Shadow-Caster Underwater LED's Group Buy

[kana12]

ok this is gay so back to the lights i dont really understand the pricing with the leads and all that kind of stuff? so what do i need for my 22v if i want two of em?

[chpthril]

ok this is gay so back to the lights i dont really understand the pricing with the leads and all that kind of stuff? so what do i need for my 22v if i want two of em?

They come with either a 20ft wire harness or a 50ft wire harness and a slight price diff between. There is a volume discount for me as a dealer, so I am passing that on to you as a buyer instead of charging one price. If I get 1-10 orders the price is "X" if I get 11-100 orders, then the price will be "Y", if I get more then 100, then the price is Z. With me so far

If someone wants one, Id like them to post here in this thread that they will commit to buy one. They need to be prepared to buy at the higher price as we wont know till near the end how many orders there will be. I will not collect any money till the end when we know how many orders are taken and what the final price will be.

For you, I would guess that the 20' lead would reach from the transom to the helm, so the the first tier price would be $519 ea plus 2 gaskets @ $18 ea.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions!

[mtnsmith]

Another option, is pull a duplex cable to the rear of the boat and connect all the wires back there. I did mine that way and used the "docking lights" switch on the dash, since I don't have docking lights. I just pulled the positive and negative off that switch and put on the duplex I ran for the shadow-casters, then connected the lights to the ends in the rear. In all honesty though it was cause my prototype lights did not have 20' of lead. I did not have a chance to get any shots this weekend, had a wedding to attend. I'll try to get some shots posted this week.

[kana12]

wow !! thanks man but no thanks thats pricey for me i was thought that was for a pair.. my lake is pretty muddy and you prob wouldnt see em real well any how. i know that isnt a bad price compared to other companies but i mean for me to spend.. thanks again though for trying to hook us up. if the price drops let me know .

also how well does just one work. the pictures are pretty impressive

[TeamAllen]

So, for the install, you drill a whole through the transom, or other mounting location of choice, to run your wire through. Surface mount the stainless steel bracket using stainless steel screws into the fiberglass. The gasket is necessary to keep the water out of the whole you drilled for the wire. Maybe some caulking around the wire as an extra precaution.
Does that sound right?
Am I missing anything?

[chpthril]

So, for the install, you drill a whole through the transom, or other mounting location of choice, to run your wire through. Surface mount the stainless steel bracket using stainless steel screws into the fiberglass. The gasket is necessary to keep the water out of the whole you drilled for the wire. Maybe some caulking around the wire as an extra precaution.
Does that sound right?
Am I missing anything?

That's it, much less invasive then some of the others.

[chadster2]

I've worked hard at getting enough light at night.
The distance of the shore and the nature water
suck up all light... even after 400-600 watts,
110 volt halogen, still not enough.
The pics of you were done with what?
you also said something about giving depth of wave
I'm sure I want to do more night stuff but this is one
of those go slow choices
I'm not into 1/2 measures any more. I've spent hundreds
testing my ideas already. Can you talk area lit up and how
much.

[chadster2]

just surfing speeds (no boarding or with a tube)
(I know it's only lighting the back)
What about heat and gelcoat?
what does placement do?
I'm sure the platform helps keep light down in the water

can (should) you angle the lights for more distance?
like I said I've spent a few hundred and still not happy.
All my tests were from top down
this is bottem to bottem so I'm still open to one more
look-see.
(I don't think 360 lumens is enough to play with)?

[mneal]

I am far from a a light expert, but have been a Guenna pig tester and good friends with SC inventor and learned a couple things thru him. The angle thing is not really going to help, LEDs have illumination angle that leaves the source (think of a cone) so anglign the light will not really have huge effect. The deeper under water the lights are the more you light the water and you lose less effect to creating amibient light above the water line where it does you no good.

SC are around 2000 luminus if I recall right. I know one thing, they are bright, way bright. It takes a TON of light to be bright under water.

