Finally got around to putting my light together. 300 green LEDs , internally weighted. Sealed with silicone and then some left over plastic dip from making rod holders.
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Finally got around to putting my light together. 300 green LEDs , internally weighted. Sealed with silicone and then some left over plastic dip from making rod holders.
Sweet that's on my to do list You have a parts list or did you pull it from a thread ?
Bought most of the parts off EBay. I can post a parts lists little later.
How much money you got invested in that? Since you live so close to me you can just make me one for Christmas ha ha. I have never used one but if yours works and you have success with it I might either try and make me one or hire you. It would run good off my battery set up for my LED lights
That's pretty cool how you wrapped that. Do you have a weight in it to sink it?
Said he had it weighted internally.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker123
Okay, sorry. Too focused on the pictures.
That looks great! Nice job
The cost is for two lights. The 5meter string of LEDs (16') are $20 on EBay. The clear 1.250 PVC pipe was about $20 for two feet. It is internally weighed with some old lead shot I had around. The rest is two 1.250" PVC pipe caps 3/4" PVC pipe and caps for the core to wrap the lights on and hold the weights. I also splic inside the core to I have double protection against moisture. The string is just spiral wrapped, it does make a pattern. This is the second light, the first was a full sting of leds, it is very bright. Things I learned so far. You can use T-12 florescent bulb cover. They are fragile and don't last long you will be doing it again soon. You can also find clear pipe that is smaller in diameter, it is cheaper but there are not pipe caps to fit it. I had to machine adapters on a lathe, no big deal to do if you have a lathe or access to one.
Let us know how it works for you
Man that looks great. It'll do the job for sure.
great looking light! one thing i found with the "reel lites", was to zip tie the cable to it so it hung upside down. that takes the stress off where the cord enters the tube. a lot of them leaked and i believe that to be why. mine havent leaked yet rigged this way.
good job:ThumbsUp
That is a good idea River Scum
This is the original light I built. 600 LEDs , 2 feet long. It is extremely bright, the light ball is around 20 feet. Had shad so thick around it that it looked as if you could walk a crossed them. Amp draw on the big light is around 2 amps. I ran it for 12 hours on a small battery pack
Nice work
Too cool!
I can't believe no one has said it yet, BRILLIANT!! (lol)
I am just one of many that have made these lights. The internet is full of them in all shapes, sizes, and colors
Job well done
Thank you much
Awesome Job with the light. I am going to make my own, found everything on amazon a little cheaper. What kind of wire did you use and cigarette lighter plug to fit that size wire if you don't mind me asking? Did you get the wire from Ebay as well? That's the only thing I cant find. Thanks for any help.
Again Awesome job on the light!
Old Vaccium Cleaners Have Good cords, That can be used and last a long time.
That's a good idea except I dont have an old vacuum cleaner laying around. Wonder if my wife will miss the cord if I cut it off. lol
Guess I can just use an old extension cord as well, was just wondering what he used, I'm going to make 2 of them for a trip to lake Champlain in July. New to crappie fishing and want to try it up there at night.
I used direct burial low voltage wire for sprinkler systems. I found it at Home depot. Most auto parts have the male cigarette plugs. Radio Shack has one that clips on with spring connectors inside. No soldering needed. They seem to hold up well and the connection can be remade on the boat if needed.
Hello: Looks great. Even if it doesn't work I still want one. Never used a light before but I will try it this season. Any tips on using one ? Good Luck this season if it ever gets here. O - R
I seen that low voltage wire after I posted and was wondering if that's what you used. Couple other questions if you don't mind. How did you keep the 3/4" pipe from moving around inside? I also ordered the string of LEDs (16'), you only used 8' in this light?
Thanks Jack for all the help.
The 3/4" pipe is a fairly close fit, it doesn't have much room to move. That being said I still put some silicone in the bottom and the top of the main tube to keep it secure and prevent movement. Yes I only used 1/2 of the 16' string. The other half got leads soldered to it and used in another light.
Thanks Jack for all your help. Looking forward to trying this on lake Champlain this year.
Most welcome. Best of luck to ya.
That turned out great! is this the type of lights you used?
Amazon.com - XKTTSUEERCRR Waterproof Green LED 3528 SMD 300LED 5M Light Flexible Strip 12V 2A 24W 60LED/M - String Lights
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1200_.jpg
I've run my starting motor battery down to where it wouldn't start the big motor once, that ain't gonna happen again. So I run my lights off the trolling motor battery.
I bought a spare male connector plug that plugs into the trolling motor battery outlet. Then I splice on two of the 2 wire flat connectors so I can run 2 lights. These are only a couple of bucks each at an auto parts store and include both the male and female ends.
Trolling motor connector, there are several different ones, you'll need the one that fits your boat's female connector.
Attachment 192149
2 wire flat connector, be sure to wire these so the hot side is always shielded, the top connector in the pic below should go to the battery, the bottom connector to the light.
Attachment 192150
I rigged mine with two of the 2 wire connectors, so I can run two lights.
No clips. no cigarette lighter plugs (which are usually junk) and most importantly no running lights off the starter battery.
how much weight did you have to add to sink it? I'm thinking about another 4 footer. I've always just used external weights, but internal weights would be one less thing to remember, and one less place for it to leak.Quote:
Originally Posted by DockShootinJack
On the 2' one I filled the 3/4" inner pipe around 3/4 the way full of some old #8 lead shot I had laying around the reloading bench. Can't be over 2 pounds, only need enough to sink it below the keel of the boat.