FAQs - Lumishore's Most Frequently Asked Questions about LED Underwater Lighting

In addition to the basic output, LED technology is more efficient with less wasted light due to the output being easily controllable. Traditional lighting technologies losing up to 70% and more of their output due to 'Fixture Inefficiencies'. However BEWARE --- there are very many low output LEDs out there. These are often incorporated into cheaper and significantly less powerful units.

The LED ADVANTAGE does not, however, end there and it is the inherent benefits of the technology that make it so desirable for underwater lighting applications: -

• A 20x longer lifetime means no bulb changes so they should be maintenance free and this reduces the total cost of ownership and removes the need to carry spare bulbs. Long life means no bulb changes  some replacement  xenon bulbs retail for over £250. If the lifetime of an xenon is 3000 hours then if operated for only 6 hours a night the bulb will need to be replaced every 1.5 years. Depending on the number of lights installed, this can become very expensive. For a boat with 4 lights operating over ten years the cost of bulb changes alone would be in excess of £6,600/$11,000.
• More usable light - as an LED is uni-directional thereby removing the need for inefficient reflectors
• LED units can be permanently sealed making the units safer
• Solid State means no filaments, so units do not suffer from shock and vibration enabling them to be used whilst the boat is underway
• More Energy Efficient thereby saving critical on-board battery life
• No start-up currents compared to 'traditional' technologies – reducing current draw and increasing the number of lights that can be installed
• Negligible degradation of light output over life (this is why matching traditional bulbs on older technologies is almost impossible)
• Multi wavelength/color capabilities as opposed to the ‘white-only’ of traditional technologies
• The ability to ‘strobe’ lending itself to fish attraction applications

Q3 - Are Lumishore lights safe? Return to list of questions
Yes, Lumishore lights are extremely safe when properly installed. We have made safety a high priority in designing our lighting systems. All lights have a number of safety features e.g. Thermal cut-offs to prevent over-heating , our quad-seal water ingress protection system and rigorous vibration testing standards.

Q4 - Why should I choose Lumishore products? Return to list of questions
There are a number of reasons that you should choose Lumishore as suppliers of your underwater lighting systems.
- Our lights are brighter and more efficient than competing products. Our expertise enables us to have brighter lights than our competitors whilst optimising the life of the LED unit itself. Our expertise also  enables us to incorporate proprietary features such as 'Soft-Start' that protects the life of your units. We never 'over-drive' our LEDs.

• -All our lights are high output - you will not be disappointed by lights which are just not bright enough. The "Fixture Lumens" we quote are the results of independent testing by an Approved Lighting Test Center. Many lights on the market have narrow beam angles. This can give the illusion of brightness but, in reality, the customer will have to buy multiple numbers of lights to create the right effect and this is a very expensive solution.
• Value for Money - do work out the  cost per lumen both of our lights and competitor products. Our lights are amazing value
• All our lights are made using Hi-Power LED die supplied by Philips  - the leading global manufacturer of LED die. This lays the foundation for the   quality, life  and consistency of product. We also only choose the 'right' colours and colour wavelengths to optimise your underwater viewing experience.
• Our lights represent the best value for money on the market we believe
• Lumishore Color-Change lighting system are the only fully controllable color-change systems available today. They incorporate strobe, 'Color-Mix', output control and DMX capabilities as well as 6 fixed colors and variable speed color-cycle.
• The Lumishore single lens system allows better light  transmission and better light spread than competitor products
• Our manufacturing standards are second to none and array manufacturing facilities are ISO 9001 approved by Lloyds registry.
• Our market-leading technical expertise and focus. LED light creation - and electrical, thermal and data management in the marine environment is our area of expertise.

 

Q5 - I've been  told High Output isnt important - is it? Return to list of questions

Yes, it is very important.... it is the combination of high output and wide beam angles that produce the ideal 'swimming pool' or 'surround-sound' effect.  That is what Lumishore aims to deliver.  Whilst a 25-foot boat would be over-the-top with a pair of Thru-Hull 120s, it is also true that a couple of narrow angle 18-28 watt units are underwhelming on anything over 50 feet. As importantly buying less higher output wide angle lights will be cheaper than buying lots of narrow angle lights. Narrow angles also provide very inconsistent beam spreads as they have to be so close together.

