2 Underwater Green Lights, DIY for $10

Printable View

08-11-2018, 07:22 PM
Charly

3 Attachment(s)

2 Underwater Green Lights, DIY for $10

I'm cheap, if I can DIY I will. Made these 2 lights for $9.99.

The 16ft Strip light was the only cost, enough for 2 lights. Both ends of the lights have wires you just cut the 16ft light in half. The bottles where 50cent drinks from wally world and I already had the silicone. My Gramps used to use Silicone when he made fish tanks so I thought it would work good to seal the cap.

I haven't added wire extensions yet just made them. Anyone interested here's the link for the lights, the guy ships fast got mine in 3 days.

5M 16.4 Ft 5050 SMD 300LED Green LED Strip Light Black PCB IP65 Waterproof USEG 699974022523 | eBay

The bottles are 9" long and 2" dia. To seal them I drilled tiny holes in the cap and ran wires thru. Then filled top of bottle full of silicon, put silicon in cap and on bottle threads. Then screwed the cap on and pulled wires thru until they stoped. Then I added silicon all over top/sides of cap and wires. Tested for leaks in sink and no leaks. The lights are IP65, thats supposed to be waterproof. So if bottles leak when fishing water should not harm the lights.

Attachment 313349 Attachment 313350 Attachment 313351
08-11-2018, 07:53 PM
Charly

I messed up on the extension wire connection placement, I was in to big of a hurry to get them made I didn't think it through.

Anyone who tries to make lights like these I suggest putting the connection inside the bottle not outside like these. I'm gona seal them good but after thinking I should have put the connection inside the bottle.
08-11-2018, 08:15 PM
KyTyer

Thats using your noggin.Great job!!
08-11-2018, 08:38 PM
Lloakley930

I suggest also adding enough lead to make them barely buoyant.
08-11-2018, 11:16 PM
Charly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloakley930

I suggest also adding enough lead to make them barely buoyant.

didn't have enough lead to add before I made it. After doing the math on air inside the bottle it will take 1.25lb to sink it I'll will have to tape something on the bottom.
08-12-2018, 05:21 AM
speckle

Also need to solder the wire connection and cover with heat shrink tubing and tie a knot on lead wire to keep the cord from pulling out of the bottle. You can tie the weight to the neck of the bottle. A great idea. I have a string of these lites down the side of my boat and it works great
08-12-2018, 07:00 AM
Nightprowler

weight

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloakley930

I suggest also adding enough lead to make them barely buoyant.

or rocks (being cheap)
08-12-2018, 11:14 AM
snake River

The only problem with the lighting system is that you would have to have a 12 v battery is the above possible by using a little 9v battery this would make it more portable for the guys that are fishing off the dock .
08-12-2018, 11:55 AM
SpeckledSlab

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake River

The only problem with the lighting system is that you would have to have a 12 v battery is the above possible by using a little 9v battery this would make it more portable for the guys that are fishing off the dock .

. A motorcycle or lawnmower battery is the ticket with these LED’s, shrimpers use them here and some go a couple of nights in row without needing to recharge.
08-12-2018, 12:00 PM
strmwalker

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake River

The only problem with the lighting system is that you would have to have a 12 v battery is the above possible by using a little 9v battery this would make it more portable for the guys that are fishing off the dock .

not really a 9volt battery will run a 12volt LED setup for 24hrs I know for sure I have done it for a test on my BlueWaterLEDs !!! so if you wanted to fish off a dock with them lights and don't have 12volt battery get a 9volt and go fishing !!!
08-12-2018, 02:12 PM
skiptomylu

Looks like maybe your on to something, but with a Cree Bulb it wouldn’t take many lights.

Skip
08-13-2018, 08:41 PM
strmwalker

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiptomylu

Looks like maybe your on to something, but with a Cree Bulb it wouldn’t take many lights.

Skip

:hesaid for sure !!!!!
08-13-2018, 10:22 PM
CrappieDreamer

1 Attachment(s)

2 Underwater Green Lights, DIY for $10

Attachment 313553
I made a couple using the same type of LED strip lights. I filled the center tube with a bunch of BB’s. Mostly PVC fittings, but used clear polycarbonate tube for outside. I never did take a picture of the completed light showing the cord. The picture was just a test setup before completion.

I tend to over engineer, so mine cost a bit more [emoji3]

Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
08-14-2018, 07:02 AM
mcdye

That will work 4sure... :ThumbsUp
08-16-2018, 05:53 AM
Charly

Quote:

Originally Posted by speckle

Also need to solder the wire connection and cover with heat shrink tubing and tie a knot on lead wire to keep the cord from pulling out of the bottle. You can tie the weight to the neck of the bottle. A great idea. I have a string of these lites down the side of my boat and it works great

Yep, as I said in my 2nd post I should have put the extension wire connection inside the bottle. Since posting I took them apart, put the connection inside and tied a knot, then filled bottle top and cap with silicone. As for weights I found some 2" thick washers I attached to the bottom with zip ties. 6 of them sinks it just to the bottom of the cap.
08-16-2018, 06:13 AM
Charly

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake River

The only problem with the lighting system is that you would have to have a 12 v battery is the above possible by using a little 9v battery this would make it more portable for the guys that are fishing off the dock .

When hard water gets here I plan on using the spare Vexilar battery I have to run the lights. Already tested it and works great. In the winter I also carry a small Kiddy jeep battery, its about the size of a cycle battery but it has a handle. It had a plug so I cut it off added terminals so I can hook up to my vexilar. Those are pretty expensive though, our grandkids jeep went bad so I took the battery.

I suggest searching for a 12v vexilar battery, they're small and not that heavy. You can order one at Walmart online or ebay, here's a wallyworld link giving you an idea what it is. Its 12v 9AH and under $25.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/12V-9AH-S...9-AH/136773901
08-16-2018, 06:22 AM
Charly

Gr8 looking light Crappiedreamer. I watch many videos on how to make them but the materials was more than I wanted to put into one plus I couldn't find any florescent light protectors. Also didn't have any PVC Primer/Solvent Cement and didn't feel like spending $10 for the kit. So I went the cheap route, maybe later on I'll make some that look as nice as your. Plus yours are probably brighter since all lights are facing out, mine some of the tape side is faceing out.
08-16-2018, 08:08 AM
Skippa Chippa

I used a Red Solo Cup and a piece of wire for a hook and filled them with cement for weight
08-16-2018, 11:13 AM
snake River

Quote:

Originally Posted by strmwalker

not really a 9volt battery will run a 12volt LED setup for 24hrs I know for sure I have done it for a test on my BlueWaterLEDs !!! so if you wanted to fish off a dock with them lights and don't have 12volt battery get a 9volt and go fishing !!!

You mention a 9 V Battery Are you talking about the ones That you use in the smoke alarms??
We use the Leds In our Theater With 9v Battery I suppose that we couldn't bye And use one of those setups I'm sure that they make in green or blue Or any other color there that you would like to use I know for sure if you compile them That they would be very bright Thank you For the suggestion Of used The 9v Battery.