Inexpensive Portable Lighting Solution - LED Lights

[Sutty]

I did my last porty in OPS Firebrite LED lights it was a voyageur and I ran 2 of the 9.5" strips across the center pole and it was plenty of light. Just sold that one due to truck bed shrinkage due to kids growing :-) Picked up a clam guide on sale at cab's last weekend so I am preparing to light up the new one. I am thinking of trying one 19" strands this time since my new portable is smaller.

[BartmanMN]

I have 1 39" LED string in my guide and it is perfect. The Reflectix may help bounce the light around as well. It is mounted to my top bar.

[Sutty]

I ordered one, cost a little less than 30 bucks including shipping. I need to put the reflex stuff in again as well.

[DTro]

What makes the internet so great is finding these LED deals once you know they are out there

[Sutty]

I shall double my efforts

[Surreal Deal]

I bought a strip of four LED spots at Menards - originally intended for under cabinet lighting. I zip tied it to one of my removable wind braces. The spotlights are directional so you can focus the light on the holes, or else easily switch it your way if you need to tie a hook etc.!

It runs on 6 AAA batteries so it's ultra portable. i.e., you or your buddy can hold the wind brace like a torch when breaking down and walking back in. - So far no complaints!

If I find Christmas or rope lights on the cheap I may do the Dtro/Anderud mod for some additional ambient lighting.

[so haaad]

Dtro, welcome to the FireBrite "strip" club!! They are great lights for the portables.

[BuckyBadger]

I also hooked up 3 sets of lights in my portable, 1 9.5" and 1 19" of the OPS luminator LED lights. I also put the clam LED lights trip on the front of the Otter Caddy, here are some of my photos, I will also put in my wiring diagram for two way switches. I got the idea from rusty Ironman but he had 3 way switches, so i made the changes.

Front LED on only

48cm leds on only, back tube

96 cm lights on only, plenty of light.

Wiring Diagram

Close up wiring

Inside Caddy

Caddy with Switches mounted

INside Pic

[DTro]

Very nice Bucky!

A little time and effort went into that. Thanks for sharing

[Sutty]

That's an awesome design thanks for sharing

[BuckyBadger]

All parts (terminal blocks, jumpers, fuse block, fuses) are from R*dio Schackk.

They also carry the terminal connections, but I got those from M**nards.

Switches from C*bel*s

I used 16 AWG speaker wire to run upto the ceiling lights.

[jrtardy99]

1-Coleman LED lantern from Walmart hung from a the existing strap for the canvas is all I have ever needed. It is SUPER bright +did not take much to get up and running. I think I paid $15 for it.

[so haaad]

BuckyBadger, great setup. The coiled wires that are common on cell phone chargers work great for connecting to the LED strips to the support posts. The coiled wire allows you to set up or take down your shack without worrying about hanging wires.

[BartmanMN]

hmmm, coiled wire idea. I like that. I ran mine inside the pole, but that is a neat idea.

[DTro]

Can you find the coiled wire anywhere with bare or tinned ends, or do you have to buy an extension and cut the plug off?

[so haaad]

I think I got mine at Ax-man for dirt cheap. I'm sure you could find them at lots of other surplus stores too.

[PierBridge]

I love the light the best Hoing Going lights put out but they dry rot out and become useless.

[harvey lee]

You can find the FireBrite lights at OutdoorProStore.com These are very bright and I have had very good luck with them.

This past weekend I was fishing on Rainy Lake in -35 degree temps daily. I never had any issues with these lights after three days of use.

I fished during the day but it was so cold I wanted to test the lights to see if the wires worked after putting the portable up and down so many times in the deep sub zero temps.

http://outdoorprostore.com/products-page/brands/firebrite-led-ice-house-lights/

The wires were fine and the lights worked great.

[DTro]

Buying from the OPS (Outdoor Pro Store) will almost certainly guarantee you faster delivery and better service then where I got mine from, as I've been waiting about 15 days for mine now. I expect them sometime this week.

I was also willing to get the 19" FireBrite strips as those are available at the OPS.

[PierBridge]

Slightly off topic but does your Lodge fit inside your truck or do you trailer it?

[DTro]

It sits next to my sled on the trailer, but I do know that the lodge will fit in a full size Chev under a tonneau cover.

[aanderud]

With "full size chevy" you have to be careful. I am 99.9% certain that it'll fit in the 6.5 foot short box (extended cab usually come with this), but I am not sure whether it'll fit in the smaller box that usually comes on the crew cab. Of course it will fit in the 8 foot long box.

[harvey lee]

Yes, it fits in mine with no issues and a few inches to spare.

Thats an Ext cab with the 6.5ft box.

I have a soft cover for my bed and it fits under fine.

[Borch]

With "full size chevy" you have to be careful. I am 99.9% certain that it'll fit in the 6.5 foot short box (extended cab usually come with this), but I am not sure whether it'll fit in the smaller box that usually comes on the crew cab. Of course it will fit in the 8 foot long box.

My Chevy crew cab is a 6 1/2' box. But things change as it's a 2003. I have the roll up tonnue cover with a bar up front. It barely fits but it does as the bar cuts the box down to 6'1" give or take.

[broman]

BuckyBadger, great setup. The coiled wires that are common on cell phone chargers work great for connecting to the LED strips to the support posts. The coiled wire allows you to set up or take down your shack without worrying about hanging wires.

Same here. Works well.