Engine room LED's

[SEVEN]

A friend and I installed new LED lights in the starboard engine room last weekend. We tapped in to the regular lights with a 32 to 12 volt converter and then strung 2- 24" lights on each side of the ceiling. Complete package was $75.00 per engine room. It turned the engine room from dingy to daylight. I'm going to try to add a photo. Hope it attaches.

 

[Toolsntoys]

Seven. What converter and led did you use. I want to do mine also. Pete

 

[krush]

I did internet research on the various models of LED strip lighting, and this seems to be the brightest and most efficient (and newest tech). $9.99 a roll where other places charging much more. I haven't installed yet, but I will be soon. I'm just going to stick them up in the engine room and wire to 12VDC.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF66JO

Also get these connectors cheap and life is easy! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AGUI8K/

And they may be too bright, but a cheap dimmer fixes that (especially for in cockpit) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IUGQSKM/

 

[SEVEN]

Mine came in clear plastic tubes that I hung from the ceiling with wire ties. If you do the same, thighten the wire ties so they are snogg but able to rotate the tube with your fingers. This will allow you to adjust wthe direction of the light and put it where you need the most light. I put (4) 24" lights in. That's as big as they come. Top Hatt was the friend that bought them and helped install them. Craig, can you give everyone the model numbers they are looking for.

 

[Top Hatt Craig]

Mine came in clear plastic tubes that I hung from the ceiling with wire ties. If you do the same, thighten the wire ties so they are snogg but able to rotate the tube with your fingers. This will allow you to adjust wthe direction of the light and put it where you need the most light. I put (4) 24" lights in. That's as big as they come. Top Hatt was the friend that bought them and helped install them. Craig, can you give everyone the model numbers they are looking for.

The 12v rigid PCB mounted LED Strip Lights are 22.5" and can be cut to length https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...rigid-light-bar-w-high-power-3-chip-leds/99/I inserted them into 1/2" OD clear acrylic tubing from TAP Plastics ($3.75) and capped each end with 1/2" grey vinyl screw protectors from ACE Hardware after drilling a small hole for the wires. Also from superbrightleds.com are the connectors needed for the LEDs, cut one of the two plugs off as needed. https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...-bars/130/?accessory_of=99-powerconnector_cps. Use the ty-wraps that have a hole for a screw to fasten.

 

[Top Hatt Craig]

Seven. What converter and led did you use. I want to do mine also. Pete

SUPERNIGHT™ 36V to 12V 10A 120W GOLF CART Voltage Reducer Converter.. sorry the eBay Link is to large to copy here. The SuperBright LEDs linked below draw 6 watts each. Have fun, Craig

 

[SEVEN]

Thanks Craig. Hope all is well.

 

[Hatteras58]

I like your idea of putting these strips inside of acrylic tubing, but is there any concern about long-term heat issues from enclosing these light strips? I know the LEDs do not generate near as much heat as any of the incandescent-type lights, but I do feel some warmth from the LEDs that I have installed.

Southern Comfort
1977 Hatteras 58YF
Portsmouth, VA

 

[Toolsntoys]

Thank you for sharing the details.

 

[Top Hatt Craig]

I like your idea of putting these strips inside of acrylic tubing, but is there any concern about long-term heat issues from enclosing these light strips? I know the LEDs do not generate near as much heat as any of the incandescent-type lights, but I do feel some warmth from the LEDs that I have installed.Southern Comfort1977 Hatteras 58YFPortsmouth, VA

This enclosed unit would be a good alternative although they're twice the price and fixed in length. https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...h-power-led-waterproof-light-bar-fixture/680/ I have had mine on as long as four hours several times and no problems yet. The 1/2" clear acrylic tubing from TAP Plastics is $3.75 for a 6' length. Regards, Craig

 

[krush]

FYI, these strip lights come in different waterproof ratings I think IP65 is spalsh proof and IP67 can be submerged. The ones that can be submerged basically come installed in clear hose.

 

[SEVEN]

If I submerge these I'm in big trouble.

 

[Capt Paul]

I used the little ribbon led's all around my ER and am extremely happy with them. For the cheap price I didn't know if they would hold up but with two years on them they have been flawless. They are very bright, light up my whole space and allowed me to remove my fluorescent fixtures. I highly recommend these.

 

[Tim Powell]

This is kinda off the path . I installed outdoor house hold spot (flood) got them from none other than Lowes Home improvemen there were three lights per fixture. I put led bubs in them of course they can be directed in many directions. The fixture is painted white and look grate they are put in the place of the fluorescent. No wiring just undo one and replace the other. Need to ware sunglasses in the engine room. One big problem showes all the oil spots but nothing carburator cleaner wont cure.

 

[SEVEN]

This is kinda off the path . I installed outdoor house hold spot (flood) got them from none other than Lowes Home improvemen there were three lights per fixture. I put led bubs in them of course they can be directed in many directions. The fixture is painted white and look grate they are put in the place of the fluorescent. No wiring just undo one and replace the other. Need to ware sunglasses in the engine room. One big problem showes all the oil spots but nothing carburator cleaner wont cure.

That's exactly what happened to me. I thought my engine room was clean until I turned on the lights. I ended up installing the lights in about an hour and a half but then spent 5 hours re cleaning. You can see every spot. Good and bad. However I love the look. Send photos of your install.

 

[SeaEric]

I used the little ribbon led's all around my ER and am extremely happy with them. For the cheap price I didn't know if they would hold up but with two years on them they have been flawless. They are very bright, light up my whole space and allowed me to remove my fluorescent fixtures. I highly recommend these.

the ones I installed burned out rather quickly. I have ripped them down and am starting over with plan B.

 

[SEVEN]

Eric, Craig in Top Hatt has had these in his engine room for more than s year. I know he has left them on for hours at a time. They do not get hot and so far no failure.

 

[q240z]

Eric, did you install a 12v to 12v converter? Before I installed mine in our Commander, I contacted the seller and was told they're very sensitive to overvolting. He said they'll last 50,000+ hours at 12v, but the life drops off rapidly over 12v. He said at 14.4v they wouldn't live long at all. Amazon sells the converters, so I got a few of them and used them on that install. They've been working great for 4 years in the salon, berths, and heads, which means they're on for hours pretty much every evening. I'll be doing the same thing on the Roamer eventually.