Wiring in LED courtesy lights....

[skbishop90]

Ok, I purchased some cheap courtesy lights to mount on the bottom of the seats in my boat to add some light at night. http://www.amazon.com/LIVEWELL-COUR...4+round+new+Blue+LED+livewell+courtesy+lights

What is the best way to wire this in with the factory courtesy light? I like to think I am mechanically inclined but I know for a fact that I am wiring illiterate. I am electrically stupid. I was thinking about, since the LEDs are a simple two wire load, wire all the power wires of the LEDs together and all the grounds together, route the power wires to the same circuit as the courtesy light on the fuse panel. Obviously the side that is hot after the switch is on. And then route all the grounds to either the batter or ground on the fuse panel with a larger gauge wire.

Someone have an easier way of explaining it or showing me how I am wrong? Being LEDs, I know it will not be drawing a ton of power so will I need an inline fuse if I run it to the fuse panel? I dont know, help a brother out!

 

[txav8r]

12v is pretty simple. But Yamaha piggybacks most of their circuits. So just finding ground can be an issue at times. Also, your courtesy circuit is designed and protected with a 20% margin on a breaker protected load. Adding decreases that margin. The way many of us did it in the past, was to replace the incadecent lights with LED's, and add additional circuitry, and remain under that 80% threshold.

 

[skbishop90]

I only know of one courtesy light in my boat, right above the throttle. I wanted to tap into that power source for all LEDs. I just hooked them up with a 12v drill battery and they look to be pretty bright and likely too bright to use all 4 the way I had planned. Ill probably just run two. You think it will affect that circuit with just two LED lights?

 

[txav8r]

Just see what they draw. They should be labeled. You can power a whole spool 16' of RGB or single color, 72w worth, with a 9V battery! At least for awhile. They are stable 9 to 14V I think. Straight DC.

 

[skbishop90]

I dont think Google has a translation for Electric. Can you dumb that down a little for me?

 

[skbishop90]

HAHA nvm I think I got it. Ill try it first and see how it goes. Two LEDs I would think should be fine. I will be the giny pig!

 

[Andy S]

Here is a very simple wiring schematic for powering LED's from the courtesy light switch. Typically an easy way to tape the courtesy light power circuit is right behind the courtesy light itself. In your case, there is only 1 courtesy light supplied by a 5 amp breaker so in my opinion you can add up to 6 led strips and still remain below 80% current draw of the breaker rating.

 

[skbishop90]

Much appreciated. This is pretty much what I was thinking of doing. Just needed to see what others thought.

 

[skbishop90]

 

[Andy S]

Looks sharp, nice work!

 

[skbishop90]

You Should have seen my wife's face whenever I was drilling holes into a brand new boat. BAHAHAHA

 

[paratrooper39]

@skbishop90 where did you have to drill holes?

 

[skbishop90]

Directly under the handle on the engine compartment. Centered. Also, directly to the left of the driver, the seat that has an open are underneath it. I mounted one centered under that seat, in the open area. Pics are earlier in this thread I believe.

 

[Bobbymac746]

Here is a very simple wiring schematic for powering LED's from the courtesy light switch. Typically an easy way to tape the courtesy light power circuit is right behind the courtesy light itself. In your case, there is only 1 courtesy light supplied by a 5 amp breaker so in my opinion you can add up to 6 led strips and still remain below 80% current draw of the breaker rating.


View attachment 17961

I did not have a courtesy light in my boat, however, I have a courtesy light switch. I wired it up very similar to your diagram, however my courtesy switch has 3 inputs, with the top terminal a string of jumper RD grounds that go from switch to switch all down the panel.
When I "thought" I was done, I hooked up the pos and negative, turned on the switch and presto it worked. However, as soon as I hook up my main positive and ground (ignition, alternator, fuse panel, etc) it stops working. Even more specifically it quits just on the addition of the main ground. Did I somehow "double ground my lights with the ground I ran from the lights to the battery and the pre existing jumperd grounds in the switch? Any recommendations?

 

[SPCAS]

Can you clarify "hooked up pos and Negative, turned on switch and presto it worked? What was your power source if the main pos and ground were still disconnected?

 

[Bobbymac746]

Can you clarify "hooked up pos and Negative, turned on switch and presto it worked? What was your power source if the main pos and ground were still disconnected?

I ran a new positive and ground directly to my battery, when I put the main positive and ground back on that's where my problem came in.

I ended up fixing it by pulling the piggybacked jumper for this particular switch. I have no idea why it didn't work with that connected. But I guess my problem is solved. Thanks for the reply

 

[SPCAS]

Good deal. Glad it's working