Q6 - Why do you not have multiple lenses like competitors? Return to list of questions
We don't need multiple lenses. Multiple lenses  mean transmission losses to the light beam resulting in a decrease of optical power that can penetrate the water. This is a waste of available light resource, and results in wasted light. The HICOB array enables us to focus the light once - in a structured way. This generates a wide beam that has very high optical power and very even light distribution. This results in the superior Lumishore lighting effect and just isn't possible with multiple lenses.

Q7 - How do I know whose lights are the best? Return to list of questions
You can not know for sure without some research. There are many claims in the marketplace ( many false)  which confuse the issue. All we can do is help you in arriving at that decision. Firstly you will have to decide whether the lights on offer are fit for purpose. That means powerful lights. There is no point having lights which produce little or no light or have narrow beams creating uneven effects. Here are some questions you should ask yourself.

• - What kind of lighting system do I want? - We would suggest that LED is the only answer on  practical and cost of ownership grounds
• - Are the  manufacturers specialists in LED technology or just assemblers, assembling parts that are not proven as integrated lighting systems ?
• - Are the units manufactured from the best available materials?
• - What output do I need ? -- remember light does not travel well through water ... higher outputs will never disappoint.
• - How bright are the lights really? - you will need to consider both wattage ( Watts = Volts x Amps) and, most importantly,  the Fixture Lumens  (the best manufacturers always quote these, but again, make sure the tests are independent - if not ask the manufacturer why not?)
• - How can I work out value ?  -- A coarse method of price  comparison is Lumens / Watt,  but do not forget other issues .. they need to work properly underwater and be built to last.

We believe that when you have done that research you will know that Lumishore products are not only the best but provide amazing value-for-money.

Q8 - What do your models numbers mean?
Our Thru-Hull and Drivelite model numbers are very simple. The numbers refer to the input wattage of the units. Consequently the x-36 models are 36-watt and the x-120 models are 120-watt. Many LED competitors do not publish either their  wattage or fixture lumens/watt . If they do not publish their "Fixture Lumens" then do ask them -- if they dont know then ask yourself why?  It is easy to do a wattage comparison though as they usually  publish the current draw (Amps) and using the simple Watts = Volts x Amps you can quickly do your own ( admittedly rough)  comparison. We also appreciate that this approach  UNDERSELLS the output of our products as we invariably have significantly greater outputs in lumens/watt than competitors.

Q9 - What are the benefits of Lumishore’s lights over the competition? How bright are your lights? Return to list of questions
We honestly believe our lights are the brightest and best value on the marketplace.  We have had outr lights independently tested with the best of our competitors and we are 'light years' ahead. Some of the benefits from Lumishore underwater lighting systems are :-

• - Unique Color-Change and color-cycling capability
• - Market leading Price/Lumens  giving great value for money
• - Brighter and even lighting effects through efficient design
• - 'No-Holes' technology for our Drivelite series
• - More compact designs than competitive offerings  allowing greater flexibility of light positioning and installation
• - Wider-angle lenses - vastlyenhancing the viewing experience.
• - Super-efficient in-house designed  LED arrays and light engines  and in-house thermal, electrical and data management.

We only use the most powerful LED dies available on the market. We only use dies from Philips. Philips are  the  world's leading manufacturer of LED die and we continuously review the latest and most advanced technologies available to ensure that your lighting system is the best available in the marketplace.

Q10 - What are the benefits of Lumishore Color-Change lighting? Return to list of questions
When you have made the decision to purchase and  install underwater lights the next decision is always what colour should you go for? Different colors transmit light better in differing water conditions, Once you have made your decision you are stuck with it unless you change your lights. When you buy our color-change lights you do not have to chose any one color and you get the added advantages of your own color palette, fish attraction and color cycle modes. With an infinitesimal choice of color options you are not restricted to just one color for ever but can match your underwater lighting experience to the prevailing water conditions or simply your mood.

