Running with underwater lights

CurrentSea

CurrentSea

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I think I have LEDs.
I ran home other night at night with them on.
Guy behind me said they were out of the water when I was up on plane.

Can I burn them out? I am sure they still get wet.
 
LEDs consume very little power compared to incandescent bulbs so they run much cooler. I don't think running them out of the water will cause any problem.
 
It depends... Most will get hot and need cooling water. I just replaced the pos abyssilite on the 70 footer I run with lumitech and the instructions state that if they get hot the electronic will reduce output to keep them from over heating.

I still turn them off if running on plane. At hull speed I think they stay underwater and should stay cook enough

This thing about led being cool is not completely accurate... If it was, why do they often come with heat sinks...
 
I second the notion that they should be off when on plane. As I recall Ocean LEDs are not to be on if above the water line.
 
From Ocean LED website.......True or False
1. “Only LEDs allow you to run with the lights on.”
True
 
Whether or not they should be off when above the waterline is a function of fixture design. So it depends on how they planned it.

AS for the "LEDs run cool" thing:

LEDs operate at a temperature much less than the competition such as incandescent. But they do generate heat, and it needs to be removed from the actual diode or you will "release the magic smoke and it will die". Though heat dissipation is if much lower important in small indicator size LED lamps, it is the primary design consideration in high intensity LEDs. ( LED chips that operate at greater than around 70 ma ).

SO, yes LEDs DO run cooler. They typically generate a very tight light spectrum, and most visible light LEDs emit very little "heat" in the light spectrum. So, in that sense, they are cool. And they are very efficient at converting electricity to light. But a 5 watt LED ( single chip or small array ) will likely need to dissipate 5 watts of heat, while keeping the LED diode temp somewhere below 200 deg F. And that is done via the housing/cabinet etc.
 
Soooo....I was thinking down the river, that I would install some nice blue lights in the bottom of my swim platform to effect the "look". I never even considered the fact that the underwater lights would require cooling. Am I to understand that installing effect lights....LED lights, need to be underwater to in order to work properly and have a normal expected life?
 
When I 1st installed blue high-intensity LED's I ran on plane. 3 of the original 4 light fixtures failed before the 1st season. I called Britter Inovations the manufacture and they told me you couldn't run on plane or hit them with a pressure washer on haul out. I complained and the rep got back to me giving me 6 fixtures that were newer and modified. I have had them 4 seasons now and run them on plane with no issues. It appears they fixed their initial design flaws.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by BJL

From Ocean LED website.......True or False
1. “Only LEDs allow you to run with the lights on.”
True

Click to expand...


The Ocean LED installation manual for our series indicates a minimum depth of 4 inches. The newer series has over heating protection, which may shut down the lights if they are left on out of the water.

RTFM

http://www.oceanled.us/media/oled_marine_InstallationManuals/OceanLED_INSTALLMAN_PROSERIES_A4.pdf

"Light works and then flickers Check that the lights are submerged in water.
The Pro Series lights have a thermal cut out to prevent over heating and prolong the lifetime of the lights. This system will shut down portions of LEDs until the light has cooled. If the light is out of the water the light may shut down completely until cool Ensure the light
is submerged and cooled sufficiently, power down the lights and re-test Contact your dealer or OceanLED for further guidance"

I do not believe ours have the thermal protection. They are 6 years old. I may have the paperwork that came with them on the boat. Regardless, it seems from the above quote taken directly from the manual, that running with them on and out of the water can lead to issues.

Documented, and true and backed up with a link.

Perhaps some of their other models are more forgiving.
 
It is also against coast guard Regulations to run at night with lights other then your running lights. They can be considered impeding with the ability of others to properly identify your vessel.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Anchor Management

It is also against coast guard Regulations to run at night with lights other then your running lights. They can be considered impeding with the ability of others to properly identify your vessel.

Click to expand...


Now THAT is interesting and it makes sense. Certainly red and green colored lights would fall into this stipulation:

"(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out."
 
I think there should be legislation to limit the use because all those lights getting cooled by the ocean is going to affect the climate.....;)
 
Actually it is a good thing that some people run with their transom lights on because so many of them are missing their running lights... At least you have of seeing them when closing in from behind. Although they are usually the same idiots who keep their plotters on full bright at night so sometimes that s another chance to see them

There isn't a week end night we are out that I don't encounter a boat missing its stern light.
 
I don't usually run at night but now that days are shorter it's a better chance.
I also don't have owners manual as these are factory installed.
All my running lights work and I agree that most other colored lights could be confusing.
My underwater lights are white so I think it's better than say someone who has blue.
Either way I will try to remember to shut them off.
I only put then on because I had guests and they make it easier to see swim platform when stepping off the dock.

Other night we saw a sail boat with a tri light on his mast
That was confusing as you see this red light up in the air!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Radioactive

See the owner's manual for the lights involved.
Click to expand...


Of course. That's the only recommendation that's guaranteed to be right. If you can't find the owner's manual, contact the manufacturer and ask them.

I see no point in running with underwater lights burning, but then I see no point in underwater lights in the first place.
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

quote:
Originally posted by Anchor Management

It is also against coast guard Regulations to run at night with lights other then your running lights. They can be considered impeding with the ability of others to properly identify your vessel.

Click to expand...


Now THAT is interesting and it makes sense. Certainly red and green colored lights would fall into this stipulation:

"(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out."
Click to expand...


And yet, if you've ever seen a tug running at night, it's often lit up like a Christmas tree!

There are several deck boats in my marina's dry stack and these have "docking lights" which the owners have mistaken for headlights. Enforcement in my area is very sparse if at all.
 
Well, in the murky waters of charleston and the SC creeks and rivers, I can understand why you don't see the point :) But in clear water like in the Bahamas it s nice to set he bottom, fishes, etc..
 
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