Lighting options in portables

[USDA3]

What are some thoughts on lighting in portables. I know this has been discussed in other places but hard to sort though it all.

Seems like people like the Best H O N G Kong LED lights? I am looking at using LED rather than the ol fashioned flashlights and lantern. Both for battery and brightness. Myself and a buddy both have had the nasy headache and near puking sickness from CO and wouldn't mind not breaking another lantern globe.

1. Are the LED tube, flexible waterporoof the lights people are buying from Best H o n g k o n g?

2. Warm White or Cool White in color?

3. How much is enough length? I prefer not squinting while re-tying if that helps. looks like they sell it in up to 96cm length, would one of those be sufficient? Or two of the shorter lengths?

4. Also if you have two different sets, can you run them both off one 12V battery?

[Chode2235]

I see that Clam has a puck Light Emitting Diode (sorry, I hate how the forums auto turn a few phrases into links) that also includes a fan. Looks like an interesting concept.

L E D s will be a cool white in color, and you should be able to run multiple strings of the corded lights off a 12v.

[croixflats]

I like the Led tripods. The batteries dont last long, rechargeables help, but they are handy when putting things away.I get maybe 2 outings out of the batteries if I remember right. Plus there pretty tough and they store easily.

[harvey lee]

Here you go. 12v or AA batteries. The battery one lasts approx 50 hours. These have the heavy duty commercial grade wires.

One can zip tie them to the poles and your ready for instant LED lighting

http://www.outdoorprostore.com/led-ice-fishing-lights.html

[TiNK3R]

I haven't tried the HSO ones, but I know the others work great. I suggest warm white as the cool white feels like a flourecent where it's a "blue white" if that makes sense.

I used 2x24cm strips and it was like daylight in there. I had an extra one mounted under the lip on the outside of my porty right behind my feet if i wanted to light the ice up like an ice rink.

[SkunkedAgain]

Harvey,

I don't take a 12V on the ice but see that these things can run off of 3 AA batteries. Any sense of how long they'll run off 3AA's in the cold? I'm thinking more about how many sets of rechargeables to buy versus whether or not to get the system.

[OnAFly]

If you plan on the 3 AAs, don't use rechargeable batteries. I tried it in my headlamp and they dim pretty quickly. I've heard lithium batteries are best for cold weather applications. They cost a ton more, but they last a lot longer...or so I've heard. I'll be trying it this winter.

[Eric Wettschreck]

You don't need a big 12 deep cycle battery. They run quite well using a vex battery.

[SkunkedAgain]

I know, but 95% of the time I use human power to pull my medium Otter out onto the ice. I try to avoiding tossing 5lbs here and 5lbs there into the mix.

I never thought about lithium batteries. So second question for Harvey (just bought to sets of lights from you), can you use lithium batteries in these lights? I know that some things are not meant to run those high powered batteries.

[OnAFly]

If they are voltage regulated, Li batteries can be used.

I'm considering running these in my one man. Anyone have any experience with them and if I would need 1 or two strips to get enough light out of them. I would probably just run off my Vex battery. I don't make a lot of really long outings where battery life is a problem.

[BoxMN]

original info removed by me...

Edit - ha! Soembody must have come in over the summer and changed what lights I have

too funny

[GrizzlyAdams]

If I bought 4 of the 12v light sets can you connect these together and run off of one vex battery or do you need separate vex batteries to run each string?

[harvey lee]

Harvey,

I don't take a 12V on the ice but see that these things can run off of 3 AA batteries. Any sense of how long they'll run off 3AA's in the cold? I'm thinking more about how many sets of rechargeables to buy versus whether or not to get the system.

50 hours.

[harvey lee]

If I bought 4 of the 12v light sets can you connect these together and run off of one vex battery or do you need separate vex batteries to run each string?

I have run 2 at a time but not 4. You would need to cut the male and female connector of and ad one for all four. Not sure how long your battery would last, it may be ok but I have not tested that. I would test this but I do not want to cut the ends of 4 sets.

[Scott K]

You would not have a problem running 20 of these lights off of one vex battery. They don't draw much amps.

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks Harvey. I'm looking forward to using them this winter (and this fall in my garage!)

[GrizzlyAdams]

Awesome. Will need to order some soon. I was curious about 4 strings because I was thinking if they would take less juice in the wheel house rather than the 12v lights already in there. We like to take extended trips on the ice and want to cut down on charging batteries.

[crappiekid]

12 volt LED rope light hands down@!!!!!!!!!! Runs of VEX batt can get at Cabellas in Bargain gave for 10.00 recondition run like new. Rope lites on sale at GM usually for around 10.00.

I run 1 strand zip tied to my first pole in frabill XL twin, thats a big house and lights very good over the front 1/2 of the house. I have a HONG KONG and dont like it. Not a fan of buying AA bats all the time. I have fished from sun set to about 1130 pm 3 nites in a row and vex batt will last. I also have a small solar trickle charger FF = 15.99) that i use for week long trips rather than fire up gen to charge.

[harvey lee]

Are the rope lights you are using with the clear tube? If so, the non tube type are much brighter than the tube ones.

[crappiekid]

Harvey i did have the tube ones, i just ordered the ones you are talkin about above. Shipping kinda steep though. Excited to try them. Thanks for TIP

[Big Buck Buster]

crappiekid,

You don't have to run the King Kong lights off of AA batteries. I hook mine to my vex battery, and they last a very long time. They are the brightest that I have seen so far.

[CatchPhotoFilet]

I bought a few from good old cheap labor china off the internet last year. Do a search for LED Light Strip. You can get them in various lengths. Only thing to be concerned about is sometimes I believe the brighter leds lights on the market are sometimes too bright and the fish can see the light in the hole or through the ice if you do not have a floor in your house with clear ice. I created a LED dimmer with a few electronic components and pays off greatly. Just dimming an led just a small percentage will increase the life of the battery greatly!

[Big Buck Buster]

I bought a few from good old cheap labor china off the internet last year. Do a search for LED Light Strip. You can get them in various lengths. Only thing to be concerned about is sometimes I believe the brighter leds lights on the market are sometimes too bright and the fish can see the light in the hole or through the ice if you do not have a floor in your house with clear ice. I created a LED dimmer with a few electronic components and pays off greatly. Just dimming an led just a small percentage will increase the life of the battery greatly!

Maybe that is why I am still catching panfish in the middle of the night.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I put up 2 rope lights one on the front top bar and one on the middle bar of the ice shack. When it is starting to get dark they don't seem like very much light. Once it is dark they are very bright. Funny how it just takes a little time for your eyes to adjust. Plus they run off a battery that the camera used durring the day and work all night long.

[cold one sd]

I have a UFO light with 60 LEDs that works good for my use. I can use 20, 40 or 60 LEDs at a time to control brightness and it hangs from one of the bars in my portable where it is kept warm.