48 LED Uinderwater Lights

I got mine ordered yesterday. I am going with green. Course all my interior and engine bay lights are green. The boat is green and the name says it all " Excessive Green"

Btw Ron, sent you an email
 
KayKook said:
I just ate a bologna sandwich. :grin:
Click to expand...

I had salami last night. :thumbsup:

In any case, I have a set of first run and second run lights. I will take a few pics tonight and post them so you can see the differences.
 
Are there big differences in 1st and 2nd gen?
 
As mentioned in a previous post:

...the new run have thicker lenses with a protective coating ... and makes them more scratch resistant. The wiring also has a heavier, more protective sheath...

I would think the coating would make it easier to clean as well. Doug mentioned the coating was the same that the military uses on their plastic lenses. Don't know about that, but they appear to be more durable and underwater worthy.
 
Here are some pics of the 48LED's First Run side-by-side with the Second Run. I will replace the First Run with the Second Run lights the week after Memorial Day and use 4 instead of 2.

2run1.jpg


2run2.jpg


2run3.jpg



2run4.jpg


2run5.jpg


2run6.jpg


All in all at first glance, it's just a more solid and durable light. As previously mentioned:

...the new run have thicker lenses with a protective coating ... and makes them more scratch resistant. The wiring also has a heavier, more protective sheath...

I will post more pics of the lights once installed, lit out of the water, and lit in the water.
 
I've been so busy I can't keep my thoughts straight. I don't think I've posted this. Yesterday, I drilled the holes in the transom and coated the insides of the holes with epoxy, then epoxied in small through-hull PVC tubes to seal off the layers of fiberglass and provide a hole for the wiring. I had to measure 72 times, but they were just tiny, little measurements (name that reference). I was able to put the lights exactly where I wanted them.

Today, I drilled the screw holes, coated the backs of the lights and the screws heavily with 3M 4200. I also coated the base of the wires heavily to plug the wire holes. I started the screw holes with a bit 2X too big to funnel the edges in to prevent chipping the gel. I screwed the lights to the transom and oozed out the excess 4200 and wiped it clean (sort of).

We had a dinner and awards ceremony for my daughter, then I had to drive back to the boat 15 miles to test the lights. All tested good. I wouldn't have slept otherwise. Then, we drove home. Tomorrow, I will finish the wiring and re-splash the boat. Tomorrow night, I will reap my rewards with a night at the dock enjoying the lights if all goes well.

What most of you don't know is, I added 6 LED light fixtures. It costs me quite a bit to pull the boat, and I wasn't completely comfortable only putting un-tested lights on. I don't have any problem doing it, but, with a month long trip to the Fl keys coming up in 2 weeks, I didn't want to leave anything to chance.

The other lights are 2 Abyss floods in blue. They cost 8X as much as the first run 48 LEDs and 4X that of the proposed final production 48 LEDs. They are bronze. I primed them with bottom paint metal surface primer. I painted them with bottom paint. You need to leave the back, inner circle clean. I drilled the same wire holes as above, epoxy.... I drilled one screw hole all the way through to ground the lights to the Mercathode system - This one has a bolt. Then, the center hole is re-drilled to 1/4" to accept the center of the light back. The light is raised from the transom by 3 small feet and a center ring. Water cools them from behind.

Looking at the back of my boat, there are 2 blue 48 LEDs at the very extreme corners. Just inside of the trim tabs are 2 Abyss'ssss's, one on each side. Inside of those are the 2nd pair of 48s. Oh, and yes, I still have the halogen Barnegats - I replaced one of them yesterday - I sealed them with clear silicone this time as advised by one of their reps.

The Abyss lights are 34" from the center of the boat. They are 17" from the center of the trim tab cylinder mounting points. You need to measure off of things that transfer inside the transom as well as out - center line, transom zinc bolts, trim tab cylinder mounting bolts... The 48's are 23" inside of the Abyss, and 22" from each other. They are all evenly spaced. I'll probably be on the boat tomorrow night and post pics the next evening. Life is busy. I'll be retiring from the military in a couple of weeks - 25 years.
 
I have 4 pairs of lighted switches in the transom locker. I will be able to turn them on at the helm, then select which of the 4 pairs of lights I want on - huge floods, 4 sharp spots, or if whiter light is needed, the Barnegats.
 
Ron - excellent job with the comparison pics.

By the way, when comparing 48's to Abyss in the pool, the Abyss seemed much brighter. At the beach, when held under water and pointed backward, they were very similar. This is why I went with the combo. A lot more light for the dollar with the 48's, and the 2nd run lights seem durable enough for me to mount them to my salt water, slipped boat. I'll post comparison pics in a couple of days.
 
John,

U said PVC tubes??? What r those? I am installing 4 green 48's this week. So just curious.

Great pics Ron. Yeah I have 2nd gen lights. Glad I got those
 
I wanted to epoxy the holes to re-seal the fiberglass layers in the transom, but, I didn't want to drill big holes, fill completely with epoxy, then drill new holes in the epoxy, as is the standard for a first class job. So, I came up with a solution.

I found some PVC that is very narrow, but with a relatively thick wall. I drilled holes to fit the outside diameter of the PVC, then epoxied sections of it into the holes. I used a lot of epoxy in the holes first, and outside of the PVC flush with the transom. The end result is that there is a tiny hole for the wires, with epoxy all around.

As each light was installed, I used plenty of 4200 on the backs of the lights and on the wires inside the PVC sections. There was excess oozing inside the transom and all around the lights. I think it's sealed forever, but is also reversable if I so desire.
 
Lights on tonight. All 8 working perfectly so far. The 48 LEDs do look just as bright as the Abyss, but due to being spots as compared to flood, they don't actually light up as much volume of water. Excellent bang for the buck.

The placement of each pair is very nice. The option to switch on any combo of the 4 pairs is awesome. I took plenty of pics. Back to work at 0545, so bed for now.
 
Hampton,

Got a quick question for ya..... The way my transom is designed I could face all four of my lights aft, or I can do two aft and one on either side facing towards the lower unit. Given you have seen them illuminated in the water. What is your recommendation. All four shining back or two shining back and two shining twards the center
 
Douglee,

Just curious as to y u say all 4 to the rear... I agree and that's what I wad thinking. Just looking for the rational?
 
Firerooster said:
Douglee,

Just curious as to y u say all 4 to the rear... I agree and that's what I wad thinking. Just looking for the rational?
Click to expand...

Since light is directional, it will reflect/refract off those lenses to a certain degree (I'm unsure if the base of the lights have any coating to reflect). If you face them towards each other, the light will go more inward vs. outward which is where you're looking for the effect.

Doug
 
Good enough for me


Yeah I think I will do all 4 facing aft. Put one on either side of the drive up high just below the water line. And 2 down lower near the bottom of the transom on either side a little wider then the upper lights. Or do u think I should switch that? Lower ones on either side of drive and upper ones wider out on the sides?
 
Last edited:
I don't think you could go wrong either way.

Outside up slightly higher than the inside may be good.

Doug
 
Hole drilled with some epoxy inside:

110.jpg


2 Holes with PVC tubes epoxied in and outside epoxied over:

111.jpg


2 48 LEDs:

116.jpg


1 Abyss:

120.jpg


Transom:

122.jpg
 
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