Q11 - Why don't your competitors produce Color-Change lighting? Return to list of questions
We don't honestly know.  We now have over 3 years experience of Color - Change lighting in the marine environment and continue to improve our oferings. That is really a question you will have to ask them as it is only right that we only talk about our own product and capabilities. Color-Change requires  advanced technical know-how to create the right color 'mixes' and to incorporate 'cycles' and 'DMX' capability. This technical know-how is applied  to the array design, LED matching,  electrical, data and thermal management designed and developed  specifically for the marine environment. We have these capabilities, which have formerly been used on architectural applications like the Yas Hotel by our technical tem,  and have incorporated that knowledge into our ranges. All of our products are designed, developed and  manufactured by our technical team.

One leading competitor claims that RGB is less powerful as you have to use three different colors. Incorrect. Our lighting systems are more powerful in any color - that is proven by  independent testing using calibrated integrating spheres.

Q12 - How long will Lumishore lights last?                                                                                  Return to list of questions
The Lumishore LEDs are all expected to last for at least 50,000 hours. We have taken exceptional steps to ensure that the LEDs in the lights achieve that life and more. You can reasonably expect that they last  longer than  your boat! Lumishore lights are all warranted for 2 years.

Q13 - Is it correct that your Drivelites can actually be attached with no holes in the hull? Return to list of questions
Yes. The Lumishore Drivelite range and the Lumishore Drivelite Color-Change Plus models for smaller boats  are fitted with our Lumishore Attachment mechanism ( International Patent Pending) and on many applications the wiring can be fed via existing 'above water' holes for power connections. In the event that you need holes for the wires a simple 6mm hole can be drilled above the water line.

Q14 - Why are your arrays so small, what benefits are there? Return to list of questions
The Lumishore HICOB array is built this way to improve your underwater lighting experience by creating powerful light with an even beam spread. This technique of creating high-density arrays is also used in high-powered lighting installations on land such as architectural lighting , military and medical applications. It is sometimes referred to as 3rd-generation LED lighting to differentiate from earlier methodologies of using and mounting LED technology. It allows Lumishore to do a number of things :-

• - Color-Change lighting and color mix for a superior underwater lighting display
• - Single lenses for a more efficient and brighter light
• - Compact design enables us to provide smaller, brighter units
• - Compact design enable greater flexibility for the customer in terms of installation

Q15 - What are lumens and lux, what does it mean for underwater lighting? Return to list of questions
Lumens and Lux are two of the most popular measures of light output. Lumens are a measure of the light output at the source while Lux is a measure of illumination on a surface (i.e. 1 lumen/square meter). Both are obviously important for underwater lighting where both intensity and coverage is important. Lumishore has optimized its use of power (lumens) through its single lens system to provide a broad even coverage optimizing the underwater viewing experience. Lux is very misleading when applied to LED lighting as it is invariably measured in the centre of a narrow beam ..... giving a FALSE indication of total output that doesnt  exist. To get a high Lux reading ... all you need to do is focus the beam to a pinhead at 1-metre and measure it! Lux meters have no place in LED underwater lighting technology.

Q16 - Are Lumishore lights as good as HID and Xenon? Return to list of questions
Yes. We would argue that they are significantly better. We compare HID, Xenon and LED lighting in an earlier question.

Q17 - What is a LED? Return to list of questions
An LED is frequently referred to as Solid-State lighting as it has no filaments or gases. The make up of these materials controls the wavelength and efficiencies of the LEDS themselves. LEDS have been around since the 1920’s but over the last decade technological development have seen these devices become increasingly more efficient and more powerful making them ideal light sources for host of lighting applications. LED efficiency is increasing at an astonishing rate and is not yet near its theoretical maximum. LEDS are now replacing traditional incandescent technologies worldwide and It is commonly believed that LED will change the future of lighting as we know it. LEDs are made from a number of different materials generally referred to as semi-conductors. The LED has distinct advantages over traditional gas and filament based underwater lighting systems.                                                                                 

