I would like to know if the rod locker lights and the storage lights in my boat run off of the trolling motor battery or the starting battery? I have a 04 Triton. I want to add some led lights to the lockers and storage areas but I don't want to run my batteries low eather.

Thanks

The only thing wired to my trolling motor battery is my trolling motor  

The only thing wired to my trolling motor battery is my trolling motor

Thanks Catt, that is what I thought but I was not sure. I sure don't want to run my start battery down by adding led lights. I was thinking of also adding led lights to my boat deck for night fishing but I would be mad if I went to start and my battery was dead. :'(

The only thing wired to my trolling motor battery is my trolling motor

Thanks Catt, that is what I thought but I was not sure. I sure don't want to run my start battery down by adding led lights. I was thinking of also adding led lights to my boat deck for night fishing but I would be mad if I went to start and my battery was dead. :'(

You would have to leave them on for a really long time to have that happen. You are pulling much juice with LED lights.

I don't think you could add enough LED lights to drain your cranking battery, their current draw is very little.   I would also only install them inside the rod locker and storage boxes and make everything red LED's.  If you have a light in the side of the console and on the front deck for lights, I would change them to Red and hook everything switch for the light on the side of the console.  White light destroys night vision and it takes about 20 minutes to get you night vision back.  Red lights don't bother you no where near as bad.  When night fishing, I use absolutely no white light, every light in my console is read, guages and all.  The only white is the rear running light an it's on of those LED models than cast very little light in the boat but can still be seen the Two miles.

I don't think you could add enough LED lights to drain your cranking battery, their current draw is very little. I would also only install them inside the rod locker and storage boxes and make everything red LED's. If you have a light in the side of the console and on the front deck for lights, I would change them to Red and hook everything switch for the light on the side of the console. White light destroys night vision and it takes about 20 minutes to get you night vision back. Red lights don't bother you no where near as bad. When night fishing, I use absolutely no white light, every light in my console is read, guages and all. The only white is the rear running light an it's on of those LED models than cast very little light in the boat but can still be seen the Two miles.

I was thinking of white/blueish lights in the lockers and storage and blue lights on th deck. But I am open to ideas. :-?

My boat is red so I went with Red all the way around and so far its great. I've done the rod lockers and can open them and there is plenty of light to see and it doesn't destroy my night vision. Waiting on the kit for the rest of the boat. Here is a pic of my lockers at night to give you an idea.

LED's require very little current to operate, but they too should be "switched" in order to conserve on battery drain. Way2slow is right, "RED" is the only color that will help to conserve your night vision. Any accessorie lighting should be mounted below the gunwales and should be focused downward towards the deck. You'll find that most LED lights have a narrow field of focus, so this is important. A fairly bright RED LED aimed right at your eye will wipe out your night vision for 15 to 20 minutes, just like white light!

I fall your accessorie lighting will be LED's, then your wire guage can be smaller due to the smaller current draw . . . probaly 16 ga. would be plenty, unless your boat is over 24' or you have an excessive number of LED's.

Regards,

Cal

Thanks to everyone for there input! I have a Cobalt blue Triton and I was thinking of the blue deck lights?  What is the company that you guys used for your lights? I was looking at Bluewater led lights, do any of you know of them good or bad?

I have Bluewater led's and they're great. Lifetime warranty and they make sure the lights are up to snuff before sending them out. Easy to install and they even have a video for $4.00 that shows you how to install the lights in various compartments. Would highly recommend them.