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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Ice Shack Tips => Topic started by: CowDawg on Oct 12, 2017, 10:31 PM

Title: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: CowDawg on Oct 12, 2017, 10:31 PM: Here's my latest completed project while the weather is still warm.. Came out very well to my liking!!! Lots of lighting! Will even be brighter when on the ice instead of the grass too.

Battery box holds 3 switches and a Marcum flasher battery.

I used a roll of the Luminous Green LED exterior strip lights.

1 switch controls 2 sets of lights on both sides of the hole.
1 switch controls 1 set of light on the front overhead bar.
1 switch controls 1 sets of lights on the back overhead bars.

Can control strip lights individually or ALL ON at the same time..

Getting a bath..

(https://i.imgur.com/pLQRBtVl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rVWxauol.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eeMaMCBl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/X52vrGJl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7URtsKCl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/i5bfOnYl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fLqVfUAl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5XMr63Jl.jpg)

Hey.... Thanks for lookin'....!!!!
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: missoulafish on Oct 12, 2017, 10:44 PM: Looks great. Nice work CD!
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: Idahogator on Oct 12, 2017, 11:30 PM: Right where you need them. Very well done, CowDawg
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: prospector on Oct 12, 2017, 11:43 PM: Very nicely done! I like how you put them on the sides as well as on the top bar. Might help with eliminating shadows. How did you attach them to your poles?
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: 3300 on Oct 13, 2017, 12:35 AM: did it leak?
you can add a remote control/off/on/dimmer/mode switch for it too. i keep mine on as low as they can go until i need the extra light. they are around 5$ on amazon.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: cwavs1982 on Oct 13, 2017, 07:16 AM: Nice setup Cowdawg! I have the white lights in mine. Would be curious how you like the green lights when on the ice. I have thought about putting a row of green in mine.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: Chris338378 on Oct 13, 2017, 01:03 PM: Looks great Pal, I like the green a lot because it's bright but not too bright.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: chez on Oct 13, 2017, 01:38 PM: Great job Mike.
Your making me think i should go with green now.
Especially that I'm Irish ;)
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: filetandrelease on Oct 13, 2017, 01:40 PM: Really nice set up Dawg
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: CowDawg on Oct 13, 2017, 04:23 PM: Thanks guys!!! :flex:

To try and answer some questions:

When I washed the hut, no it didn't leak at all. I even purposely checked inside after I washed the outside before I washed the inside and the tub and no leaks. The outside is a canvass material with a vinyl backing on the inside..

The LED strips have a sticky back on them.. I wiped the conduit clean with alcohol first and stuck them.. They do not really stick the greatest to the conduit so I electrical taped the ends and used thin zip ties on the rest on the strips. Not covering any of the LED bulbs.

I used 3 switches so I could control the lighting effects overhead and at my feet at the hole.. so it isn't too bright..
Ya know Set the mood for fishing!! ;D

I used the green lights cause I didn't like red, blue, purple or any of those other funky colors out there and i think the green will be easier on the eyes comparing them to the white lights which I think would affect your night vision once you stepped back outside.. just my thought.

Thanks!!
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: Chris338378 on Oct 13, 2017, 05:12 PM: You're right that the green won't affect your night vision nearly as much as the white lights would, actually night vision units use green light inside their displays for that reason. I don't remember what flasher you have and am curious about is how bright are the lights on your flasher display when you have the lights on and does the green lights tend to wash out the green on your flasher, if you have a color flasher. Another thing I'm curious to find out is how much the lights will attract the Calicos and other fish at night.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: icehound67 on Oct 13, 2017, 05:19 PM: Nice job cowdawg, looks sweet, I just finished mine lastnite also, I used the white lights. I'm pretty happy the way it turned out, now I need to make smitty sled.
(https://s1.postimg.cc/3gw95gaoqz/20171013_181304.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/3gw95gaoqz/)

(https://s1.postimg.cc/9h4fa6u5d7/20171013_181402.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/9h4fa6u5d7/)

(https://s1.postimg.cc/2sfqzlo3e3/20171013_181315.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/2sfqzlo3e3/)

(https://s1.postimg.cc/55idgt7h6z/20171013_181343.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/55idgt7h6z/)
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: tbern on Oct 13, 2017, 05:30 PM: Icehound, can you tell me what kind that orange power box is, or where you found it?
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: icehound67 on Oct 13, 2017, 05:42 PM: My family owns a tackle shop, I bought it from one of our dealers, I looked in the catalog. It is a plano dry storage box #1612. Retail should be around $ 22.00.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: tbern on Oct 13, 2017, 05:49 PM: Thanks, what type of battery do you use in it?
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: icehound67 on Oct 13, 2017, 06:37 PM: I have a 12v -9ah in it now, I have it set up for 2 batteries the other is on order. I'm running everything fused individually and switched the same. This way I have control. Each set of lights (2) has its own switch and also a cig lighter and double USB port on there own switch. I also put a set of led lights o front of box.the wires fo the shack lights are plugged at box so I can remove box for other uses.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: icehound67 on Oct 13, 2017, 06:38 PM: I would also look on amazon for a mtm box, they are nice and cheap.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: tbern on Oct 13, 2017, 06:41 PM: Thanks for all the info and ideas (nice), appreciate your help.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: CowDawg on Oct 13, 2017, 06:59 PM: The green battery box I have is their small plastic ammo box from Harbor Freight. $5. and change.
Same identical box at Dick's is double the price.

12v Marcum battery fits perfectly with plenty of room.

Your setup looks good as well icehound!
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: tbern on Oct 13, 2017, 07:07 PM: Really like this site and how so many people are willing to share great ideas and projects. Harbor freight box looks good also.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: CowDawg on Oct 13, 2017, 08:14 PM: Quote from: tbern on Oct 13, 2017, 07:07 PM
Really like this site and how so many people are willing to share great ideas and projects. Harbor freight box looks good also.

Well, I hope that's what we're all here for too...!

I learned a lot here reading Threads. Nothing top secret, just ideas to make life easier for us!!
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: icehound67 on Oct 13, 2017, 08:55 PM: My only concern is that the lights are too bright, scare fish? I may put in a dimmer. They're pretty bright.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: CowDawg on Oct 13, 2017, 09:05 PM: Quote from: icehound67 on Oct 13, 2017, 08:55 PM
My only concern is that the lights are too bright, scare fish? I may put in a dimmer. They're pretty bright.

Dimmer should work for you..
That's kinda why I went with that luminous green and separate circuits.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: icehound67 on Oct 13, 2017, 09:10 PM: I didn't see the green lights when I bought them. I am curious how much it matters.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: OldSailor on Oct 14, 2017, 08:50 AM: That's how this site is, just don't ask for honeyholes!! ;D
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: Chris338378 on Oct 14, 2017, 10:34 AM: I think if you use the white lights you could probably get away with using about half the lights you want to use and be in pretty good shape. The thing about white LED light is it's almost pure white light and because of that it's a brighter light.
Title: Re: Completed LED light project in my Shappell FX-150
Post by: icehound67 on Oct 14, 2017, 10:50 AM: Agreed, they are bright that's why I wired them on separate switches. I thought about running a strip on the ground bar but was concerned about moisture. Being color blind make it mor challenging.