Anybody connect extra LEDs to the courtesy lights switched on by the connext screen?

[Weaver1855]

I am getting ready to install some LED strip lights throughout the cockpit of my boat and I am going to try to connect them to the output leads from the connext screen for the courtesy lights.

Anyone have any luck or experience doing this?

Also, any one have a wiring schematic of the connext system for the 2015 AR240?

 

[subysti]

I have the schematic but it's at home and I'm traveling so if you can wait until Friday I'll send it to you.

 

[Weaver1855]

I have the schematic but it's at home and I'm traveling so if you can wait until Friday I'll send it to you.

Awesome, that would help out a lot, thanks!

 

[David Decker]

@subysti - I would be interested in this schematic as well.

 

[subysti]

@David Decker I can't say how accurate they will be for the 2016 E series boats. I think they added a few more electronics

 

[robert843]

You could just clip the wires at the lights and tie in there that's what I did. At least then you can have muliple starting points so you don't have to run wire around the whole boat and if any issues arrise it can be traced back to a certain source section.

 

[David Decker]

I'm guessing that since Connext allows the user to change the brightness of the tower and courtesy lights, that these outputs are probably switched by MOSFET transistors and not ordinary mechanical relays. That configuration would make it very easy for the Connext firmware to change the perceived brightness by quickly switching the LEDs on/off at the right duty cycle using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique. That's how I'd design it, anyway. If Connext does use MOSFET transistors as I suspect for these outputs, then they have a maximum current rating (which may be lower than that of typical relay contacts) that should not be exceeded. Fortunately, LED strips typically don't use much current, so you're probably OK. I would be interested, though, in if/how they "dim" when you dim the courtesy lights.

I'd love to have access to a "dead" Connext to tear apart and explore what's there! I'm assuming that this level of detail isn't even included in the Yamaha service manual, since Connext is just a replaceable component...

 

[shane hric]

I am getting ready to install some LED strip lights throughout the cockpit of my boat and I am going to try to connect them to the output leads from the connext screen for the courtesy lights.

Anyone have any luck or experience doing this?

Also, any one have a wiring schematic of the connext system for the 2015 AR240?

@Jade63, has done this. He gave me a wealth of knowledge during our conversation and will be assisting me with my install. You can check out his posts and pics on here!

 

[Weaver1855]

Thanks everyone for the help. I actually went a different direction. I bought two OPT7 kits. Each kit included a remote, four 24" LED strips and a controller. Because I had the remote no switch was needed and I just connected it off the main house battery switch. The controller had an
auxiliary wire that when activated turns the LEDs on and white, I connected this to one of my courtesy lights, so now when I hit the courtesy lights I can see everything in the boat when cleaning after a night trip.

Installed 6 out of the 8 LED strips today and both controllers. Still need to install the last two strips on the swim step.

 

[shane hric]

Thanks everyone for the help. I actually went a different direction. I bought two OPT7 kits. Each kit included a remote, four 24" LED strips and a controller. Because I had the remote no switch was needed and I just connected it off the main house battery switch. The controller had an
auxiliary wire that when activated turns the LEDs on and white, I connected this to one of my courtesy lights, so now when I hit the courtesy lights I can see everything in the boat when cleaning after a night trip.

Installed 6 out of the 8 LED strips today and both controllers. Still need to install the last two strips on the swim step.


View attachment 35480 View attachment 35481View attachment 35482 View attachment 35483

Nice job, looks good! When you finish and photograph the last 2 lights, take some pics of your locations of the lights throughout the boat so we can check em out too!

Thanks

 

[Ricky Davila]

How hard was this 1-10?? I am pretty good on the mechanical end, but I'm not the greatest on the electrical side.

 

[Weaver1855]

How hard was this 1-10?? I am pretty good on the mechanical end, but I'm not the greatest on the electrical side.

This was really simple to install as a kit, 4/10. Run positive and negative to the controller, positive fused, then all the LED strips had quick connect connectors to a 10ft extension that connected to the control box. The difficult part is running the wires down the sides of the boat, but if you have a fish tape that is easy.

Once I install the last two strips, I'll post pictures of each strip mounted and where the wires went.

 

[Jasonsbiz74]

@Weaver1855 , I'm interested in these kits, you bought 2 kits and installed but you have 2 separate controller's ? Doesn't the company have a way to link two kits together ?

 

[Ricky Davila]

This was really simple to install as a kit, 4/10. Run positive and negative to the controller, positive fused, then all the LED strips had quick connect connectors to a 10ft extension that connected to the control box. The difficult part is running the wires down the sides of the boat, but if you have a fish tape that is easy.

Once I install the last two strips, I'll post pictures of each strip mounted and where the wires went.

Awesome! Thank you.

 

[Weaver1855]

@Weaver1855 , I'm interested in these kits, you bought 2 kits and installed but you have 2 separate controller's ? Doesn't the company have a way to link two kits together ?

Here are the kits I bought:
https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/121670552921

Yes each kit has its own controller, but they are on the same channel, so one remote can operate both controllers.

 

[Jasonsbiz74]

ok cool thanks...I'm going to look at them

 

[Ricky Davila]

This was really simple to install as a kit, 4/10. Run positive and negative to the controller, positive fused, then all the LED strips had quick connect connectors to a 10ft extension that connected to the control box. The difficult part is running the wires down the sides of the boat, but if you have a fish tape that is easy.

Once I install the last two strips, I'll post pictures of each strip mounted and where the wires went.

I picked up a couple of kits. Install does not look too bad. Have you gotten them all installed yet? Can you post a couple of pictures of your power hook up, and your auxiliary hook up?

 

[Luis Pena]

Awesome looking led setup...I would also like to see mounting setup for them....

 

[Ricky Davila]

Here are the kits I bought:
https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/121670552921

Yes each kit has its own controller, but they are on the same channel, so one remote can operate both controllers.

Weaver1855. Have you finished the install, was looking at getting mine installed, but wanted to see your mounting locations and routing.

 

[rsg1963]

Weaver1855. Have you finished the install, was looking at getting mine installed, but wanted to see your mounting locations and routing.

Bumping this thread as I'm still hoping to see the mounting locations and routing of wires please!