Frequently Asked Questions
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Fishing Light FAQs
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What are the Lumens (Brightness) of the Reel BriteBite Fishing Lights?
Our LED fishing lights have some of the industry's highest luminous efficiency ratings. The LED technology is advancing very quickly making more efficient and brighter lights with much less energy. Our lights have been tested by a third party lab and resulted in:
Green ModelLuminous Efficiency: 107.22 Lumens per watt
Max Lumens : 16,084 Lumens
White Model
Luminous Efficiency:148.74 Lumens per watt
Max Lumens : 22,311 Lumens
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What are the options to power the Reel BriteBite? What type of battery?
The fishing light can be powered by any 12v, 24v, or 110v-250v system (with optional converter). Using the included battery clamps, the light can be powered by any 12v battery, but a marine "deep cell" type battery is recommended. 2 12v batteries in series (making a 24v system) will also power the light by simply clamping onto the outer terminals. The higher the amp hour rating on the marine deep cell battery the longer the light will operate. We recommend using the highest amp rating battery that is available. It is not recommended to use the boats only battery, a house battery, or a starting battery. Having a separate battery will ensure that you don't drain the boats only battery. There are also many smaller 12V batteries (ATV, power wheels) that are portable enough to carry to a dock, lake, or use on a kayak and will last for several hours before needing to be recharged. Draining a deep-cell marine battery to completely empty is NOT recommended and may shorten the "life" of the battery.
The optional 110v-250v converter will allow you to simply plug into an outlet that is rated between 110v and 250v AC. Although the converter comes standard with a 3 prong plug, it can be used with an adapter and used worldwide. When using the waterproof converter it is recommended that you plug it into a GFI outlet and keep the converter out of the reach of children. The converter may become warm after extended use.
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Can I use this as a dock light with 110 outlet?
Absolutely. The variant that has the 110v-250v converter included will work well as a dock light. Plug it into any outlet and set your desired brightness and sit back and enjoy. Many customers plug it into a dusk to dawn photosensor that will turn them on and off automatically every night. Remember, as with all LED lights, if it's in saltwater it will have to be kept clean to perform as designed.
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Is the light sinking or floating? Can i use it in a strong current?
The light is self-weighted at around 3lb and will sink to your desired depth. If you are using it in an extremely strong current then you can use the attachment hook on the bottom of the light to add more lead. Adding more weight in strong currents will also help with keeping the light stationary for those more finicky fish.
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What are the lumens of the fishing light? Is it bright enough for our dirty water?
The lumens have been tested by a third party and resulted in the white diodes registering at 148.742lm/w and the green at 107.229lm/w. When multiplied by the wattage (150w) it results in a max brightness for the white light of 22,311 lumens and 16,084 lumens for the green.
Understand that many other lights on the market might list higher lumen output, but many of them are extremely exaggerated or simply a guess. When you see a light advertised as a 40w LED light with 15,000 lumens, it's not even possible (as of this post, someday maybe!). Simply take the Wattage of the light (150w) x the led diodes efficiency (found as Lumens per watt lm/w), and you will get the lumens of an LED light. GREEN diodes vary, but let's say the average of all GREEN diodes lights is 108lm/w. 150w x 108ln/w = 16,200.
Yes, this light will work in dirty water, but you won't get the diameter of light like you would in crystal clear water. We find that many of our clear Lake or Southern Florida customers don't use the light at full strength. They use the dimmer switch to concentrate the bait closer to the light. -
How do these lights attract fish? Does it work for fresh and saltwater species?
It is well known that many species of fresh and saltwater fish mainly feed at night, but it is often difficult to catch them. Underwater fishing lights solve this problem by bringing the fish right to you. After a short amount of time in the water, the light causes a chain reaction.
The light initially attracts masses of microscopic marine algae called phytoplankton that cloud the water. These small organisms attract common bait fish to the light and after 15-30 minutes they will appear to be memorized by the light and continuously swim circles around it. These baitfish are all you need to make for the best night fishing experience you have ever had. Predator fish will begin to crowd the light and take advantage of the easy meal!
Soon after the phytoplankton and baitfish show up the predator fish will too. Fishing the outer edges of the light will produce more bites than directly in the light. That's where the bigger fish will be circling and occasionally dart into the light for an easy meal. Matching the bait size and color that is swimming around the light will result in significantly more strikes. If you prefer using live bait, just net a few swimming around the light and "match the hatch" perfectly!
Dock Light FAQs
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How do I Install my LED Dock Light? (Mega/Apollo/Iris)
IllumiSea Underwater LED Lights are easily installed by the owner. The lighting system is literally plug-and-play. Simply adjust the position of the weight on the power cord to set the depth of the light from the surface of the water. Toss the light in the water at the desired location. Plug the electrical cord into an outlet (110-220 VAC). Sit back and Enjoy.
