Trailer Runway lights on a digital bilge switch.

[trayson]

And now for my latest mod.... Runway lights!!!!!!!!

I got this idea from a cool writeup on Wakeworld.

Here's what you need:

5 meters of black 5050 SMD waterproof strip lights, Mine light up BLUE
Atwood Digital Bilge Switch (Amazon.com had the best price)
A bunch of black zip ties


http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/bestonline1234/E000315_%283%29.JPG
So, 5 meters was enough to go from the rear of the trailer most of the way towards the front. Close enough that I didn't feel compelled to waste more money on lights. I paid $26 shipped off ebay from a seller called nj-store.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31yXZ8Kg-cL._SX385_.jpg
This switch will power the lights on for 8 seconds when you first turn on the running lights. Just a power up test it always does. Once the sensors are wet for 8 seconds, then the lights will illuminate. The switch will keep the lights powered up for 1 minute after the sensors are out of the water. There are no moving parts on this switch so it won't trigger the lights going down the road on bumps.
http://www.amazon.com/Attwood-Digital-Bilge-Switch-Volt/dp/B001O0D6LU

Okay, so I just ran the strip lights down the top of my frame rails of my trailer. I tapped into my running light circuit of my trailer lights, ran a wire across to the other side to power those strip lights, and secured the strip lights about every 3 to 4 feet with zip ties around the frame rails. Yes, they have adhesive, but it's weak and I don't trust it so I zip tied the strip lights in place.

[trayson]

Pic from the front. You can see it goes quite a ways towards the bow.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--JqjjZVNhEw/UkPHycf76WI/AAAAAAAAPCw/1Ncrl7i_Ddw/s800/20130925_215011.jpg

I chose to run the strip lights down the back of the frame rail and 1 light worth underneath. That way I could wrap the top and bottom with a looped zip tie.
My trailer had flat metal that butted right up against the frame rail, so I just drilled a small hole in the sheet metal for the zip tie. Why not?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P3CsRYcgcTo/UkPHxGQY_dI/AAAAAAAAPCs/YE2KgiQtMJY/s800/20130925_215057.jpg

Slightly blurry pic from the rear. It goes on the inside of the carpet that pads the fenders. Just on the top, inside of the main frame rails. This is going to be awesome when I'm pulling the boat onto the trailer at night. Plus it will look wicked cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bling, bling!!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kDP3rm9kLWc/UkPHvtFsLAI/AAAAAAAAPCk/GrxuPr23W4Q/s800/20130925_215127.jpg

[kvand347]

Very cool idea! I wish I did more night boating to justify needing it!

I can't see the pic of the switch. Can you add a link?

[trayson]

Very cool idea! I wish I did more night boating to justify needing it!

I can't see the pic of the switch. Can you add a link?

the OP was updated with a different pic and a link to amazon.

That said, it's not really for "night boarding" so much as it's for the fact that once we hit Labor Day, the sun is setting at 7pm. So if we go out after work at the end of summer and play for a couple hours, then by the time we've drained our ballast we're crusing back to the dock as it's changing from dusk to dark. Then by the time the trailer's being backed into the water, it's now dark.

Yeah, I can see my LED taillights in the water, but having a brighter and cooler landmark to aid in putting the boat on the trailer when it's dark is gonna be way cool.

Plus, I'm only $45 into this project including tax and shipping. $45 is a pretty cheap mod when it comes to our boats. I just ordered a waterproof stainless LED lighted swtich so I can override the switch and have it glow regardless of if it's in the water or not. I went the "get it from China" ebay route and got a switch for $3.50 that will show up in probably 3 weeks...

[villain]

Wanted to do this for a while. Looks good man!

[trayson]

Thanks. I'll field test it this evening, since it's finally drying out enough to go play. We're also going to test our prototype surf platform. Woot!

[trayson]

Nice mod! I do come in quite a bit at night and could use some runway lights. I think the only thing I would do differently is not use zip ties but instead maybe a bead of clear silicone adhesive along the lights to hold in place I use these types of lights all the time in my business and the adhesive tape does not old up for long. On wood, I use a T model staple gun and shoot staples over the strip to hold them tight.
I like the switch idea. I was just going to add a switch inline at tongue so I could flip on and off when I wanted.

Yeah, on the WW thread someone posted that same idea about the silicone. That's a good idea. Although I would have had a hard time getting to one section that's between the hull and the insides of the fenders (at least with the boat on the trailer!). Anyway, my trailer's black so the black zip ties won't be too noticeable. And they're 100% removeable should I want to do something different in the future.

[trayson]

Pic of the runway lights in action! they were so badass when I was docking last night. I was lovin' it.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n54/phathomthis/Supra/IMG_20130926_200935_864_zps25cd5956.jpg

And a video:
http://s109.photobucket.com/user/phathomthis/media/Supra/VID_20130926_200938_758_zpsdb5790c8.mp4.html

[kvand347]

Love it! Thanks for the link. Keep up the great mods. Waiting for video on the swim platform...

Where did you mount the Attwood switch?

[kvand347]

Not sure if you said where you mounted the Attwood switch?

[trayson]

Love it! Thanks for the link. Keep up the great mods. Waiting for video on the swim platform...

Where did you mount the Attwood switch?

If you see at the very bottom of this pic, I have my license plate mounted on the crossmember that is rearmost connecting the frame rails to the skidplate.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pnos_9efdek/UZruf2XtRII/AAAAAAAAOAQ/MJRhLK-5P30/s800/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg


I have it zip tied directly below my license plate for now. My electrical connections for my runway lights are right there by the Port end of the frame rail (by the tail light). so it was easy to mount the switch anywhere within it's wires length radius of that point.

I zip tied it for quickness and in case I have to move it.

After we pulled out of the water, the lights stayed lit as we went up the ramp, but were out on cue in a minute. Test was successful. I'll have an override switch later in case I want my "ambiance" while wiping down the boat!

[haugy]

How do you have the zip ties? Daytime pic? I'm thinking to use those to hold while silicone sets in and dries. Then cut the ties off later.

I've got some extra LED's I plan on using up, that switch is better than what I was looking at. Mine was a simple float switch, but bumps would be a problem as they would come on and off. Very good info thanks.

[trayson]

How do you have the zip ties? Daytime pic? I'm thinking to use those to hold while silicone sets in and dries. Then cut the ties off later.

I've got some extra LED's I plan on using up, that switch is better than what I was looking at. Mine was a simple float switch, but bumps would be a problem as they would come on and off. Very good info thanks.

The zip ties might drive some crazy. I'm not that OCD, and it's working fine, so good enough for me. here's a shot of where the lights end. I doubled up the zip tie on the end of the strip.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TXV_JXx_2UQ/UlwQgQZAkjI/AAAAAAAAPOk/QQiyqH0_K6E/s800/20131001_171223.jpg