Custom Underwater Lights.

[Midnightsun]

I have experimented with a few different varieties over the years starting with halogen before LED even existed and they all have worked well. One thing I have learned is it is nice to have lots of lumens however those do get cost prohibitive if you are looking at some of the brand names and to be honest with you, a huge ripoff for what one gets. I just built some new ones for installation next spring. They have threaded holes in the base which will be secured with 2 SS bolts to the top of the trim tabs. 2 will point directly behind and 2, 45º to each side. Used 50w cob leds which I set into a custom machined housing and encased them in resin. made 4 of them which equates to a total of 200watts of led light or about 16,000 lumens if you prefer. Used these which are 12v so no special transformers or driver required. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/50W-COB ... -cQAvD_BwE

Waterproof T connectors so I end up with a single wire going through the transom to supply power. They are a little better than an inch thick and 5" in diameter. Should illuminate the depths quite well to say the least. Total cost is under $100 for all 4 however I do have access to a machine shop so the machining is free.

[MakinTime]

Nice work! I wish I could run some kind of under water lights but we boat on the murky Mississippi and they just don’t work!

[bud37]

Nice job Hans, what metal did you machine the housings out of ?.....free machining is quite a bonus.....

[Midnightsun]

Thanks, 6061 aluminum.

[AaHubb]

Are you using a voltage regulator? The LED specs give a 1% power tolerance so max voltage would be 13.2 VDC. Quite a bit less than the normal engine alternator output.
..Aaron

[Midnightsun]

No regulator however I have tested them at 14.6v for extended periods and all seems fine. Might install one though since they are encapsulated in epoxy so no easy fix if one dies on me. Good point and defiantly needs consideration.

[Midnightsun]

Install complete. Went all out as I wanted some mood lighting (separate circuit) above and beyond the white light. Total Lumens is now a hair under 20,000 with both systems lit.

Here are pictures of the main underwater custom led installed on the trim tabs.








Installed blue mood lighting 7x, 10W strips along the transom just above the water and 2x, 12 watt led under water spotlights to give a cool factor.

[SanJuanDreamer]

Nice work on installing but no pictures of it working?
Ya know the saying....no pictures....didn't happen....

[Midnightsun]

They will come but in water. Not much purpose showing them on the hard. A few weeks and I should have something posted.

[tomschauer]

Hans, are you going to build more of these and sell them to us?