LED Strip lights

[Despacio]

After re-paneling my forward cabin, I had a gap along the top and wasn't sure what to do with it. A piece of wood cut to the curve was going to be the only way.

A neighbor showed me his LED strip lights he was putting up, and I decided to incorporate them into the corner.

These things are very easy to install, 12 volt, very energy efficient. They come in a roll of about 16 feet, for maybe $10 on Amazon.com. They have bright white, warm white, and lights that change color. Self stick adhesive makes them easy to mount.

I used warm white for the head, and a strip of bright white over the mirror.

I now have them in both heads, the formerly dark forward cabin is dark no more, and the engine room brightly lit. All 110 volt lighting has been retired. The aft cabin is next.

In the engine room I used a 1/2 inch wide piece of aluminum angle from the hardware store.

Once you get started on these it's hard to quit putting these things up.

Now, let's see if the photos turn out right side up.

[jleonard]

Schweeeeet! I think I now have another project!

[mudskipper]

Thanks for some good ideas and photos. I am setting up an alternate solar to batterys and inverter system that will also serve for night cabin lights.at 12V I have switched out one 12V overhead to Alpinglow which was very pricy . My goal is to be able to stay on hook for the night and have 110 AC for my CPAP machine and basic very modest draw LED anchor lights and cabin lights at12 V DC I am also going to try to redo the bathroom outlets to GFI type 110 AC I have a big roll of marine three wire # 12 Two regular big job land electricians and home depot water proof GFI outlets. what will we need to complete job? What will I forget until I am wedged into the very bowels of my boat? Oh I also wonder if any members from far away want to trade a trip ; My boat in NJ for a trip to your boat someplace far off and interesting? Not Perth Amboy

[saltwaternurse]

Wow - that's a great project! Nice job : )
I was looking at the LED strips, but not for the boat - I put a glass bar on my deck at the house and wanted to illuminate it from underneath - are they relatively easy to work with? I've seen the auto kits at Autozone, but wanted a long strip (it's a 15 foot stretch on standoffs) that could be mounted on the edge of the glass. It's on the To Do list, but I'm inspired after seeing what you did with it on the boat! Jane

[rebuckley]

Can you take a few shots of where you ran the wires? Particularly in the heads? This looks awesome, and I would love to change out the current lighting

[bccanucker]

Perfect!! Finding the right product is so key.
I looked on Amazon and got too many hits for these. If not too much trouble could you please let us know exactly which ones you bought.
Thanks.

[Despacio]

Hi;
These are the lights I used:
Hitlights Warm White Flexible Ribbon LED Strip Light, 300 LEDs, 5 Meters (16.4 Feet) Spool, 12VDC Input
I also used a roll of bright (cool white) for over the mirrors and in the engine room. Of course I didn't use the transformer.

I did not buy the waterproof. You have seen this waterproof stuff, it's what they use on an airliner floor for emergency lighting.

All of the existing wiring, 110 and 12 volt, forward, runs behind the wood strip at the bottom of the cabin side, all the way around from the electrical panel. The wire for that head (and the port side forward cabin) runs up from that at the forward corner of the head behind a small, easily removed wood trim piece.

The aft head and aft cabin was easy, I just ran it behind the wood "cornice" all the way around. Put lights in there too.

I re-paneled my forward cabin, but I imagine one could remove the small trim piece and pry the panel (over the bunk) out enough to get the wire in. I used 20 gauge wire, so it's pretty small.

The wire on the starboard side forward is very easy.

You could just tap into the overhead light. I ran new wires all around because it was easy having it all torn apart, and I wanted wall switches.

The overhead light in the forward head didn't work for years because I couldn't find the broken wire. Turned out to be obvious and easy, it was behind that piece of trim in the corner.