Q18 - Why do Lumishore use borosilicate lenses? Return to list of questions
The primary reason for our using borosilicate is that it is a toughened glass with the highest light transmission properties.
Boroscilicate BK7 has extremely high light transmission properties and low refractive index and for that reason is used in precision lenses worldwide. These characteristics result in more photons escaping from the light and penetrating into the water. Borosilicate is also a very tough glass that can resist abrasion and the harsh sealife environment. All of our precision lenses are manufactured to our own specific requirements.
This, when allied to our single lens as opposed to double lens ensures that the highest amount of light is used and not wasted within the body of the light itself. Borosilicate glass allows 97% of all light to be transmitted through the glass and our lenses are manufactured for us to our own precise requirements.

Q19 - How does an LED work? Return to list of questions
The ‘simple’ answer is that energy is created by passing current through the semi-conductor material. This creates energy in the form of photons that we see as light.  An LED diode does not have any filaments nor does it have any moving parts, which makes it a solid state device. No moving parts make them ideal for underwater lighting.
LEDs create light in a totally different way than halogen and incandescent lights. These lighting methods involve heating up the fragile filament until it radiates light, a major by-product and waste of energy is that much of that process ends up as heat. This is why halogen and HID lights draw so many amps from your boat’s battery system, highly undesirable.
LEDs on the other hand are very efficient: they convert electrical current directly into light, (although there is some electrical heat output contrary to urban legend) The semiconductor crystal chip, the diode, when activated by a low electrical current, produces a very precise wavelength of light.
This precise wavelength of light can be any colour. LED light does not need to be “colored” by filters or lenses making it more efficient in underwater lighting applications.

Q20 - Why don't Lumishore use polycarbonate for its lenses? Return to list of questions
Polycarbonate has many strengths but it scratches very easily. This is obviously a problem in the marine environment where all lenses will require cleaning from time-to-time when exposed to the  sea water, algaes  and sea life. We have chosen expensive borosilicate glass for its light transmission, strength and scratch resistance properties

Q21 - Can I run with my lights on? Return to list of questions
Yes. All our lights can be operated whilst the vessel is underway. Our Thru-Hull series include flush-mounting options to reduce any potential drag for hull side mounting whilst all our units are small ensuring this effect is negated.
Our Drivelite series have been specifically designed to sit in the water flow and produce negligible drag beneath the water thereby ensuring that the performance of your boat is maximized with the lights installed.

Q22 - Why don’t Lumishore sell 180-degree lenses? Return to list of questions
We can and do, but only to special order for Thru-Hull and Surface Mount. In designing the Lumishore lights we use advanced techniques to optimize the spread and distance throws from our light outputs utilizing the available light to optimize your underwater viewing experience. Narrow beams do not give adequate coverage and result in customers having to buy many units to ‘fill the space’. Our approach benefits the customer in a number of ways. Firstly they will typically need to buy fewer lights. Secondly our beams are wide and even and ensure the best possible use of the available light produced.
Our 180-degree lenses provide even broader beams but with less ‘throw’. We do not ‘craze’ or ‘frost’ the glass surface as that reduces the amount of light passing into the water, which is obviously undesirable.

Q23 - How do I clean my Lumishore lights? Return to list of questions
Thru-Hull Bodies
All our Thru-Hull light bodies should have a proprietary anti-foul coating applied. This should be re-applied at the same time as the vessel hull on an annual basis. Some customers prefer the aesthetics of our lights in their delivered state i.e. Aluminium Bronze. However, as with any exposed surface in the harsh marine environment, a build up of algae and barnacles will occur.
Drivelite Bodies
The Drivelite body does not require any anti-fouling as generally its application lends itself to frequent cleaning. However the customer may anti-foul if he or she  wishes. Cleaning should be performed with a soft brush dependent upon the build-up of detritus and/or marine growth.
Drivelite Heads
Drivelite Heads are treated with an anodized coating which includes a polymer. This inhibits the growth of algae over time.
Lenses
Lumishore lenses require infrequent / no cleaning if in regular use. Lumishore LED arrays ensure absorption of light not infrared with the light wavelengths we use.  This results in the ‘photons’ being absorbed into the body of algaes trying to attach themselves. In the event that your lens requires cleaning we suggest the use of a soft cloth or brush – particularly during extended periods of the lights not being used.

