When mounting your lightbars plan in advance where to run your cables. Sometimes it’s easy to run your 12v flex cables inside the tubings for your canopy. Or you can just cable tie them in place.<\/p>\n
Make sure to always include an inline fuse for each light. All light switches should also be waterproof and mounted to the dashboard near the boat steering wheel. Sometimes the light bars will come with a fuse included. If it doesn’t just read the instructions and it will tell you the amp rating.<\/p>\n
A 300 watt light will use around 25 Amps on full load. So a 30 amp fuse will be fine.\u00a0Remember to also rate your cable for the proper amp draw if running extra long runs.<\/p>\n
Power = Volts times Amps (P=VxA)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Connect the red cable to your battery positive connection, and the black cable to the negative battery terminal. Install a switch between the positive cable so you can turn the light on and off.<\/p>\n
Where to mount your lightbars<\/h3>\n
The amount of space the light takes up is important\u2014wouldn\u2019t want to have your limited space covered up by your light source and hinder your line of sight. I like to mount my longer light bar up front like a searchlight.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The smaller individual lights I like to mount at the rear or side of the boat. These are very adjustable so you can move them into the perfect position. Just don’t tighten up the mounting adjustment bolts fully that way you can still move them when required.<\/p>\n
Bulb type<\/span><\/h3>\nNilight uses LED bulbs on the light bars. LED bulbs are an environmental-friendly choice, and also help save power in the long run. They are also relatively more sturdy than fluorescent bulbs, making them an appropriate choice for outdoor lighting.<\/span><\/p>\nBecause boats often get pounded by waves the vibrations can often break normal halogen bulbs.<\/p>\n
As the same lights are being used for the light bars, the bulb lifespan is relatively the same. The bulbs can last for approximately 30,000 hours before they die out. In the event that the lights do go out, Nilight\u2019s customer service can be contacted easily on replacement bulbs.<\/span><\/p>\nThe light bars work at temperatures between -40 to 85 \u00b0C. \u00a0This makes the bulbs more applicable to any temperature and environment. But if you are going ice fishing then they will work there as well.<\/span><\/p>\nThe light bars produce a light color that is pure white, at the color temperature of 6000-6500 K. This gives off a nice bright light, perfect for overnight applications where one needs to see where they\u2019re going.<\/span><\/p>\nWaterproof rating<\/span><\/h3>\nThe lights are sealed tight in the same manner, with a waterproof rate of IP67. This ensures that no dust or moisture gets in the internal parts. The waterproof casing also makes it an appropriate feature for exterior applications, as the light will be mounted on items that won\u2019t necessarily be in a shaded area.<\/span><\/p>\nBe sure to use a garden hose to wash off any salt water after your fishing trip.<\/p>\n
Lightbars Outer Casing<\/span><\/h3>\nNilight uses the same die-cast aluminum alloy for both light bars. This sturdy casing ensures that you can use the lights in harsh weather like heavy rain and saltwater. This aluminum is very tough so it will take those accidental blows.<\/span><\/p>\nVoltage<\/span><\/h3>\nBoth lightbars use voltage in between 9-30 V. This is perfect for boats and trucks with a 24v electrical system. As mentioned earlier, the lights can be used in indoor applications as well, as long as a step-down voltage regulator is being used.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPerfect Match<\/span><\/p>\nIn the end, choosing the appropriate light bar between the two depends on personal preference and necessity. The Off Road LED Work Light and Triple Row LED Light Bar is essentially the same quality but fashioned into different sizes and uses.<\/span><\/p>\nLightbars are not just suited to the front of four-wheel drives but many other vehicles and marine craft. I like the way that you can use voltages from 9v all the way up to 30v. Lots more options say in 24volt trucks. These Off-Road LED Work Light can be attached at the sides of the boat to function like searchlights. Not only does it add to visibility on the sea, they may even attract fish to the boat\u2014a definite win-win situation!<\/span><\/p>\nI highly suggest using both light bars for maximum enjoyment. <\/span><\/p>\nWe hope our review was helpful in letting you know more about appropriate boating lights in the market. Let us know if you\u2019ve tried the Nilight Light Bars we\u2019ve discussed in this article, and if there are any boating lights you\u2019d want us to try out!<\/span><\/p>\n