Underwater Transom lights - best way to wire them?

[rkkoeb]

So I am looking at adding a set of underwater transom lights on my speedster 200. I will most likely install my switch on the main dash panel but looking for the best way to wire up the lights? Is there available power inside the dash that I can tap into for the switch or do I need to pull wires up from the engine compartment? I don't want to come right off the battery as I want to make sure the lights go off if the main discount switch is turn offed. Any help would be great

 

[delonnelj]

So that switch, you can wire the lights off that switch directly. One way is to unscrew the bolt, slide the eye connector on and put the bolt back on and it would lead to the light after your new dash switch. Second option again is remove the bolt on the main switch drop in an eye connector and run that to a distribution block. Then from the block to your dash switch.

There's two bolts on your switch one from the battery and one doing to the rest of the boat choose the right one and it will kill with the main switch.

 

[rkkoeb]

Good idea. Thanks for the help

 

[DooGuy]

I did an independent fused line from the 2nd battery to a switch mounted behind the drivers seat since I didn’t have room in the cluster. Wanted control to turn on off independently of the main lights.

 

[rkkoeb]

What size fuse do you think I should run for two lights?

 

[slaizer2000]

I did an independent fused line from the 2nd battery to a switch mounted behind the drivers seat since I didn’t have room in the cluster. Wanted control to turn on off independently of the main lights.

Think if I were to do this I would run the wires to the same switch the engine light is on. Keeps it separate and in general you don't really use the engine light. If your boat has one that is.

 

[DooGuy]

What size fuse do you think I should run for two lights?

5 or 10amp should be sufficient if you’re using leds. I used a 10amp in mine, which I know is overkill, but what I already had in the tool chest.

 

[DooGuy]

Think if I were to do this I would run the wires to the same switch the engine light is on. Keeps it separate and in general you don't really use the engine light. If your boat has one that is.

No engine light switch that I know of on mine.

 

[rkkoeb]

No engine light on mine either. I will go with the 10 amp fuse, I ran all the wires today and connected the hot side to the main boat switch. Lights should arrive early next week, just need to install them and test out. I think I am also going to add LED lights to my cup holders and will tie these lights into my existing interior light switch.

 

[DooGuy]

No engine light on mine either. I will go with the 10 amp fuse, I ran all the wires today and connected the hot side to the main boat switch. Lights should arrive early next week, just need to install them and test out. I think I am also going to add LED lights to my cup holders and will tie these lights into my existing interior light switch.

I’ve been thinking of adding the lights to cup holders too. Would love to see how they come out.

 

[rkkoeb]

I did the cup holders on my 98 speedster and love the way they turn out. These are the LED I used

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EV6BX8G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I just want the cup holders to glow so I install one LED in the bottom center of each cup holder. drill a hole and hot glue them in. After drill a few drain holes in the cups.

 

[DooGuy]

I did the cup holders on my 98 speedster and love the way they turn out. These are the LED I used

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EV6BX8G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I just want the cup holders to glow so I install one LED in the bottom center of each cup holder. drill a hole and hot glue them in. After drill a few drain holes in the cups.

How are they on brightness? I want them as a soft accent, nothing too bright.

 

[rkkoeb]

then I think one LED will be perfect per cup holder.

 

[rkkoeb]

For current three interior lights I changed them out to these LED blue bulbs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015HTUKR6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For the transom underwater lights I went with these blue LED

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V4RCZR9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[DooGuy]

For current three interior lights I changed them out to these LED blue bulbs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015HTUKR6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For the transom underwater lights I went with these blue LED

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V4RCZR9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You’ll be happy with both, interior are really bright.

I have three of the 27led transom lights like what you ordered. Very pleased with the result

 

[rkkoeb]

I replace the stock cup holders with these cup holders. Reason is the bottom of the stock cup holders are flat so it is hard to add a led light to them. They new ones have a extension to the bottom of the cup holder that once drilled out holds a LED light perfect. Will post pics once I have them completed

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01292ORSW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[rkkoeb]

I had a chance to get the lights installed today

 

[DooGuy]

I had a chance to get the lights installed today

Looks good, like the switch location. Did you put some sealant around the base of the lights?

 

[rkkoeb]

yep made sure I put plenty around the base. Cup holders and lights should arrive this week and will get them installed. Already ran all the wires

 

[slaizer2000]

Looks sweet. I'd like to see pics of it when it's in the water with the lights on. It's probably going to be my next project after putting an amp in the boat.

 

[rkkoeb]

Just finished up my install of the LED cup holders

 

[DooGuy]

Just finished up my install of the LED cup holders

Looks great!

 

[rkkoeb]

First night ride last weekend

 

[slaizer2000]

Looks good. Will definitely be doing the underwater lights and cup lights when I get to it.
I'll raise you 2 though. Toggle and dash lights Although I've seen some people say not to do the dash lights due to visibility but I don't seem to have issues. Camera doesn't capture the best of pictures at night with lights on either.

 

[rkkoeb]

What bulbs did you use for the dash lights and switches?