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**** Should I put a fuse on the wiring for this when I hook it up,,, if so what amp?
Another very good question. I am pretty good with 12V DC electrical but I'm no expert. The smallest 12V fuse I think I have seen is 3 amps, this unit draws just over 1/2 amp so its my thinking that a 3 amp fuse might be obsolete. To be safe I guess you can put a 3 amp fuse at the source of the power supply to protect against chaffing.
I'm open to opinions on this, I have mine installed with no fuse because I figured that if there is a shout it will just fry the circuit board within the unit which is under water.
**** Should I put a fuse on the wiring for this when I hook it up,,, if so what amp?
Another very good question. I am pretty good with 12V DC electrical but I'm no expert. The smallest 12V fuse I think I have seen is 3 amps, this unit draws just over 1/2 amp so its my thinking that a 3 amp fuse might be obsolete. To be safe I guess you can put a 3 amp fuse at the source of the power supply to protect against chaffing.
I'm open to opinions on this, I have mine installed with no fuse because I figured that if there is a shout it will just fry the circuit board within the unit which is under water.
Awesome product BTW. I would like 2 but I will have to wait until sometime next year.
About the fuse, I would deff put the 3 amp inline with it. If it shorts underwater or you get leakage you will cook the wires and your electrical system until something pops, any by popping I mean your boat burns up and sinks (worst case). Your ACC switch if you are wiring it to that should have a sufficient fuse though I would think.
**** Should I put a fuse on the wiring for this when I hook it up,,, if so what amp?
Another very good question. I am pretty good with 12V DC electrical but I'm no expert. The smallest 12V fuse I think I have seen is 3 amps, this unit draws just over 1/2 amp so its my thinking that a 3 amp fuse might be obsolete. To be safe I guess you can put a 3 amp fuse at the source of the power supply to protect against chaffing.
I'm open to opinions on this, I have mine installed with no fuse because I figured that if there is a shout it will just fry the circuit board within the unit which is under water.
Awesome product BTW. I would like 2 but I will have to wait until sometime next year.
About the fuse, I would deff put the 3 amp inline with it. If it shorts underwater or you get leakage you will cook the wires and your electrical system until something pops, any by popping I mean your boat burns up and sinks (worst case). Your ACC switch if you are wiring it to that should have a sufficient fuse though I would think.
I'll agree with that. Worst case scenario is the thing fills with water while its on and shorts out, it would melt the wire possible catching the boat on fire. Though if the light is on you are probably on the boat and will be able to get ahold of it. If it fills with water and its off there is no danger until you turn it on.
Yup.....I think the 3 amp fuse is a must, mine isn't wired to the console, I have a small switch by the transom. I'll be putting a fuse in today.
Everyone should definitely be fusing these as well as everything else on their boat - Chris when you place your order with bestboatwire, ask them about cheap inline fuse holders and fuses. You should fuse them close to their actual power - I know you can get 1.5 amp fuses and probably less. (although 1.5 seems like a reasonable number) You may be able to pass those along for $5 or so and save people the trouble of trying to find them or pay outrageous box store prices.
Also you want to fuse them as far UPSTREAM as possible, probably right before the switch - you are protecting your boat not just from the device failure, but from wires getting pinched etc. So there's no reason for Chris to put the fuse in line with the wire or anything like that - that would be the wrong place for it.
They still make all kinds of fuses in the sizes everyone is talking about. 1/4 amp - 1/2 amp - 1a - 2a - 3a etc. etc. etc. on up to around 20amp in the 3ag size (which is the old glass automotive type), also the size most common for in-line fuse holders. I have all these in stock but not for sale. I get mine from Dalbani, all kinds of electronic parts. They do have a minimun order size though.
Also you want to fuse them as far UPSTREAM as possible, probably right before the switch - you are protecting your boat not just from the device failure, but from wires getting pinched etc. So there's no reason for Chris to put the fuse in line with the wire or anything like that - that would be the wrong place for it.
Thats pretty much what I was thinking. Treat this as you would any other electrical decice you install on your boat. When you buy a bilge pump, nav light, spreader light, baitwell pump ect they don't come with fuses, that doesn't mean you don't need one.
Best boat wire was helpful but they don't sell any marine duplex smaller than 16/2. I actually found a source online that sells 100' rolls of 18/2 marine duplex for 22.00.
I think you're spending ENTIRELY too much time on here posting. Back to work! Put me down for one wire out the top. I'm not in a hurry so if the blue works out that's what I want.
LOL....You're right, I need to do work around my house. All this light building has turned my garage into a plastics shop and my dining room into an electronics soldering station and my lawn is almost tall enough that I will need a combine to mow it.
I tried the colored lens thing, while it did turn the light blue or green but I feel it robbed to much of the intensity. Boomer, I'll put you down for the white light for the next batch unless you tell me otherwise.
That was a special request by Afishinado, he wanted as many LEDs as I could squeeze in one case so his had the three facing back, three facing down and one facing to port and one to stbd. Believe me he paid extra for that one. That unit was much more work.
That pic is shown unfinished, just the housing and the lights. I have them all at that stage, I'm just wating for the silica packs so I can close them all up.
A word of caution...do NOT look at these lights with the naked eye...geez, Man, I lit up my shop!!!
Great job, Chris....'preciate you getting them to me so quick!!!
__________________ Some people are like a slinky... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Got my set in yesterday.Very nice job on them.I will be installing them sunday,but will not be able to wet my boat for a week or so.
Anybody else install theres yet?If you did and happen to have twin motors,were did you place them?My plans are to put some velcro on them and place a long strip of velcro on the transom so I can adjust them till I find were they work out best or spot silicone them in place and move them till they work best,then put the screws to them.
chris, I just installed the lights today, they look great, very easy to install,and bright as hell. I may order another pair, maybe the cubes like you built for the other THTer, what is your price on those that face back and down? Thanks again and great work.
Chris I would like two with the wire comming out the side, top. I have pay pal or what ever you find easier. Im not in a hurry as I should be taking my boat out of the water tomorrow as its going from 20 degrees friday to 60 degress monday. time to pull boat during this window. great work and craftsmanship on your light Idea. Ive been following your post and Im glad to finally put an order for a set of two.
Chris I would like two with the wire comming out the side, top. I have pay pal or what ever you find easier. Im not in a hurry as I should be taking my boat out of the water tomorrow as its going from 20 degrees friday to 60 degress monday. time to pull boat during this window. great work and craftsmanship on your light Idea. Ive been following your post and Im glad to finally put an order for a set of two.
Re: Homemade Underwater Lights. 
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