Q24 - What is the light beam length? Return to list of questions
This really depends upon the clarity and phytoplankton content of the water. We all know that light does not travel as well through water as it does through air  although  green and blue wavelengths travel the furthest in water. We have designed our lights to produce an even throw and spread of light and you can see that this provides an excellent underwater effect from pictures in our image gallery. Customers have reported ‘light throws’ of up to 35 meters in the Mediterranean over clear bottoms but that is obviously a subjective judgment. Having said that - we know we have the highest outputs and more output will mean further throw of the light in any given set of water conditions.

Q25 - What’s the cost advantage? Return to list of questions
There are many considerations in buying the best underwater lights and we believe Lumishore are ‘The Best’ bar none.
We would suggest that any purchaser should ensure that the LED dies used are the best available in terms of output and then work out the Price per Watt to give himself or herself a rough guide.

Q26 - Does switching Lumishore lights on and off shorten the LED life? Return to list of questions
No. The solid state LED is not affected by pulsing so there is no shortening in LED life as there is with traditional technologies. This also explains why the LED is an effective solution for ‘strobe’ lighting and enables us to build in our ‘Fish Attraction’ modes to our Color-Change underwater lighting.

Q27 - Is the Lumishore LED a proven technology? Where is it used? Return to list of questions
Yes. Although the humble LED has been commercially available since the 1960s. It is only in the last 10 years that the ‘Big-4’ lighting manufacturers have invested heavily in the LED and only in the last 18 months that its performance has met and surpassed that of traditional lighting.
California has committed to replacing all its traffic light systems with LED technology and the UK and US governments have set LED at the standard for street lighting in the future.
Most importantly for the prospective underwater lighting customer where powerful and managed beams are required, all recent high power architectural applications rely on LED lighting focused in high-power arrays such as the HICOB LED array. There is no other option to harness the specialist requirements of underwater lighting and our arrays are designed SPECIFICALLY for underwater applications.

Q28 - How do Lumishore lights compare overall with traditional underwater lighting? Return to list of questions
The following table sets out the equivalent outputs of our lights when compared to traditional lighting. These results are based upon calibrated testing and NOT the hypothetical output of the LEDs themselves.

Q29 - What gauge of wiring should be used for my Thru-Hull lighting? Return to list of questions
The simple rule of thumb that any installer should follow is to use he heaviest gauge that is practical. The objective of any lighting installation is to ensure that there is a negligible voltage drop  over the length of the wiring. Whilst Lumishore technology has enabled us to manage those needs, the appropriate wire gauge will always complete  the installation. The correct gauge is a function both of the length of wire and the power requirements   and a qualified electrical engineer will be able to advise.

Q30 - How do Lumishore lights compare in lumens with competitor models? Return to list of questions
All Lumishore lighting systems use LEDs from Phillips the leading global manufacturer of LEDs. By way of example our 'White' LEDs are rated at 100 lumens / watt. If you research competitive offerings you will find that this rating far surpasses competitors, some of whom use ratings as low as 20 lumens/watt. It is worth asking before you buy! In terms of Fixture Lumens (ie actual output) we have tested many of our competitors' offerings as well --- when you do comparisons, you also will find that Lumishore Total Lumens, Lumens/Watt (efficiency which is important for battery life) & Lumens per dollar (Value) are the best available.