View the simple install picture diagram here -->> View Install
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What Colors are Available for the Underwater Dock Lights?
IllumiSea understands our customer’s need for a variety of color choices. We are proud to offer several different color options: Green | Blue | Red | Orange | White | Light Blue. Although all of our colors are beautiful, attract fish and offer completely unique effects, we do recommend the blue, green, or light blue lights if you’re looking to attract the most marine life. If you can’t decide on a single color, you can always choose our “IRIS” series, which produces 2 colors at the same time. The“IRIS” series features a center color that is surrounded by an outer color. This patent-protected feature is yet another IllumiSea exclusive innovation and is available for both “Apollo” and “Mega-Watt” series to fit your needs. The 2 color combinations will combine in the water and create unique colors that can't be found elsewhere.
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How Much Power Consumption do the Underwater Lights Use?
Our low-voltage lights are converted through a digital driver from AC 110/220 to a swimming safe DC 36 volts. Our lights consume less than 3 amps. The power consumption from our lights are comparable to an 80-watt conventional light bulb. If used 6-8 hrs per night, it will cost $4-$6 per month on average. Our competitors’ underwater lights will cost their customers $25-$35 per month on average if used 6-8 hrs per night. LEDs continue to advance every year and are arguably the most efficient way to light up the water.
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How Do These Underwater Lights Attract Sea Life?
Within minutes, microscopic creatures called phytoplankton begin to move in on the light source, very much the way insects are drawn to outdoor lighting. Small fish soon follow, attracted by the zooplankton. Each link in the food chain is followed by the next, over minutes and hours. The water around the light will actually become foggy with the swirling masses of copepods, small shrimp, and other microorganisms. Large baitfish schools (species dependent on location) will actually learn the location of the light and show up night after night to feed. This behavior is mimicked by predator fish who soon learn that easy meals can be found in the shadows surrounding the glow. Within a few weeks, your dock will be a regular feeding station for the local fish populations. All this unfolds right before your eyes, and from the comfort of your own home. Watch as predatory fish slash their way through schools of baitfish, or suck shrimp from the surface right in front of you.
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Do these lights require cleaning? If so, how do I clean them?
The cleaning requirement for underwater lights is strongly dependent on the environment that they are placed in. Cold saltwater and most freshwater environments will only require the user to occasionally check the lights for growth throughout the year. Warm saltwater conditions will require the user to check the light every 3-4 weeks until it is determined how often they need to be cleaned. Allowing significant growth to develop on the outside of the light will prevent the internal LED chips from being properly cooled by the surrounding water.
If growth appears on the light then simply disconnect the light from the power source, remove the light from the water by pulling the electrical cord and use a hard bristled brush to scrub the lens. If heavy growth appears that cannot be removed by a brush, the use of a putty knife or paint scraper is recommended. Leaving the light out of the water in the sun will also kill off most of the growth within 24 hours allowing it to be scraped off more easily. Ensure that the light has been unplugged from power so it doesn't accidentally turn on while out of the water.
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What depth is required for these lights? Is it adjustable?
Our dock lights are currently used in water depths of <3ft to over 50ft. The minimin depth required to operate the light is approximately 24 inches, but 3-4 ft minimum is recommended. The light must always remain underwater during tidal changes ensuring that it will properly cool during operation. The dock lights come in 40ft, 80ft, and 120ft power cord length allowing them to be used in a variety of situations.
To estimate the cord the length of cord that is required for your specific conditions simply use the below formula or contact us today. Most docks only require a 40ft cord.
Depth of water X 2
+
Distance from light to an electrical outlet
=
Estimated power cord required
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How far below the surface should I place the dock light?
The depth of the light will be dependant on the clarity of the surrounding water and your desired brightness. The uniqueness of these dock lights is that they are easily adjustable for a variety of conditions. To start off, place the light approximately 3-5 feet below the surface and adjust from there.
Some of our lights in crystal clear waters are placed on the bottom of 10-15 ft of water and still create a substantial diameter of light. On the other hand, placing the dock light in extremely dirty water may require it to be placed only 2-3 feet below the surface.
Company FAQs
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Why should I buy from IllumiSea
At IllumiSea, our goal is to provide superior products that create lifelong memories. Our products are not the typical substandard products commonly found on the market. We believe our products will speak for themselves once they are in your hands. From the variety of colors to our long lasting LED's and durable housing, we know that you will enjoy your IllumiSea Lights for many years to come. We offer an easily-cleaned, environmentally-safe product that is sure to turn your water environment into a gorgeous display of marine life. With multiple colors and configurations with adjustable depth, you’re getting a product that is sure to exceed expectations when you purchase your underwater light from IllumiSea LLC. We stand by all our products and offer the best fishing light warranty in the entire industry.
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What is the IllumiSea Story?
Haven't read about how we started or what we stand for? Check it out here.