LED MANIA! Killer deal!

I've been wanting to add the leds for quite awhile now but just haven't got around to it, partly because some of these vendors charge outrageous prices for them. Ran across this guy on ebay last night, selling ten (10) 24cm (9.44 inch) LED strips for $18.49 and no shipping! They can be cut at every three leds as well. I'm thinking with ten of these things i can bling every damn hole that thing has! So I bought a set in red, here's the info;

http://stores.ebay.com/jaydencar08/P...4.l1513&_pgn=1

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Oh yeah this guy is US and not Hong Kong as most are, on the west coast.

that is a killer price... very nice.. I was not sure I was going to by but 10 for under 20 bucks that is a steal! nice find thanks for sharing.

I bought my longer blue strips from that guy - very happy with them! Also bought similar stuff out of Hong Kong just to try that was total junk....

The 3M backing is a little weak though - I'd suggest a few drops of superglue to keep things where you put them.

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Originally Posted by bergermaister

I bought my longer blue strips from that guy - very happy with them! Also bought similar stuff out of Hong Kong just to try that was total junk....

The 3M backing is a little weak though - I'd suggest a few drops of superglue to keep things where you put them.

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Good to know they're good stuff! I use this, Clear Double-sided PVC Tape for attaching stuff to the boat, escpecially the 'glass as this stuff does not let go no matter what!

Thanks Razz, just cost me $18.49 for posting this! =P

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Originally Posted by bbuhtz

Thanks Razz, just cost me $18.49 for posting this! =P

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My pleasure, I love spending other peoples money! LOL!

I was trying VERY HARD to wait till this fall/winter/spring for the LED project but whatever, I'll end up doing it now under the sun. Just don't post any Transom light deals, PLEASE.

I also bought mine from him, great seller! He has 2 eBay identities, I can't remember what the other one is.

Had one of my strips above my speakers drop down yesterday when we finally got some 90 degree weather. Not a big deal and pressing it back up it held for a while but then started to peel off again. If anyone is still in the install phase I'd definitely recommend a little something extra like the 2-sided tape Razz listed or a few dots of superglue along the edge to help them stay where they're supposed to!

Finally getting to see mine out on the water in the dark-dark was pretty cool. Got a lot of compliments which of course prompted me to start looking at where else I need to add some more...

You have any pics to throw up Berg. LED's are going to be a fall project for me

of course he won't ship to canada!! sigh.

you know it! Threw these up before the forum hack/rebuild but here's a few again...

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/P1070616.jpg

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/P1070617.jpg

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/P1070634.jpg

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/P1070624.jpg

I think it was Dusty and KG who did a pretty wicked red LED install on one of theirs earlier this year but that post also seemed to disappear.

Compartments are cool (and helpful the last few nights!) too...

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/P1070629.jpg

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/P1070626.jpg

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/glovebox.jpg

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/P1070618.jpg


I'm still trying to figure out a way to subtly light up the walkway under the windshield without it being in the way or messing with me trying to drive at night. Going to add just a little more to the bow as well. Gotta be careful with that though so I don't ruin my night visibility.

I decided I like being well seen on water running at night. Coming home late Saturday night around 10pm in the black of night I almost took out a big Giligan's Island cruiser who had no running lights at all - nearly a head on collision... I was lit up like a damn UFO plus my running lights so I KNOW I was visible. Then pulling up into the boat marina entrance I see some weird looking shadow in front of me that I needed to avoid. Turns out to be a bass boat, also not lit up at all. Bunch of frickin morons. Where's the sheriff on nights like those??

I installed mine before the lake trip last weekend and they look killer, exactly what I wanted. Nice glow without being so bright that it's distracting. I installed the ten 9" strips in these locations;

• 2 in the bow, 1 behind each upholstery panel (nice glow on cushions)
• 1 in the amp/battery locker (just enough light without being obnoxious)
• 2 under dash (lights that whole area nicely)
• 1 next to drivers seat alongside seat slide (entire area glows nice around drivers seat)
• 4 above rear speakers (2 each side) (looks real good)

No pictures, as as soon as we launched Thursday night and i turned them on it was a gnat fest and i had to turn them off! I'll get some this weekend hopefully and post them.

Also, mine came without any adhesive tape at all on them so my method worked perfectly so far.

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Also, mine came without any adhesive tape at all on them so my method worked perfectly so far.

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I think that may work out better actually... Can you get that tape just about anywhere or online only? I haven't looked yet.

Bummer about the gnats - can't wait to see some pics though! I love this kinda stuff.

berg looks like you did one under the rub rail at the back??? where did you run the wires.. that looks killer!

Thanks man. I wasn't ready to spring for the underwater spots or floods yet so I came up with Plan B.
Giving away all my secrets here...

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/6678b18a.jpg

I drilled a single hole dead center for wiring, sealed with some 4200, and ran 2 strips out each direction. My hull is a bit different so i have sort of a lip of fiberglass under the rubrail. Not sure you could pull this off with the newer hulls but maybe?