Q31 - What happens if the lights over heat? How hot do the Lights get? Return to list of questions
Lumishore lights, properly installed, should not overheat. It is a myth that LEDs do not produce heat. They do. Unlike traditional lighting where heat is produced within the light beam itself the electrical activity creating heat occurs at the back of the LED die. It is this heat and electrical management that is at the heart of the Lumishore HICOB LED array. In normal use the lights should not overheat however in the event that they do through prolonged exposure to air they will switch themselves off to conserve LED life. This is what happens if the LEDs hit our maximum approved operating temperature: -
• The light will switch itself
• The light will periodically flash 3 times to indicate an over approved temperature situation
• The light will switch themselves back on when a lower operating temperature has been reached
This ensures that Lumishore LED underwater lighting will achieve its anticipated  life and the LEDs are not subject to premature failure


Q32 - How do I change a failed LED / bulb? Return to list of questions
There is no need to change an LED; they are not ‘bulbs’ as we understand in traditional lighting. Our LEDs have an expected life over 50,000 hours and should not fail, as you would expect with traditional underwater lighting systems which have very low bulb lives.

 

Q33 - What features do you have that makes your lights more reliable? Return to list of questions
We have built in a number of advanced features to ensure that your lights will not only provide the ultimate underwater lighting experience but also prove to be reliable over time. Lumishore’s background is based upon working lives committed to advanced LED technology. It is this expertise that lies at the core of every Lumishore light.

• Array Design --- our own propriatry HICOB arrays
• Driver Electronics - in-house designed by our technical experts using advanced features and their specialist knowledge
• Use of High Quality Marine Materials including Aluminum Bronze for our Thru-Hull lighting
• In addition to our build quality, Lumishore products have been put through rigorous testing both in the laboratory and workshop. Our test programmes include:
• Immersion Testing off all lights and drivers
• Vibration Testing
• Thermal Testing
• EMC testing and
• Practical Noise Interference testing (EMC/EMI)
• Output testing at all stages of development in advanced Integrating Spheres
• as well as testing in the real environment that our products are designed for

Q34 - Can I extend the cabling between the light and the electronic driver? Return to list of questions
We provide 3m of cabling for each light unit. Cabling can be extended if necessary although we would recommend that this be only done by exception.

Q35 - Does the installation kit include a fuse? Return to list of questions
Each Thru-Hull driver is independently fused. We do not provide any other fuses so that each installation can have the properly rated fuse / master switch incorporated and that will be specific to each boat installation.
Lumishore recommends a circuit breaker or system fuse matched to the lighting installation

Q36 - How easy is the installation of Lumishore Drivelites? Return to list of questions
Installation of all our lights is very easy. Our Drivelite units are designed with easy installation in mind and require in man cases no more than an Allen key and connection to an appropriately fused switch.


Q37 - What is the recommended installation depth? Return to list of questions
We recommend that all our lights be positioned at between 10-30cms (4"-12") below the waterline from the centre of the lights for the optimal underwater effects. In reality they can be positioned at any depth up to 10 metres with our Thru-Hull lights pressure tested to 100 metres 330 feet).

Q38 - Are Lumishore lights approved? Return to list of questions
Yes. Our Thru-Hull lights all have Lloyds Type Approval --- we believe we are the only underwater lighting manufacturer who have Lloyds EMC/EMI testing compliance. Our lights are all CE-marked, certified to IP68 and manufactured to ISO 9001 standards. All external driver electronics are sealed. tested and certified to IP 67.

Q39 - How far apart should Lumishore lights be positioned ? Return to list of questions
This really is down to individual choice. All of our products produce string even beams and invariably you will need less units than competitor offerings for a similar effect. We would readily accept that more units produce a better effect so we would always advise more units of lesser power rather than one or two units more powerful units.

Q40 - How do you ensure that all lights are protected from water ingress? Are they waterproof? Return to list of questions
We employ the Lumishore Quad-Seal process to ensure against water ingress for our Thru-Hull lights. There are 4 stages of sealing to minimize the chance of any water ingress. This ensures that in the unlikely event of damaged lens the light unit remains sealed to IP68 to protect the vessel from any water ingress. Our lenses are sealed to the bodies using a 3-part process to ensure the strongest bonding possible using the best epoxies available -- we consult with one of the world's leading epoxy experts on this. The unit is sealed immediately behind the LED array and the entire body is potted with a polyurethane sealant. Just to make sure --- and to protect the electrical connections from water within the hull ---- the connector at the rear of the light is also IP-68 rated. You can choose your Lumishore lights with a contented peace-of mind.

