Patriotic lighting setup

Mike B1026 · Mar 25, 2011

Not sure about the light part but your outboard's output rating is at full throttle I believe. At the normal lower throttle rpm, the output is greatly reduced. I have never checked the actual output numbers, maybe some others can give you some numbers.

I did try to run some "party lights" one time and had a similar problem. The inverter warning light was flashing and the lights burned out. I don't know if it blew a fuse in the lights or not. I was reading the inverter instructions some time later and the warning light may have indicated a too high of a voltage from the battery. Never checked on it after that. The inverter needs a certain range of voltage to properly work.

kloudie1 · Mar 25, 2011

Sounds like ya in for some LEDs.. I saw a neat setup where it was made up on sail slides.. Was hoisted on the main sail track and had a line leading back to the aft end of the boom. Alternated Red and white horizontal stripes with a blue square in the front top.. looked a lot like a flag ! Ya might be able to buy one pre made and ya can just mount it on the sail slides and line so it hoists nicely.. Send a picture !!
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=dbWMTfXwMIGN0QG8kMyuCw&ved=0CEcQ8wIwBA#

Eric M · Mar 25, 2011

We did our first lighted boat parade in St. Augustine this past Christmas and it was a ton of fun. Invite friends to join you for the evening and you will have a great time.

As for the lights, you either need LED's so you have less power draw or you need a bigger power source. Many folks around here put a small portable generator on the deck to power the light displays. We have a 315 amp hour house bank and a 1kW inverter and it could only maintain the lights (~3000 standard mini x-mas bulbs) for about 5 minutes before the inverter would shut down due to low battery alarm and that was with the 90 amp alternator running. We ended up powering the display off the generator.
Have Fun
Eric

SamLust · Mar 25, 2011

Kermit;

This seems to me like viable justification for the purchase of a new Honda Generator. Could be further explained as able to run coffee, blanket, and the inevitable hair dryer/ curling iron set-up. (Wait - didn't we talk about that a while ago?)

zrolimt · Mar 25, 2011

Kermit said:
I need suggestions on red white and blue lights for the annual 4th of July fireworks display on Wateree Lake. I have C9 Christmas lights for the tree outside and would only have to buy blue and white bulbs. I tried plugging in one 25-bulb strand into my car power outlet with a power inverter. That didn't work out too well. They started blinking, the inverter started squealing, and then the inverter quit working. So now it's back to square one.

I could use mini-lights but am afraid they won't show up too well. LED lights would seem to be the best way to go but DANG they're expensive. (I'm having trouble convincing the wife this is a good idea in the first place.) Would a heavier-duty inverter do the trick? Seems like new LED lights could be less expensive than a larger inverter. The inverter I have is fine for charging electronic devices. (Assuming I didn't ruin it with the C9 lights.)

I have one deep cycle battery and really can't justify another. My 6 HP motor will charge the battery, so draining the battery shouldn't be an issue.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Kermit

Kermit,
I have a 36 footer. I used 15 strands of c6 lights, rope lights all around the whole boat, lights around lifelines, 4 lighted decorations (snowman, santa roller coaster, and penguins and rope light wrapped around my boom. I also had a dj sound system hooked up. I have 440 ah house bank and a 3K inverter. These lasted about 2 hours (just before the parade started). Hooked them up to my Honda 2000 and all went well for the entire parade and after parade party. The Honda is the only way to go - very quiet and great on fuel economy.

dscribner · Mar 25, 2011

OK, this may be stupid to suggest, but hey, my family has been Yankees for almost 400 years and that much genetic cheapness it hard to overcome. Here we go:

String glow bracelets from the dollar store (I got 20 for a buck) on a couple of pieces of cheap rope and run them up with your halyards. They also sell glow mouth pieces and jewelry.

LuzSD · Mar 25, 2011

dscribner said:
OK, this may be stupid to suggest, but hey, my family has been Yankees for almost 400 years and that much genetic cheapness it hard to overcome. Here we go:

String glow bracelets from the dollar store (I got 20 for a buck) on a couple of pieces of cheap rope and run them up with your halyards. They also sell glow mouth pieces and jewelry.

I think I just heard a collective groan............

dscribner · Mar 26, 2011

Yeah, a groan, a rolling of the eyes is in order. Hey, maybe even a muddled "Trailer park trash" under the breath. Whatev! But you look festive for a night for the cost of a six of Shipyard and in the morning, it's gone, nothing to misplace for next year.

I'm a working class stiff in the worst state in the union! Gotta stretch those G.W.s

Fair Winds!

kenn · Mar 26, 2011

LEDs have a very pure, vivid colour (and in newer strings the white is passable), so if available, a string of LED Christmas lights in red, white and blue would be ideal. The prices on LED Christmas lights usually go way down after Christmas

If you're electrically minded, it would be possible (but labour-intensive) to rewire a conventional LED string for use at 12 v, or even build from scratch using raw LEDs or LED strips, resistors and wire. Otherwise, a small cheap 75w inverter should run all the 110vac LED strings you need. You could borrow an extra 12v battery to run the LEDs, leaving your boat battery for the boat systems.

Ron20324 · Mar 26, 2011

Kermit said:
My 6 HP motor will charge the battery, so draining the battery shouldn't be an issue. Any suggestions? Thanks! Kermit

You could look at 12-volt products:
http://fortheroad.hcpus.com/jensen-19-lcd-flat-panel-television-je1909-p-683.html

Goodwill stores usually have a section of Xmas decorations. Maybe there's a year-round XMAS store by you? I'm pretty sure Home Depot and Lowes carried the rope-lights now.

UPSGUY · Mar 26, 2011

I saw some rope led light for sale at Harbor freight something like $15 dollars a length. Check around and you might be able to find it cheap in colors. It is low draw lighting and they where selling it as effect lighting for boats.
I also did a quick search on Amazon.com and found EL wire for like 8 bucks a strand battery powered and super flexible.

LuzSD · Mar 26, 2011

dscribner said:
Yeah, a groan, a rolling of the eyes is in order. Hey, maybe even a muddled "Trailer park trash" under the breath. Whatev! But you look festive for a night for the cost of a six of Shipyard and in the morning, it's gone, nothing to misplace for next year.

I'm a working class stiff in the worst state in the union! Gotta stretch those G.W.s

Fair Winds!

ha ha,

you are right.... Now all ya need is a light up mouthpiece

Patriotic lighting setup

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