Reliable LED strip lighting?

[GILow]

Hi all,

I’ve been using simple warm white LED strip lights in the Swanson for six years now and I love them. Coupled with a PWM controller they’ve been perfect. However, over the years they’d become a little dim, the silicone had yellowed and one small section had failed. So to make the boat nice for sale I replaced them all.

Well that was a mistake. Within a month I’ve had nearly a third of the lengths fail.

They looked pretty much like the same EBay basic white strips I bought six years ago, but clearly not.

Can anyone share a recommendation of a brand they trust? And maybe something with colour options too. As I was searching CF for an answer to my question I stumbled on some posts recommending colour strips and I can see the wisdom of something that I thought of initially as a silly gimmick and no help on a boat. It turns out colours are a good idea indeed.

Ideally something that doesn’t need a phone to control it though.

I’ll need at least 30 meters for each boat, but probably in 10 meter increments (that’s 30 feet for non-metric people) for independent control.

Matt

[ranger58sb]

Our boat came with several 120VAC rope lights, mostly not working. I replaced one so far, warm white 3/8" product from Imtra (via SailorSams.com, I think), seems to work OK. Not inexpensive. Some colors available.

Tried some 13mm rope from 1000.bulbs.com, less expensive, seemed OK but I decided they were too fat for the existing mounting troughs. They offered a 10mm version but only in 150' spools, way more than I could have used...

"Ropes" different from "strips" so not sure this is helpful... although IIRC, the 1000bulbs place offered both... and I think maybe in DC versions too (maybe both places did)...

-Chris

[jcapo]

I have some strips from Flexfire that were installed at least 6 years ago. They are fed from a regulated analog power source. Not cheap but they appear to be very reliable.

https://www.flexfireleds.com/

[Indolent58]

I replaced the failing undercabinet rope lights in our Beneteau 46 with high CRI 90+ strip lights from SuperBrightLEDs https://www.superbrightleds.com/5m-w...i-12v-24v-ip20. We also added a single color red strip for the nav station. Multicolor LEDs are fun but the quality of their white light can't match a high CRI light source for color rendition and minimizing eye strain.

[boatpoker]

All lighting on our boat is LED, 10yrs old (including several rope lights), all from Ikea and never an issue.

[Peregrine1983]

I installed these in my cockpit this past spring, so not a long term test, but they've been excellent so far.

They are 12v, so I snipped the AC adapter off and run them off 12v. The dimmer is great. It lives in a cockpit locker. They are IP65 waterproof, warm white, and dim down to a nice low glow for dinner.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

The photo makes them look bluer and brighter than they are, but they're still plenty bright for futzing with the dinghy after dark.

I also use them to light up the boat when anchored in busy spots.

[Rocinante33]

Originally Posted by Peregrine1983

I installed these in my cockpit this past spring, so not a long term test, but they've been excellent so far.

They are 12v, so I snipped the AC adapter off and run them off 12v. The dimmer is great. It lives in a cockpit locker. They are IP65 waterproof, warm white, and dim down to a nice low glow for dinner.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

The photo makes them look bluer and brighter than they are, but they're still plenty bright for futzing with the dinghy after dark.

I also use them to light up the boat when anchored in busy spots.

Hi.

Sorry in advance for the possible thread drift. To clarify, you cut the plug off and wired directly to 12volts? I would like to attach a cig lighter plug. As far as you see, would that work with this product?

Thanks

[Peregrine1983]

Originally Posted by Rocinante33

Hi.

Sorry in advance for the possible thread drift. To clarify, you cut the plug off and wired directly to 12volts? I would like to attach a cig lighter plug. As far as you see, would that work with this product?

Thanks

Exactly. I selected these lights because they are 12v and that adapter just converts 110ac to 12vdc, so I just sniped the adapter off. I could have attached a cig lighter plug, but I hard wired it in. Of course, I'm not a professional, so do this at your own risk!

Add a fuse, and size and connect your wires properly.

Also, the dimmer does not appear to be waterproof, so I keep that dry.

[GILow]

Lots of great leads for me to follow here. Thank you all.

[s/v Jedi]

Most likely the LED strips that failed do not have a voltage regulator and they were connected straight to the batteries.

You can’t do that as they will burn out. You need a regulated 12V supply.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Most likely the LED strips that failed do not have a voltage regulator and they were connected straight to the batteries.

You can’t do that as they will burn out. You need a regulated 12V supply.

Not just voltage but regulated current.

[Iron E]

In the sign business we rely on Sloan LED's and GE Lighting LED's for consistent brightness, longevity, temp.

As Jedi states, use a regulator.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Most likely the LED strips that failed do not have a voltage regulator and they were connected straight to the batteries.

You can’t do that as they will burn out. You need a regulated 12V supply.

No, in this case they were getting regulated voltage.

At your recommendation as it turns out. A while back I was surprised by how much they flickered with even the tiniest voltage variation on the boat. You recommended a regulator so I fitted one.

And as I mentioned, the first lot lasted fine, it was the new lot that shat themselves.

They were crap, end of story I suspect.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Iron E

In the sign business we rely on Sloan LED's and GE Lighting LED's for consistent brightness, longevity, temp.

As Jedi states, use a regulator.

I’ll check out those brands, thank you.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Most likely the LED strips that failed do not have a voltage regulator and they were connected straight to the batteries.

You can’t do that as they will burn out. You need a regulated 12V supply.

My three different model Ikea strips are now 10 years old and still working just fine. I cut off the AC adapter and wired them to my unregulated DC panel.

This is the second boat I've done this and have never had an issue.