Q41 - Do Lumishore lights get hot? Return to list of questions
Lumishore lights, properly installed, should not overheat. However, it is a myth that LEDs do not produce heat. They do.

Unlike traditional lighting where heat is produced in front of the light source the electrical activity creating heat occurs at the back of the LED unit. It is this heat and electrical management that is at the heart of the Lumishore HICOB LED array. In normal use the lights should not overheat however in the event that they do through prolonged exposure to air they will switch themselves off to conserve LED life. This what happens if the LEDs hit our maximum approved operating temperature: -
• The light will switch itself off
• The light will periodically flash three times to indicate an over temperature situation
• The light will switch themselves back on when a lower operating temperature has been reached
This ensures that Lumishore LED underwater lighting will achieve its life and the LEDs are not subject to premature failure

Q42 - Do you have a fish attracting strobe light? Return to list of questions
Yes. Our Colour-Change lighting systems have 2 Green and 2 Blue controllable modes that are strobing applications. Each colour has two modes, fixed frequency and random flash. Each of these modes is itself controllable in terms of frequency of lash . Obviously our color-change systems also come with preset colors, color cycle and color palette modes so that they are not just restricted to fish attraction.

Q42 - Is there a wait for the lights to get up to maximum performance? Return to list of questions
Yes ... but only a couple of seconds.  Although LED lighting does not have excessive start-up currents , we use soft-start technologies in order to protect the lights and boat electronics.  Lumishore LED lights will  operate at the maximum output unlike other LED lighting systems which dim with drops in voltage. They do not require a startup current.

Q43 - What is the hole cut out size for the Lumishore Thru-Hull models? Return to list of questions
The hole cutout required is only 25mm( 1 inch) . In designing our lights with a small cutout we ensure integrity of the vessel hull and the small diameter shaft also ensures that Lumishore LED lights can be installed in restricted or unusually shaped transom interiors where competitor products cannot.

Q44 - Should the lights be anti-fouled? Return to list of questions
Yes. We recommend all our Thru-Hull lights are anti-fouled. This can then be routinely done at the same time as the hull antifouling is performed.

Q45 - Where can I purchase the lights? Return to list of questions
We have a global network of dealers and agents. For your closest dealer / agent then please contact us directly.

Q46 - How many lights should I get? Return to list of questions
That really is a matter of personal taste. We pride ourselves that the efficient, high output design of Lumishore lights that you will not need as many light as competitor offerings for any given effect. If you want any specific recommendations then please contact us.

Q47 - What color should I buy? Return to list of questions
We produce Blue, White, Green & Red lights – however if you are having difficulties choosing then buy our Color-Change lights and you can match the light colour to the prevailing water conditions and your current mood! `It is generally believed that Blue is the most enjoyable color where a wide range of water conditions are encountered. Green works particularly well where the water is highly colored (e.g. the Bristol Channel where our lights were originally developed!) and on inland waterways. White works particularly well over shallow sandy bottoms. Red makes the water ‘come alive’ .

Q48 - I have a metal hull – can I use Lumishore lights? Return to list of questions
Yes. We provide a range of isolation sleeves so that our lights can be used with metal hulls.

Q49 - What voltage do the Lumishore lights use? Return to list of questions
All Thru-Hull models are for use between 10 and 32 volts; our Surface Mount models operate between 9-32 Volts  whilst our Drivelite models are available in either 12 or 24 Volt versions.

Q50 - Can I operate my lights using AC power? Return to list of questions
Yes. These are manufactured to order only. If you wish to use AC power then please Contact Us

Q51 - What is the power consumption? Return to list of questions
The power consumption of our units is as per the following tables for standard marine power systems:-

24 Volt

		12 watt	18 watt		36 watt		72 watt		90 watt		120 watt
Amps		0.5	0.75		1.5		3		3.5		5

Q52 - What is the warranty period? Return to list of questions
All Lumishore lights and drivers  are warranted for 2 years.