After peering around with a torch at night in the engine room, I thought it would be a good idea to fit some permanent lighting. To get the best spread of illumination, I wanted a couple of strip lights, with an automatic switch so the lights come on whenever the companionway steps are lifted. I found some cheap, high output LED strips - 9 watt per 50cm strip. Each strip has 36 LEDs, but you can adjust the length easily by cutting after every third LED. I had to reduce the length by 8cm (removing 6 LEDs). I screwed the strips to the underside of the cockpit floor, and the foil-lined insulation ensures that light gets evenly spread around. The strips are about £5 for a pair. I added a £1 car-type courtesy light switch. The result is brilliant - really good all-round illumination.
The LED strips I bought are here - http://www.banggood.com/2X-50cm-9W-5630-SMD-White-Waterproof-Rigid-Strip-Cabinet-Light-12V-p-940643.html
What a great idea, so simple but excellent result. saves trying to hold a torch at the same time. thanks for posting
A really neat job Aquilla. I did a similar installation but included red LED under the steps, using a manual switch. This allows for night lights in the cabin and a clear view of the engine too. As they're LED no need to worry that they're all 'on' at the same time.
Great idea and easily wired in. Very neat job too. I already have low level (footwell) cockpit lighting (soft white) and flood lighting over the cockpit table, so can tap into this. Thanks for sharing peops.
Great idea just fitted my engine compartment as above -very impressive.
I found a spare set of wires behind the toilet sink as the power supply.
They were factory fitted and I think intended for macerator for holding tank but the macerator was never installed.
The macerator switch and fuse on switch board controls the supply
One of my clever boat partners put one behind the glass filter bowl. This makes it easy to see if there is crap in the bowl and also reminds one to check it. We don't have an auto on switch though.
He has also permanently installed a USB outlet bank above one of the saloon bunks so the chart table does not get cluttered with leads coming from the 12V cigarette lighter socket.
Quote from: BillGiles on May 10 2015, 14:40
One of my clever boat partners put one behind the glass filter bowl. This makes it easy to see if there is crap in the bowl and also reminds one to check it.
If the filter is correctly plumbed in, the fuel in the bowl has been filtered and therefore there won't be any crap in it.
We had a diesel bug which turned water into horrible gooey stuff at the bottom of the bowl. It infected the fuel line near the on/off cock which stopped the fuel flow. Which stopped the engine off Beachy Head and was therefore quite dangerous. The metal bowl has been replaced with glass and the appearance of water can be dealt with before it turns into 'crap'.
Quote from: BillGiles on May 10 2015, 17:50
We had a diesel bug which turned water into horrible gooey stuff at the bottom of the bowl. It infected the fuel line near the on/off cock which stopped the fuel flow. Which stopped the engine off Beachy Head and was therefore quite dangerous. The metal bowl has been replaced with glass and the appearance of water can be dealt with before it turns into 'crap'.
Diesel bug develops in the tank, and is filtered out by the filter element. So, unless the filter element is damaged, you won't see any in the bowl. There may be water present.
I installed these LED's outside
very good, underwater light next?
Stunning, MIA. S!
Awesome job on the lights MIA ;D
I see a lot of work crawling around running those wires.
The worst bit of the job was getting the cable to the control panel the rest was easy ;D