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/f73b5072.jpg

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...V/P1070641.jpg

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Originally Posted by bergermaister

I think that may work out better actually... Can you get that tape just about anywhere or online only? I haven't looked yet.

Bummer about the gnats - can't wait to see some pics though! I love this kinda stuff.

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That tape only comes from CRL (link) that i'm aware of. I'm sure that somebody else has to make it as well though.

Looks sick Berg, way cool and I'm sure not a ton of work went into it. Super nice. Razz, cant wait to see pics of your set up. Stangkillas has a sweet set up also. Yall are some rocking out moomba maniacs....

I'd love to see some more pics of where different people are putting led lights i'm not on the water too much at dark but dang they look sick on the pics i've seen with em

Any pics yet Razz?

Man, these all look great! I ordered mine a few days ago so they may be in by tomorrow! Where I work we use 3m double faced high bond tape... so I will be using that. Here is my question. Yall are wiring to the courtesy light? Also, is there some sort of transformer needed? Lastly, I wanted mine to flash to music... that is from an RF box? Or something like that?

I had an extra accessory switch on my panel that runs LEDs only. I'm guessing that is similar to courtesy lights on a newer boat. No transformer - straight 12v hookups. I think some of the lights have any necessary resistors built into them. Can't help with the flashing to music but I've seen it before.

Maybe Ian can chime in on the switches he used for his LED controls. His are all independent and look pretty slick.

Oh great... direct wiring... that makes it much easier I reckon.

Got them installed last night... I wired the starboard side directly into the courtesy light.. and the port and dash to the rocker switch itself. Pics aren't the best cause it is in the garage with tower down. Will get better ones later.Attachment 12203Attachment 12204Attachment 12205Attachment 12206

chwak,

Your ever-changing profile pics are freaky!

Thanks! :) they are a blast to make...

So we're going out for the next three days and this time I'll remember to get pics, promise! I haven't had the boat out in a month due to committments and getting decent pics in storage is impossible.

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Originally Posted by bergermaister

Maybe Ian can chime in on the switches he used for his LED controls. His are all independent and look pretty slick.

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Because adding LEDs is an addiction, I wanted expandability with the set up. What I did was run a +/- from port side rear, up through the bow, to starboard rear. I tied that line into 1 push button switch. Now any time I want to add more interior LEDs I just tie them into that main line. I also have a switch for Tower LEDs, Underwater LEDs, and Tower Amp. All of the LEDs get their power from the courtesy light switch; this way I can flick that switch and they all turn off; no forgetting to turn off independent lights.

I have (2) 10" strips left... I would love them in the bow... but can't seem to see where they would fit nicely... any ideas?

maybe speaker rings?

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Originally Posted by chawk610

I have (2) 10" strips left... I would love them in the bow... but can't seem to see where they would fit nicely... any ideas?

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I took some pics this weekend but they didn't come out worth crap due to camera flash but here they are anyway. I put two in the bow but it's a pain to do. Here's how I did it.

• Loosened up nuts for bow side cushions next to where you're shoulder would be if seated.
• Pulled out cushion a bit and slid led strip behind cushion where it's at an angle facing speakers.
• Routed wire under cushion to bottom.
• Drilled a very tiny hole directly below cushion and fed wire through. Can't even see it.
• Tightened cushion nuts.

If you do this you'll have to play with the angle the strips are at due to carpet for maximum visibility, if you have carpet that is. So here's the pics, sorry for the ghosting and bluriness but you all get the idea. Looks sooo much better in person!

Again, here's what I installed;

• 2 (4 total) in each cabin cupholder section
• 1 in the port storage locker
• 2 under the dash directly above sub
• 1 alongside drivers seat facing wall
• 2 in the bow

Attachment 12254 Attachment 12255 Attachment 12253

nicely done! Thanks for the idea! I will look at doin' this as the bow looks really dark with my cabin lit.

Looks good Razz, you took close to the same route we did. The extra bow lighting really helps the overall look at night. Before I did mine, even with the lights inside the speakers, it seems like a dead zone up there.

Ditto that on the bow - I have a few little modules up there but just not enough. I'm wondering if I can get a few more strips up if that will help the walkway between the windshield have some reflective glow as well.

I love the LED's guys, nice job! Looking for some tips here. What guage wire did you all use to wire the LEDs into your switches? I saw that Ian said he ran a +/- all the way around the boat then just ties into that? How are you guys splicing the wires in, are you using crimp connectors, soldering, T-taps? I ordered up the 10 pack of the 9" in strips and they have very thin wire on them. Thanks in advance for sharing your secrets.

I did the same as Ian, +/- all the way around tie into it accordingly. I used crimp connectors with the heatstrink ends that I believe it was Razz had suggested a while back. Pretty thin wire too - like 18-22 gauge if I recall. Kind of nice as you can combine several wires from lights into a single splice point in the big +/- loop. Somebody on here even said they used phone line wire but I wouldn't put to much on that thin of stuff.

Purchased a set last night. Cant wait to receive them.