LED Rope Lights for Under Gunnel

[TimeFlies]

Thanks for the help. Nothing wrong, I'm just "a little" challenged in the electrical department and want to make sure I order the right stuff.

 

[Keith FDNY]

The man to ask and get the best lites is 96tl he has awesome ones!!!He knows his stuff in that department!!!and no bother glad to help alittle

 

[Megabyte]

Kevin once told me that he uses those same tie rod bases, but instead of attaching them with the 2-way tape, he uses caulk.

Clear marine silicone actually.
Dab some on the sticky side of the two-way tape and apply it.
Let it dry overnight, then come back the next day and hang everything.

I've used the clear silicone on all of my 'sticky mounts'.

Fuel transducer...

Cockpit knife applied with velcro...

Helm mounted knife (with velcro)...

Marine silicone works pretty well as an adhesive.

 

[96TL]

I might just have to try that. Thanks Kevin.

 

[Keith FDNY]

I wish the rod holders would be that easy!!!HaHaHa but then even one would have them

 

[96TL]

Can someone help answer if I need a DC or AC connector and what (do I need it) a resistor is for lights? Thanks

I answered your question in an earlier post. :wink:

You need a 12VDC connector.

Order the rope lights.

Order this:
http://www.imtra.com/product/marine_lig ... nkit_6.htm

And order this:
http://www.imtra.com/product/marine_lig ... dl_end.htm

 

[TimeFlies]

Thanks for the answer again (sorry, I missed it the first time). I'll let you know if they were worth the price or not after I get them in the boat. Probably not for a few weeks, need to take delivery of the boat first!!!

 

[Megabyte]

I have red cockpit lights in my boat, but blue are also popular.
Blue light (like red) doesn't damage night vision... which is a good thing.

Here is a photo of a single blue light over the helm of a 23 Black Lab ST at the Annapolis Boat Show last year.
Very cool...

 

[FishPimp]

the acolytes rock.
How did you daisy chain them? I need to rewire this spring and purchased some of these for the job.
http://www.delcity.net/delcity/servlet/ ... 382&page=1

I have both red and white led strips on my boat. they throw light!
I used 1 50 led striplyte on each side for the cockpit and 1 30 led striplyte for the bow area on each side.
I have a total of 4 light strips per color for my 23SE and I am really happy with this schematic.
The white lights come in two different shades of white. I went with warm up front and daylight in the cockpit.
I am interested in how well the lighting harness works.

 

[96TL]

the acolytes rock.
How did you daisy chain them?

I used 10-12 guage heat shrink butt connectors. I stuck two wires in one side, and a piece of shrink tubing over the single wire to make it thick enough to seal. Worked okay, but those new terminals look like a perfect solution. Thanks for the link! I'm ordering them right now.

the acolytes rock.

Thats what I tell everyone all the time!

Question, how did you mount your tubes?

 

[FishPimp]

I used zip ties to piggy back them to existing 4 way posts that were screwed in under the gunnel. sorry i dont have any photos.
I need to rehang two so that the light that is being thrown lands perfectly balanced on both sides of the deck. they are pretty close but not perfect.
Those light hangers appear to be just the trick for allowing more light to flood the deck.
Delcity has some cool marine electrical stuff.
Man I cant wait to get back on my boat.

 

[John_Madison CT]

Got some bad news on the Ebay'er who sells the lights 96TL told us about. I asked about red lights, the 31" 50 light ones. Here was their response:

"Find an auction or store item and buy it. Acolyte is shutting down the ebay auctions because of protest from our distributors. This is the last week."

 

[96TL]

Got some bad news on the Ebay'er who sells the lights 96TL told us about. I asked about red lights, the 31" 50 light ones. Here was their response:

"Find an auction or store item and buy it. Acolyte is shutting down the ebay auctions because of protest from our distributors. This is the last week."

Holy crap! That means you'd have to buy them directly from Acolyte, and they're a lot more expensive! :shock:

I wish I never sold my white ones now! And these blue ones are staying with me, even if I ever trade or sell my boat.

That sucks!!!!!

"Find an auction or store item and buy it. Acolyte is shutting down the ebay auctions because of protest from our distributors. This is the last week."

So does he mean just buy any lights (green for example), and then he'll send you red? Or does he mean the only items available are those remaining on eBay as of now? :?:

BTW, the 25 LED 16" models will work fine too (see my pics earlier in the thread).

I feel like buying another set just to have them!

 

[Keith FDNY]

I hear that i would buy them just to have them!!!Never know man if your for any reason go bad,man now i am thinking of getting a set to hold on 2 as well!!!

 

[FishPimp]

96TL,
did you use those light hangers? If so how are they working out? I am ready to purchase them. However I am worried they arent going to hold while underay. I wrote acolyte and asked them if I should double up on them,
Let me knwo how they are working out when you get a chance.
thanks,
chris

 

[96TL]

96TL,
did you use those light hangers? If so how are they working out? I am ready to purchase them. However I am worried they arent going to hold while underay. I wrote acolyte and asked them if I should double up on them,
Let me knwo how they are working out when you get a chance.
thanks,
chris

No, I decided to just try the zip tie mounts again. This time I ordered a larger size (1.5" x 1.5"), and I'm using 5200 to stick them in place. I'm actually installing those tonight.

 

[REEL NAUTI]

THINKING ABOUT GETTIN SOME OF THOSE ACOLYTE LED BARS....THEY LOOK AWESOME....HAVE A 23 DVCC HOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS I WOULD NEED AND WHERE WOULD I START IN CONNECTING THEM TO MY HELM?? ANY PICS SHOWING CONNECTIONS OR WHERE AND HOW THEY WERE MOUNTED??

 

[96TL]

I wired them to my "Cockpit Light" switch. I'm not sure if CC's have cockpit lights (not spreader lights).

If not, just wire them to a simple on/off switch. Push, pull, toggle, whatever you prefer. Tap power right off the buss bar behind the helm, and add a fuse before the switch. Or you can get a switch with a built in breaker.

As far as installing the light tubes under the gunnels, you'll have to get creative.

 

[Pain Management]

Dom,
You seem to be the man to ask in reference to these lights. Let me ask you a question about wiring these things. How do I connect both runs of lights from each side of the boat? Do I continue the one side with wire after the run, then connect to the other side run before going to the panel with the power source? Will that work or do I have to do something else?
Thanks
George

 

[96TL]

You can either wire them in a continuous string, or split them up. It won't make any difference either way. Just do whichever is easier for you.

My first set of Acolytes were all wired together in a string. 9 tubes total.

My second set which I'm installing tonight will be on two seperate strings, 3 tubes per string.

The reason I'm wiring them this way is because I'm also installing these Hella cockpit lights. Each light has a single white spot LED, and a blue LED "halo", each powered by a seperate wire. The blue LED halo power wire is going to feed the Acolytes (3 tubes per light). The center spot LED is wired to my LED spreader lights. :wink: