Connecting LED rock lights to navigation lights

[KBusbee]

I need help. I installed some LED lights on my boat today and want to have them come on when I have my navigation lights on or auxiliary lights on.

Thanks for any help.

[rampaage]

You might want to rethink this....If you put these on to illuminate your deck, depending on how bright they are, I would suggest a separate switch. When on they can make it hard to see while running across the water. Mine are too bright to leave on unless I am sitting working on gear.

[KCLOST]

Wire to the Auxiliary light switch, assuming you have one.

[1stindoor]

What Rampaage just said. I have led's on the bow and stern. In the early morning, the glare was too much while driving. I had to wire in a separate cut off switch for the ones in front. Once I'm sitting out there in the dark, they're perfect for putting light on the deck and providing a little extra safety warning to on-coming boats.

[KBusbee]

So if I am reading this right. Buy a dimmer switch that way they can be turned on and off or lowered in brightness for the morning run, correct?

[Fishysam]

Yep and leave them separate from nav lights

[1stindoor]

That'll work as well. I just shut mine off (while leaving nav lights on) riding out to the first spot. After first light the glare isn't too bad.

[KBusbee]

Thanks for all of your help. Lights are hooked up to a dimmer switch and can turn them on or off and are not connected to nav. lights. I had trouble because I was connecting the ground wire from the dimmer to the ground wire on lights and running that to the groud on my bus bar. Once I ran both independantly back to the bus bar the dimmer worked.

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