LED Lighting Questions.....

[2kwik4u]

I noticed while out on the boat a few times last year that I needed some additional light in a few places. SO....While waiting for spring to come I started looking for some LED lights to put in the boat.

I found these:
Red or Amber LED's from iBoats store

Now my questions start.....

1. How many of these can I put on a circuit? I'd love to install ~8 of them in various places around the boat; Under the front seats, in the passenger and driver footwell area, in the gunwales behind the drivers and passenger seat, and then in the engine bay/storage area. I was hoping to get some pretty bright led's and then point them downward so that the light kind of fills the boat, and doesn't shine in anyones eyes at night (the anchor light does that well enough on its own!). Here are some pics of the boat to get an idea of where I want the lights to go. Clean Boat Pictures

2. When adding more than one light to a circuit do I wire in series or parallel?

3. Where do I ground them on a fiberglass boat? I have plenty of experience with automotive applications, but none with boats. Do I just run a small wire back to the battery negative terminal?

4. Any ideas on how to attach them where there isn't a lot of wood to screw into? Like in the front seat area? I was thinking something like liquid nails, or some sort of adhesive like that since they are fairly light, but I'm not sure I want to make them that permanent. If I "glue" them in there, how do I replace them if one goes bad?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[rndn]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

The max draw looks like 55 milliamps so 8 would not be a problem. Why don't you mount them with velcro so if one goes bad rip it off and replace it. You could also RTV them in place so you will be able to scrape it off if needed. As far as grounding the lights, you need to run 2 wires to each light, positive and negative. Run the wiring in series and make sure you provide an inline fuse to protect your electrical system.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

Sorry -- but lights are not wired in series - they are wired in parallel. Like this:

 

[rndn]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

I have lights and outlets wired in series and for such a low draw light wiring them in series will be fine.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

I have lights and outlets wired in series and for such a low draw light wiring them in series will be fine.

You can't wire them in series. Each light is going to have a voltage drop across it.

 

[rndn]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

Ignore my two previous posts as I was mistaken. Wiring them in series will cause a reduction in voltage.

 

[2kwik4u]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

Thanks guys. I kinda figured parallel was the way to go.

Any thoughts on using that el-cheapo stranded copper speaker wire from Radio Shack as the wiring to run for each light? I figure it has the positive and negative wires I need in a nice neat package.

Also, I've contemplated running them off a relay so that they are on whenever the anchor light is on. Anything I need to be aware of when using a relay in a marine environment?

 

[Boatist]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

That speaker wire is not made to rubbing against anything as the boat rocks rolls an vibrates. If you want to go cheap buy a 16 or 18 guage extention cord. At least it has two or more insulated wires with a tough outer cover to take the bouncing and vibration. Make sure it has a fuse to prevent a fire if it should ever short out.

Bodega Bay Weather May 5 2008
Winds NW 320 true 17.5 knots with gust to 21.4 knots, Water temperature 50.0 degrees F
Seas 9.2 foot Swells every 10 seconds, Chop 6.8 seconds Swell steepness = average.
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46013

 

[Silvertip]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

Series wiring for lights is always a bad idea. Voltage drop or not -- one goes out they all go out. Does the thought of a bad string of cheap Christmas Tree lights come to mind??

 

[bruceb58]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

Get some good wire and make a twisted pair out of it. What I do is have a helper or a vise hold the wires on one end and I chuck the two wires in a drill at the other end. Run the drill until you have a nice twisted pair.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

Any thoughts on using that el-cheapo stranded copper speaker wire from Radio Shack as the wiring to run for each light? I figure it has the positive and negative wires I need in a nice neat package.

Also, I've contemplated running them off a relay so that they are on whenever the anchor light is on. Anything I need to be aware of when using a relay in a marine environment?

Don't use anything but marine tinned wire or your just wasting your time.

Use marine shrink butt connectors and a little dieelectic grease in them.

As for relays we all use them on our trim motors so you really shouldn't have a problem.

That's a good tip from Bruce about twisting them makes everything neater, here's another run a bead of silicone where you want to run your wire. After it sets up a bit stick the wire in it. no more worries about wires bouncing around,chaffing etc.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

Oh duh..

You don't need a relay just hook them to your anchor light switch...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

i would put them on a seperate switch.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

leds are like all diods are ground sensitive. i dont think they would even work if wired in series

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

leds are like all diods are ground sensitive. i dont think they would even work if wired in series

Just had to check that out. real good question.

I hooked up three of the LED lights with three LED's in each ( the round ones ) in series and stuck them to my 18v cordless tool battery (closet DC power source around) and the lit right up.

I wouldn't install them in series, but I just had to know.

 

[Boatist]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

If you used a real relay the relay pick circuit would likely draw more current than the LEDS. I would also put them on a seperate Switch with their own fuse.


Bodega Bay Weather May 7 2008
Winds NW 320 degrees true at 27.2 knots with gusts to 33 Knots, Sea Temperature 48.4 Degrees F
Seas 13.5 feet every 10 Seconds, Chop 6.7 SEC, Swell steepness = steep
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46013

 

[ziemann]

Re: LED Lighting Questions.....

At a 26 milliamp draw like the specs say, you could light that boat up like a Christmas tree with such a small draw...