LEDs in BILGE
 

Finally getting to the point where I need to get the bilge lighting finalized on my Formula 1987 242SS. I have no experience with LED lighting. Trying to highlight well detailed bilge and detailed red engine.
No idea how much is needed and what is too bright. Do I only need them on the forward bulkhead (of bilge) or do I need/also need strips under gunnel?
I would like them with white and red. What is your experiences? Pictures would be great.
Thanks for any input.

I had them in the bilge of my 288 I used orange because of the boat color scheme. I had three strips two that were about 10" long were mounted up under the side of the engine bay and directed light down and I had one strip about 36" that ran across the front of the engine bay they were surprisingly bright. I ordered from www.superbrightleds.com they were more expensive than others if found but I had read where others had good results. I was impressed with the quality. I cant post pictures here but PM me an e-mail address and I can send you some pictures.

PM sent thank you

I used ledglow they have nice marine kits, water tight connections, multi colors, put mine under the gunnel...[ATTACH=CONFIG]548078[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]548079[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]548080[/ATTACH]

Very nice.
How many did you use? strip, length, output? Did you use any puck style. Would you use the same amount or more or less?
Are those white or blue?

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This was what I we had done to our old Scarab we had....(4) Strips total...front, back and both sides of bilge...

I Used 6 strips and each strip plugs together, there about 2' long and 3m tape on the back of the strip, they are blue, I used 2 in the front and 2 in the back and 1 on each side, but look up ledglow they have different size kits. the only puck style I used was on the outside of the transom and they were oceanleds, then I made my own led cup holders, I bought maxium leds off ebay (the cheapest thing I did on the boat) for about 6$ a piece and put them in the bottom of the cup holders..[ATTACH=CONFIG]548104[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]548105[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]548106[/ATTACH]

Or if you want to get fancy and do a super multi zone light show with a phone app in any color you can think of:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-iPhone-A...ZSCmA0&vxp=mtr

http://www.xkglow.com/iPhone_App_20_...p/xk074001.htm

I'm all for simplicity and function. I installed an LED undercar kit. Damn near idiot proof and looks cool also.
White light or choose your own color combos along with blink patterns and music bouncing mode.

http://www.streetglow.com/Optx-LED-U...&category=2923

What's considered best quality components in this industry? For example what company would an OEM like Cigarette use for example?

With all of the beautifully lit bilges out there I expected more advice and opinions.

http://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT%C2%...rds=led+lights

You can cut these every three lights and solder new wire to the strip making any length or combo you want its all sticky back 3M with all the colors in the spectrum at the push of a button plus a dimmer function

Optx Marine - part of the StreetGlow family. Great Stuff. The heavy duty strip lights and cup holder lights are great and the pod lights work awesome in small nook areas.

http://www.optxmarine.com/optxmarine/index.html

On a side note, I replaced the two old generic 4" round bilge lights mounted on the front wall with a pair of sealed truck LED tail lights. - Works Awesome.

This is the only picture I could find, I used the silicone light strips from Super Bright LEDs and just attached them with silicone...holding up really good, no tape or holes.

I was looking at putting this on my forward bulkhead in the bilge
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...#/tab/Overview
Is this about the right brightness? Anybody else use these?

I didn't get that fancy - our boat had a couple of bonnet style bulbs already in bilge-- I took them out and replaced them with LED's from SuperBrightLed's and they are phenomenal -- I used white - I wanted them more for light than atmosphere in the bilge in the event something breaks at night.

3pointstar

My LEDs are an accessory, I still have the Halogen for light when needed