Custom Transom Lights

[TeamAllen]

Looks interesting.

[Jason B]

I think you're going to find they do not illuminate anywhere near what your swimming pool leads you to believe. You may want to consider adding more lights. I have 120 led lights under the water and they aren't that bright really....lake water is seldom as clean as that nice pool water. Of course, mine are green and by nature don't lilluminate like white LEDs do. I'm not trying to rain on your parade! Yours look WAY WAY nicer than mine do. Also, because you need so many resistors to tone down the 12v power to around 6v they will always run warm no matter what....it won't hurt them. I tested mine with power on for 3 weeks straight and they got hot quickly but never faltered. They're on the boat now and I need to change some stuff around, but still working like a champ.
Keep us informed, you've got a great start on what could be a really cool product I'd buy!!

[Jason B]

oops, forgot to give ya the pics... each unit has 60 LEDs, the white/clear thing next to the bracket thing

[CP3]

there was a guy at the southeast tige reunion that had a plexiglass platform on his and leds all on one side of it.

it was pretty cool but not practical IMO. it did seem to have good grip to it even when wet but not sure about scratches

[mtnsmith]

Jason, no worries.

I showed him some shots of your install a few weeks ago, they are clusters of led's with I think 6 in each cluster, so that would make 60. Plus they will be mounted facing back and not down. Also, his pool was just refinished 2 weeks ago and just finished filling on thurs, it is not very clear water. Granted, yes a lot clearer than most lakes, and the gulf of mexico where we boat, but it should still look pretty nice and much more economical than the 36 watt abyss lights at $700 each. I like all the green theme on your boat, he liked the bases you put under your amps a lot and I wouldn't doubt something similar will be in his boat this year.

[SPBFAN]

I think you have a great idea. If you get the pricing right and if they will work out of water also you might find yourself selling those things to boat manufactures for the interior lights also. I like that flush mount idea that is real clean looking.

[chadster2]

they were operating at about 130 degrees.... C or F?

[Jason B]

130 degrees? I missed that part. That's not normal. May want to ensure you have the correct resistors on your apparatus.

Your bezel/housing thing looks really nice. What is your target price for retail? Obviously not $700

[mtnsmith]

Fahrenheit, I have no idea about any of the electrical parts of these things. I would think 130 degrees would not be an issue if that is the hottest they got. I couldn't even touch one of the halogen ones on display at the boat show it was so hot. When he pulled it out of the water in about 30 seconds it started to dim as the thermal cut-off kicked in.

[spharis]

3 amps is a lot for an LED light. Also if they are drawing 3A, then 130 degrees wouldn't be unheard of. The resistors will get that hot at that current quickly if they were undersized.

[spharis]

I just did some math, and the way I would build an array of 60 LEDs would only draw 400mA and could be very very very cool with using on 1/4 watt resistors dissipating on 48mW each. You wouldn't even notice them heating up. This would be much more efficient although it would cost more as it is a 3 x 20 array, so there are 20 resistors involved. Although, if he is using 1/2 watt or even 1 watt resistors, there probably isn't any price savings over more circuit and solder as they are really pricey.

I know they are engineers, but they need to make sure they are using the 60% rule on the resistors. They shouldn't be getting that hot.

It looks like Jason built his array on the least amount of power usage for 60 LEDs. If it is like it looks then there are 20 12 volt circuits wired parallel to each other with about 120-140ohm 1/4 watt resistor in series with each one dissipating 48mW or roughly 60% of the total left over from the circuit. This yields power consumption of about 400mA and less than a half watt of wasted power per 60.

Would have 20 circuits that look like this: +----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/---- (LED LED LED RESISTOR)

[mtnsmith]

Wow, I didn't really get any of that. I'll have one of them read this thread when they get a chance. It pretty much sounds like exactly all the e-mails they sent back and forth when these things were in the planning stages. I know they are CREE led's by the way, not sure if that means anything. Hopefully there will be a set installed on the 4th of July and I can get some on boat in water pics.

[Guest]

spharis is right. There is no way an LED array should draw that much power to generate 130 degree heat. I have not designed an LED array in a while but if needed I can put a schematic together and come up with design that does not draw that much power. Hardware design vs. Management. Ah the good old days

[mtnsmith]

Like I said, I could be wrong about the watts, amps, and temp...not my thing, I'm just wanting some good looking transom lights for lots less than $5-600 each. I'll ask him for some specs tomorrow.

[Guest]

Ask them if they would mind send spharis and me schematics.