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Help needed: trying to connect LED light bar to generator for night fishing
Posted on 10/29/14 at 10:44 pm
Posted on 10/29/14 at 10:44 pm
Disclaimer: I don't know jack about electricity, as you will see in a second, so go easy.
Me and my dad wanted to try our hand at night fishing (because it sounds like a blast and he's getting a little older so he can't stay in the sun as long) and maybe a little bowfishing. We bought a generator (Honda EU1000i). Borrowed some underwater lights from a friend. Bought an LED light bar (as running lights so we can see where we're going). Now we have the problem of putting it all together.
The underwater lights have an outlet plug so that will plug straight into the generator. However, the LED light bar just has the black and red wires. We're trying to go from the light bar straight to the generator via an outlet plug and extension cord. Is this possible? Can someone offer any advice? It would be much appreciated.
Me and my dad wanted to try our hand at night fishing (because it sounds like a blast and he's getting a little older so he can't stay in the sun as long) and maybe a little bowfishing. We bought a generator (Honda EU1000i). Borrowed some underwater lights from a friend. Bought an LED light bar (as running lights so we can see where we're going). Now we have the problem of putting it all together.
The underwater lights have an outlet plug so that will plug straight into the generator. However, the LED light bar just has the black and red wires. We're trying to go from the light bar straight to the generator via an outlet plug and extension cord. Is this possible? Can someone offer any advice? It would be much appreciated.
4
Posted on 10/29/14 at 10:55 pm to StrongBackWeakMind
Run it off of a battery. You can also put a trickle charger on the battery if you're worried about it running down, but a full car battery should run many hours just powering a LED strip
Posted on 10/29/14 at 10:55 pm to StrongBackWeakMind
First off..
Second, this sounds like a downshift thread
And you are better than me than admitting you need help with electrical help
quote:
StrongBackWeakMind
Second, this sounds like a downshift thread
And you are better than me than admitting you need help with electrical help
Posted on 10/29/14 at 10:59 pm to Hammertime
Some info on the LED light bar. Not sure what is relevant.
- Current draw 16A @ 12V, 8A @ 24V
- LED Power: 120W
- Operating Voltage: 10-30V DC
How long do you think a marine battery will keep that going?
Didn't think about a trickle charger. That's a good idea.
- Current draw 16A @ 12V, 8A @ 24V
- LED Power: 120W
- Operating Voltage: 10-30V DC
How long do you think a marine battery will keep that going?
Didn't think about a trickle charger. That's a good idea.
This post was edited on 10/29/14 at 11:00 pm
Posted on 10/29/14 at 11:01 pm to aVatiger
quote:
First off..
quote:Yeah. They never put me in any honors classes.
StrongBackWeakMind
Posted on 10/29/14 at 11:52 pm to StrongBackWeakMind
Off of one good 115 amp hour battery, it would be 7.2 hours
Posted on 10/30/14 at 12:52 am to Hammertime
You could run a 12 volt converter plugged into the generator. Just add a male auto cigarette lighter type plug on the LED light bar.
This post was edited on 10/30/14 at 12:54 am
Posted on 10/30/14 at 1:18 am to StrongBackWeakMind
Two 12v volt batteries in series will give you way more power than you need for multiple trips.
I am going to assume you know the difference between AC and DC power and why you can't just plug them up to the generator.
Take the ratings given to you, for example 8 Amps at 24v and multiply times the time needed. for example 8A x 8 hours = 64 Amp hours required from the batteries. Conversely if your batteries are capable of 240 amp hours and your draw is 8Amps you have 30 hours of power available. This will vary some depending on state of charge and battery condition but is a good rule of thumb.
I am going to assume you know the difference between AC and DC power and why you can't just plug them up to the generator.
quote:
How long do you think a marine battery will keep that going?
Take the ratings given to you, for example 8 Amps at 24v and multiply times the time needed. for example 8A x 8 hours = 64 Amp hours required from the batteries. Conversely if your batteries are capable of 240 amp hours and your draw is 8Amps you have 30 hours of power available. This will vary some depending on state of charge and battery condition but is a good rule of thumb.
Posted on 10/30/14 at 1:23 am to cave canem
No. I don't know the difference between AC and DC.
It's looking like marine batteries are the better option with the generator as a backup to charge.
It's looking like marine batteries are the better option with the generator as a backup to charge.
Posted on 10/30/14 at 1:41 am to StrongBackWeakMind
OK, I will keep it simple. There is no really good way to plug the lights (DC) directly to the generator (AC) without some fireworks going off. I would recommend getting two good 12v batteries and hooking them up in a series and going that route myself. Way more power than you need, no need for fuel, simple, and quiet. To connect the batteries in series hook the red or + on one battery to the black or - on the other with a cable. The other two poles should be connected as normal to the light. You can either get a 24v charger or remove the cable and charge both as 12v together or seperatly. Here is a LINK for instructions. You could wire your batteries parallel but I would go 24v.
Posted on 10/30/14 at 6:56 am to StrongBackWeakMind
That generator should have come with battery charging leads that plug into the charging outlet on the generator, atleast mine did. Connect the LED light to the battery for constant current and run your generator to keep the battery charged.
Posted on 10/30/14 at 8:00 am to tipup
Or, bring your battery and bring a battery charger which can plug straight into the generator to keep a charge in the source battery if need be.
Posted on 10/30/14 at 11:56 am to GeeOH
While both of the last suggestions will certainly work lugging a generator around for an 8amp battery charger would be like mounting a central a/c on top of your car. Sure it will work but wtf
Posted on 10/30/14 at 12:09 pm to StrongBackWeakMind
Wire LED into deep cycle on boat. Don't need a generator for that.
ETA we run the running lights, LED spotlight, LED's for the floor of the boat and all pumps on the same deep cycle as the motor in the mud boat. Has never been a problem frogging all night.
ETA we run the running lights, LED spotlight, LED's for the floor of the boat and all pumps on the same deep cycle as the motor in the mud boat. Has never been a problem frogging all night.
This post was edited on 10/30/14 at 12:12 pm
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