Different colors appears different brightness due to the attenuation of the light thru the water. (blue is least absorbed and therefore appears the brightest).

Heat is not really an issue, I think he added a temp feedback to avoid over heating, but they run under the water so no gel-coat issues. You can't run them for too long where they don't get submerged or splashed.

just surfing speeds (no boarding or with a tube)
(I know it's only lighting the back)
What about heat and gelcoat?
what does placement do?
I'm sure the platform helps keep light down in the water

can (should) you angle the lights for more distance?
like I said I've spent a few hundred and still not happy.
All my tests were from top down
this is bottem to bottem so I'm still open to one more
look-see.
(I don't think 360 lumens is enough to play with)?

[chadster2]

what I'm looking for is
1) surfing type lighting (the important one)
2) back of the boat sitting and talken
Where I'm not clear:
for #1) while under way
with "small"
What is small amount?
there has to be a way to keep it wet enough
and the need for (above water) full wave light.
And cone going to point or cone getting bigger?

[chpthril]

what I'm looking for is
1) surfing type lighting (the important one)
2) back of the boat sitting and talken
Where I'm not clear:
for #1) while under way
with "small"
What is small amount?
there has to be a way to keep it wet enough
and the need for (above water) full wave light.
And cone going to point or cone getting bigger?

Lumens are the name of the game. As Mneal pointed out, the SC's have apx 2000 lumens as compared to the competition's 360, and their new one coming out with only 600. Lumen to Lumen, these are a higher performing light at only $.30 p/lumen (as compared to the comp @ $.47 p/lumen)

I wont make a claim of being able to shine 30ft through the water or something, too many variables to take into account to make that kinda claim IMO. Most of us would never see that kind of projection because of water clarity, mounted depth, water depth, etc. These light perform better when submerged. They do better at illuminating the water from depth, then lighting it up when shown across the surface. So location is important for getting the most out of them.

The Shadow-Caster LED's do need to be cooled by water, as with any high-performing LED, so mounted location needs to be considered. I would suggest mounting them as low on the transom as possible so they are under water, or at least receive some splash while the boat is under way. They do have over-heat protection and will shut off after about 15 minutes of run time if on while completely out of water. This protects the light asm, LED's, wiring and gel-coat.

[TRD]

CHP, you are always welcome on our boat. We should be down at Steve's place a good bit this year. (when it gets warm, norman isn't heated)

[chadster2]

so with heating? I'd have them lit up while underway (sometimes)
the start and stop, start and stop, of surf ( 3-4 min)
is short enough time out of water to keep them cool?
(I'm sure there is some splashing too, more could be made)
so heating I'm okay (I think)
so area lit up?
my deck is almost at water line (1-2 inch) with mounting area out of water. while under way
sooo what does it look like 15 ft back on top of the wave?
sorry for too much detail but it's a chunk of change for me.
B. O. A. T.
I'm thinking one on my surf side and
tower down flood lights 400 watts (1 facing back and 1 facing out)
how many amps did you say?

[chpthril]

so with heating? I'd have them lit up while underway (sometimes)
the start and stop, start and stop, of surf ( 3-4 min)
is short enough time out of water to keep them cool?
(I'm sure there is some splashing too, more could be made)
so heating I'm okay (I think)
so area lit up?
my deck is almost at water line (1-2 inch) with mounting area out of water. while under way
sooo what does it look like 15 ft back on top of the wave?
sorry for too much detail but it's a chunk of change for me.
B. O. A. T.
I'm thinking one on my surf side and
tower down flood lights 400 watts (1 facing back and 1 facing out)
how many amps did you say?

Current draw is 3.5 Amps @ 12V. These light can run for apx 15 mins when out of water, completely dry. With the boat in the water and on-plane, there will be enough spray and air circulation to cool them.

I wish we had more pics, did you check out the vid on the 1st post? Maybe mtnsmith can get some surf pics for us

[jake]

Show us the ASTM testing on this product looser.