LED Strip RGBW Lighting - Saloon

[Chuncky]

So, my daughter and her husband have just bought their first boat - and very nice it is too. I'm sourcing one of their Xmas presents - just a wee 'extra'.

Due to the boat's age (1980's) the saloon lighting is uninspiring to say the least. I've seen some 12V RGBW(warm white) lighting strips that are controllable via a remote, but which will also synch to music, which would be a nice extra. The boat layout would suit two linear 5m LED strips with individual controllers which are synchronised.

Has anyone successfully bought and installed such a system powered from the 12V batteries on the boat? I've seen many advertised on Ebay, Aliexpress and Amazon, but the technical descriptions are always a bit limited. As it's a Xmas present I'd like to ensure that it's an easy install and we don't have a continual back/forward with the supplier.

 

[Gsailor]

Seen it done.
Worked well.
But there are suppiers and then there are suppliers.
I saw good results but I don't know where the goods were bought, sorry.
Also seen a shower on a boat with a roll of white LED strip.

 

[harvey38]

If the saloon lighting is uninspiring, are a couple of sound to light LED strips really going to make it inspiring?

I would have thought the sensible thing to do would be install some dimmable LED strips/down lighters for regular evenings/night illumination then install pulsing sound to light, strips/lasers/wash/starbursts to your hearts content and neighbours tolerance levels.

 

[Chuncky]

Thanks for the reponses.

I was thinking along the lines of multifunction LED strip lighting. Good, dimmable light output from the W part of the RGBW strip (maybe combined with all three RGB to increase the W output). Atmoshpheric from the RGB part (using the standard remote control for clour selection) and 'party-time' from the music synch, neighbours notwithstanding. This is what we have at home (without the music synch) coupled to ur home automation system and it works well.

I'm hoping that someone will have installed a self-contained system as outlined in my original post that I can just buy and gift based on a recommendation.

 

[Gsailor]

Thanks for the reponses.

I was thinking along the lines of multifunction LED strip lighting. Good, dimmable light output from the W part of the RGBW strip (maybe combined with all three RGB to increase the W output). Atmoshpheric from the RGB part (using the standard remote control for clour selection) and 'party-time' from the music synch, neighbours notwithstanding. This is what we have at home (without the music synch) coupled to ur home automation system and it works well.

I'm hoping that someone will have installed a self-contained system as outlined in my original post that I can just buy and gift based on a recommendation.

You have it correctly described.
You just need a supplier.
I can't recommend one.
Buy and try before wrapping? From a supplier with good feedback?
Let us know how it goes

 

[SimonKNZ]

I bought some plain warm white strips from AliExpress a few years ago and wired them in to the existing light fittings on my previous boat, just adding a switch on the fitting base. I was quite pleased how they turned out - much nicer, distributed light than the existing ones and draw little power. The controllable LED ones would be even better and you wouldn't need a switch on the light fitting. There are probably nicer ways to do the wiring. Here's how mine looked:

 

[Chiara’s slave]

LED tape is fabulous. It’s actually quite hard to go wrong. Get waterporoof tape is all I’d suggest. The remote control will be the weakest part, but you can always go DMX later. That works really well, long established tech.

 

[gregcope]

Consider using a Shelly RGBW2 controller as it has a nice phone app as well as ports to add wired switch(es)

 

[steve yates]

What is dmx?

 

[coopec]

Surely these links explain how to install LED Strips? (Maybe I'm missing something?)

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Installing+LED+Strip+RGBW+Lighting+

 

[LadyInBed]

I replaced the innards of my neon units with stick on LED strips, worked well.
When those units looked tired, I replaced them with LED kitchen under cabinet units that used a mains to 12v adapter, then ditched the adaptor and wired them straight to the 12v circuit. They look good and have been working for 6 or 7 years now.

 

[harvey38]

What is dmx?

Digital Multiplexing - a way of controlling lighting fixtures using a single cable to link the units together, similar to the Can-Bus system, used by DJs, lighting studios etc. Way over the top,for the OPs needs.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Digital Multiplexing - a way of controlling lighting fixtures using a single cable to link the units together, similar to the Can-Bus system, used by DJs, lighting studios etc. Way over the top,for the OPs needs.

You think? It’s brightness and multi circuit control, cheap and effective and readily available, and can do music interface. I say it just ticks every box. But then, I’ve installed literally miles of LED tape, 90% of it using DMX

 

[Chuncky]

Thanks for all the responses.

Installing the tape is not an issue - it's very straightforward. I have DMX on the tapes that we have at home and it works well. As it's not my boat I'd prefer to go with an out-of-the box package to ease setup and operation.

I was just looking to see if anyone had personal experience of a plug-and-play package that they could recommend.

 

[Gsailor]

I won't argue as that is a waste of energy...I don't know why people are arguing.

I can only say as I did in post 5... buy and try?

Unless you are in a rush and wish to give Mr Amazon more money an ebay seller with 100% feedback may prove a positive outcome.

And it sounds as though you could unpack it, test it and repack it without anyone the wiser.

I cannot remember who I bought what from last week let alone years ago, so sorry.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I’d definitey take pot luck with a well reviewed package, and go dmx if it breaks a year down the line.

 

[justanothersailboat]

I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking a strip of LED tape down either side of the cabin could be a great way to light a boat... but has anyone tried the "COB LED" strip that forms a continuous glow rather than a line of bright little points? (not available in RGB, so possibly not best for cabin parties) I'm planning on trying this but need to sort my blasted headlining out first, unfortunately.

Either way I think the quality of dimming will be pretty important. It had better be good. Too many either don't go down far enough, or get flickery.

By the way, the small cheap RGB control units don't offer much fine control. It's all about the blinky modes. I'm afraid I know this because I bought RGB strip by mistake for the smallest room at home, to much mockery!

 

[harvey38]

We used Aten Lighting when refitting Tolerance, two warm white LED battens behind the pelmets and four warm white LEDs in the ceiling in the saloon, the battens and ceiling lights being on separate, touch sensitive dimmer switches.

 

[Tintin]

Have used this stuff on several boats over the past 10 or so years, to replace incandescent bulbs in existing light fittings, to provide light for engine bays, and the red version for night lighting.
You are best getting some with 3M self adhesive as lesser types tend to fail, and then fall off after several years. Also the surface they are being stuck to needs to be decreased/ cleaned.

 

[Aquanaught]

I fitted these Led warm white strips to my saloon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dimmable-Cabinet-Wardrobe-Cupboard-Included/dp/B00MHTNXRY?ref_=ast_sto_dp - they are hidden behind the seat backs but project a nice light either side. Just tapped into the 12V lighting circuit (with 2A in line fuse). The strip is self adhesive 5m and can be cut to length - I joined both to one switch by routing wiring under the flooring to a single on/off. Coloured led lighting is available controlled by phone app or little remote but for additional saloon lights I would say the warm white is ideal.