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DIY underwater LED lighting
#12807839
06/27/18 07:39 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 115
Buz
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 115 |
First time attempting to build underwater LED lights for night time fishing. Hopefully I can ask this question in this forum, if not I'll gladly move it the another TFF forum. Any recommendations on plans and materials needed to complete this project. Lots of YouTube info available, but was hoping someone on TFF might have some suggestions. I've already purchased the LEDs.
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12811753
06/30/18 09:18 PM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 955
elbandito78
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 955 |
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12811817
06/30/18 10:31 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 81,078
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 81,078 |
Very nice! That should attract plenty of bait fish which will then attract the bigger predator fish. 
![[Linked Image]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/823/ycku.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/560/ukw3.jpg) IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12812337
07/01/18 02:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 115
Buz
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 115 |
elbandito78 thanks for the post, this actually helps. How and where did you add weight to help sink the light? Appear you used a nylon cable enclosure gland ? to seal the power cord to the top of the PVC fitting. Did you remember what size gauge power cable and cable enclosure gland you used?
Again, really appreciate your posting.
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: elbandito78]
#12813494
07/02/18 03:53 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,774
serj5150
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,774 |
I watched a few tutorials on YouTube and I finally decided to make my own. The most expensive part was the clear PVC. It's hard to find around the area ( only found one place out by 635 and 35 that carried it). I wound up ordering the PVC on Amazon I believe. Most of the tutorials I saw used clear polycarbonate, but that didn't seem durable enough to me. Also, fittings for it were harder to come by than for PVC. I've used it a few times and even left it in the pool for a few days to leak test it. So far so good. Here are some pics of my set up. Let me know if you have any questions.  That looks like a neat project EB!!...I've always wanted to try and make one..Thanks for posting it Sir!!!....Man I wanna jump in that pool right now...LOL!!!!  Here's a shot in the pool to test.  Here is the light at my slip.
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: serj5150]
#12813564
07/02/18 04:43 PM
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 139
Boomerbrewer
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 139 |
I build mine from 3/4 pvc and strips of leds nearly the same way. Instead of clear tubing I put them on the lathe and turn them real slow (30rpm or so) and brush them with clear epoxy. let them stay on the lathe till the epoxy sets up. The slow turning keeps the epoxy from running to one side and dripping off. Works good and is cheap. It will fully encase the leds and be very tough.
2013 Glasstream 221 Center Console 150 Merc. Helix 10, Helix 9 mega SI x2, Garmin 9sv + livescope Terrova Ipilot Link 36v 105ah Lithium, 12v 160a Lithium Aux
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12814717
07/03/18 02:47 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 115
Buz
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 115 |
Boomerbrewer, great idea. You really did cut a lot of the cost out of the project using this approach.
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12814795
07/03/18 03:43 PM
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 416
sae
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 416 |
Boomrbrewer, you are out of the box.great idea.
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12814924
07/03/18 05:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 139
Boomerbrewer
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 139 |
It is pretty cheap, not counting the leds and wire, it probably cost 4 bucks for pvc and epoxy. I have made maybe 8 of them and they all still work fine after a year. I use the bar top type of epoxy and have a gallon of it around for wood working. Takes a bout 2 hrs to set up well. Faster set epoxy in smaller containers would be more expensive. I have found that you want the led strips that have no silicone type waterproofing on them. That stuff will yellow over time and slowly degrades. I post some images later. 
Last edited by Boomerbrewer; 07/03/18 10:33 PM.
2013 Glasstream 221 Center Console 150 Merc. Helix 10, Helix 9 mega SI x2, Garmin 9sv + livescope Terrova Ipilot Link 36v 105ah Lithium, 12v 160a Lithium Aux
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12817315
07/05/18 07:22 PM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 955
elbandito78
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 955 |
elbandito78 thanks for the post, this actually helps. How and where did you add weight to help sink the light? Appear you used a nylon cable enclosure gland ? to seal the power cord to the top of the PVC fitting. Did you remember what size gauge power cable and cable enclosure gland you used?
Again, really appreciate your posting. You're welcome! I tie some large weights to the bottom of the rig. If I was doing it again, I would probably cut up my old castnet (good excuse to buy a new one) and drop the weights into the bottom of the unit and maybe glue something on top of them so they don't rattle around when I'm moving/storing the light. The vinyl tubing I used to house the power cord was 3/4". I don't remember the gauge of cord used but it was thick. Here's a link to the connector I used. I found it at Home Depot, but I don't see it on their website. https://www.supplyhouse.com/Topaz-P472-3...WhoCwYEQAvD_BwE
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12817923
07/06/18 09:35 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,629
Zipster
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,629 |
Made that exact light last year. Works great and is plenty bright. I did develop a leak over time where the power cord goes in, so keep an eye on that connection. Traught line sinkers will work for weights too.
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12817956
07/06/18 11:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 139
Boomerbrewer
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 139 |
Here is a picture of the epoxy based lights.  
2013 Glasstream 221 Center Console 150 Merc. Helix 10, Helix 9 mega SI x2, Garmin 9sv + livescope Terrova Ipilot Link 36v 105ah Lithium, 12v 160a Lithium Aux
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Re: DIY underwater LED lighting
[Re: Buz]
#12818801
07/06/18 11:33 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,774
serj5150
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,774 |
I wonder if my wife modge podge craft stuff would work too? 
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