LED swim platform

[ffmedic74]

Grant,

Where are you getting most of your LEDs from these days?

[Grant_West]

I got the LEDs for this project from Mike Ski here on PN.com
e-mail hime if you want some stuff he is about to make a order to China

[dan1166]

Led Platform

This is a really cool idea, but I have one question. If you are supplying power to the led's through the platform brackets, how do you keep this from shorting out? Brackets are always submerged in the water, and we all know that water is a great conductor of electricity. I do not understand how this could be. It must have some drain on the electrical system, or am I missing something.

Dan, the STS Man[/list]

[surroundsound64]

RE: Led Platform

It probably does have somewhat of a drain, but the resistance of the wire that connects the 2 brackets with all the LEDs in between is probably a lot less resistance than the distance of water between the 2. There is no doubt some drain though.

The same thing happens when you back your trailer into the water if you leave your lights connected, unless you have waterproof light covers. The lights still work.

[Andrew]

RE: Led Platform

fresh water sucks as a conductor to be honest.......

[Grant_West]

Yea I dont know how it dosent do what you think its gonna do (Shock Ya) but it dosent it works just fine. Its cool to see all these people come outa the wood work and discuss how it will / will not work and the drain and the eletrolisis ect. Pretty funny

[surroundsound64]

Oh ya... AWESOME job Grant!

[Andrew]

Oh ya... AWESOME job Grant!

almost forgot........ DITTO^

[82tique]

So...what's next to get some lights?

how about a few sets of 'zillion watt' lights wrapped in an aero-dynamic box ......sweet, I can picture it now......blind your freinds and REALLY light up the water for night riding

much respect bling

[ag4ever]

Low voltage, and water is actually a poor conductor. Distilled water is a really bad conductor, but the more minerals that are in the water the better it becomes. If you drop a 120 volt a/c curent line in the water, you will get current, if you drop a 12 volt dc line in the water, there will be very little vlotage. especially if the conductors are spaced as wide as the two platform brackets. I assume Grant is using on bracket for + and the other for -.

Now the problem would be if you had the boat in the water for extended periods of time. You just created a device to speed up electrolisys. (I think that is how it is spelled). The metal will try to leave one polarity and go to the other. That is how electroplating works.

[surroundsound64]

Now the problem would be if you had the boat in the water for extended periods of time. You just created a device to speed up electrolisys. (I think that is how it is spelled). The metal will try to leave one polarity and go to the other. That is how electroplating works.

Ya might come out with some cooling looking brackets though! Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[boatech]

man thats some fine work you did thanx for showing it off.

[richard]

LED swim platform

if LED factory make 3V led lights (it's easy for them) and we convert 12V to 3V to supply the leds will much improve electrolysis problem since the led orginaly worked with not 12v but about 3v

[ag4ever]

RE: LED swim platform

For the short period that most of us have our boat in the water electrolysis should not be a problem.

But if you put the boat in saltwater, turn the LEDs on, and leave it there for a day, you will be suprised at what you see when you pull it from the water.

[Grant_West]

Any type of electrolysis would only take place only while the power to the platform is on. So in a real life senario how long do you have your LED's on each night? 1-2 hr's and how much electrolysis happens over that time. I would like to see a picture of this electrolysis that everyone keep's talking about for LED swim platform's.

People are saying well in fresh water its not a problem but in salt water the effect's are alot more. I say if you run your boat in salt water that last thing I would be worried about is electrolysis from a LED swim platform. I would think the effect's of salt water would far out weigh if any effects from a LED platform, But thats Just my opinion.The whole electrolysis LED platform debate does make good internet conversation, so please continue. :grin: