LED strips...two on each side of the bow and two on each side of the stern. I ran the bow lights and stern lights on their own on/off switch so I can turn off the bow when I am under way. The courtesy lights are also on their own switch.

Sounds like a great setup, can you post a pic of the switches and where you mounted them? Thanks in advance

 

[Jim Robeson]

Sounds like a great setup, can you post a pic of the switches and where you mounted them? Thanks in advance

 

[Jim Robeson]

These are the lights I used:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Y9YIU6/ref=pe_385040_30332190_TE_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_1
And the switches:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Y3BKNC/ref=pe_385040_30332190_TE_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

If I remember right, these came from overseas so they took about 4 to 6 weeks to get here. I haven't tried to look for them again, so I can only assume that they still offer these.

 

[Jim Robeson]

I guess they do...
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ck Rocker Toggle LED Switch Blue Light On-off

 

[Andy S]

I did the same setup as @Jim Robeson , here is what I did for interior led lights, last post in the thread, https://jetboaters.net/threads/led-strip-lighting-what-do-you-like.3063/#post-50073 . The difference is where I put my rocker switches, mine are next to the horn switch, see below picture.

And here is my underwater led installation, https://jetboaters.net/threads/coastal-night-lights-led-install.2525/#post-40166 . Now there are 3 rocker switches on my dash to control the interior and underwater led's.

 

[Jim Robeson]

I thought about the strips behind the seats but just haven't got to that yet. I do like the ones that you have in the cavity areas @andy07sx230ho ... and I want to add some to back behind the seats as you have done. They look great!!

 

[d_coyne1984]

Woe!!!!! Bousbous55: can we get a list/howto!!? links to order?
that is awesome man, i'm in. I'll order tomorrow.

The "Winner" award is for the lady you are holding in your profile pic. Well done sir, well done.

 

[Skysurfer2010]

I had a custom made switch panel from newwiremarine.com that I was extremely happy with.

 

[JetBoatPilot]

@Skysurfer2010 I want one of those panels. Can you tell me if they would sell those to us for our store? We could really use something like that.

 

[Glassman]

@Glassman ... Here are the bulbs that I ordered:
3022-B9 Blue

Yes, these are the ones that are on the passenger side just above the grab handle and the one by driver's side. Real easy to put in too.

Awesome! Thank you sir!

I'm hoping all this stuff gets here before noon Friday. We are headed back out to re-install the transmission in the Spectra my friend just picked up. I think I'll stay behind and get a bunch of stuff done to my boat so it's all set and ready to go when the whole gang comes out to enjoy a long weekend.

 

[Skysurfer2010]

@JetBoatPilot I'd contact them directly. I'm not sure since each panel is custom made (size specs, arrangement, engravings, how many switches, 12v adapters, etc). He was great to work with so maybe you could work something out with him. His prices were great, too!

 

[redthumper9]

That panel is legit! Very nice.....

 

[David D]

Like the panel @Skysurfer2010. Noticed your cup holders -- did you fabricate those or are they replacements? I was going to fabricate rings for mine from acrylic using a laser. But my question is the thickness of the acrylic ... assuming that it needs to be 3/8" or 1/2" to accommodate the 10mm LED strip. For you guys that fabricated your own, what thickness of acrylic / Plexiglas did you use?