How would you wire these

[dhook]

I bought some small blue waterproof, live well LED's that I want to place around my boat. I also purchased some yellow 3 led lights that I want to use. I want to install both of these as one is for effects and one is more for lighting. In other words I believe I have 2 sets of lights that will require 2 different runs of wire but ultimately will go to a rocker switch.

I've attached pictures of the 2 different leds (blue single/yellow 3 led on 1)

I intend to place another battery in my boat to run these lights and my new amp.

I also purchased a marine rocker switch at wal mart (on/off/on).

I intend to place 2 lights of each in the back, on the side, and one of each up front.

What would be the best way to wire these in and what gauge wire would you use?

Why do the yellow leds have 2 sets of power wires on them is that for easier wiring in parallel?

My other fuse block is full should I buy and put in another?

 

[mnmike3]

Re: How would you wire these

If you want to turn each color on independently yes you will need to run 2 sets of wires through the boat.

18 gauge wire should be plenty big enough, leds don't use hardly any current and anything smaller than 18 can easily break if it gets pulled on.

I would guess the 2 sets of power wires is for wiring more lights in series

You should definitely put a fuse on the lights with out a doubt if you don't you may be sorry some day. You can usually buy small single fuse holders that you could put inline right after the battery, no need to install another fuse block unless you plan to add a bunch of new accessories down the road.

if you have a 3 position switch (on,off,on) you can just mount the switch and run 1 wire from the input terminal of the switch to the battery (fused) then run a wire from the switch to each light then run a ground wire from the battery (or other grounding point) to the lights. once everything is hooked up put in a fuse (3 amp maybe) hit the switch and enjoy

I would recommend you solder and heat shrink all your connections for the most reliable connections over time. moisture in a boat causes headaches with poor electrical work. if you don't have a soldering iron then I would buy the crimp connectors that can be heat shrunk once they have been crimped and use a Good crimper not those cheap crimper/stripper things you can buy at walmart for a dime a dozen. Kline makes a Great crimper for a decent price and can be picked up at sears or any other place that carrys good tools

 

[RicMic]

Re: How would you wire these

The LED's with four wires are the kind that they put in tubes or ropes and you don't need to have a connection at the far end, yes its for wiring them in parallel. It may make sense to wire them with with a 2 conductor cord. I use 20-2 shielded cable. I normally wouldn't use anything smaller than #16 on a boat, but LED's draw next to no current and the shielded cable, is high quality stuff and provides plenty of stiffness and protection to the conductors. LED's also are sensitive to stray currents, which is more likely to happen in commercial useage, but the shield sure isn't hurting anything and I got a bunch of it for free!