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| "Evening Secrets" Don't be fooled by websites that claim to have the best kept "Secret" since the 1940's. As fisherman, we all know we can't keep a secret more than a day or two let alone 50 years. Beware of websites that claim to have the biggest and best kept secret, but never tell you what it is or show you what it is until you pay them. It is no "Secret" that lights attract fish...and you sure don't have to spend $200 to find out that their "Secret" is nothing more than a 4' green light! |
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| Crappie, Flounder, Shrimp, Swordfish, Squid, Striper, Speckled Trout, Walleye, Smelt, White Bass, Tuna, Red Fish & more! |
| Off-Line Ordering |
| $10-$20 Value |
| Lights by Comparison |
| An Underwater Fishing Light Company |
TM
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| There are several types of fishing lights being sold today. Each type of light has some positives aspects and some negative aspects. So, let's look at the most popular lights being sold and compare the Pros & Cons of each light. Note: Most LED lights and small florescent lights generate such a low light output, the lumen's or candle-power is seldom stated by the manufacturer's. Most of these small lights generate around 250 lumen's, which doesn't compare to halogen lights or the larger fluorescent lights. In our opinion, if you're looking for a fluorescent light or a LED light, stick with the 4' long models that produce adequate light. |
| Fishing Lights Etc. 201 W. 23rd. St. Hays, KS 67601 Copyright © 2003-2008 All rights Reserved. |
"Fluorescent Lights" - "Halogen Lights" "LED Lights" "Mercury Vapor" "Evening Secrets"
"Fluorescent Lights" Have become very popular in recent years because of their low voltage draw
on your battery. The biggest disadvantage to Fluorescent Lights is they utilize a ballast which in most
cases can not be replaced by the consumer. The ballast (electronic inverter) takes 12VDC from your
battery and converts it to AC voltage to run the fluorescent lamp. The ballasts are made up of
electronic components which must maintain a constant voltage range in order to work properly. For
instance, a nominally rated 12VDC ballast will operate over a range of 10.5 to 14-volts which is typical
of a 12-volt storage battery during charge and discharge cycles. Operation of the ballasts on higher
than rated voltages (which many times happens using a generator or charger) will result in ballast
overheating and shortened lamp life. Low-Voltage Operation will cause poor lamp starting and
excessive blackening at the ends of the lamp. As you fish with the lights the battery voltage drops and
once it falls below 10.5 volts, damage to the ballast and bulb start to occur. Like any fluorescent lamp,
it's not a matter of if the ballast will burn out, it's a matter of when. So, in order to prolong the ballast,
be sure to operate the light within the required voltage range. Other disadvantages is their large size
makes them hard to store in most boats, most have to have additional weight added to them to fully
submerse them, they only come in one color and they can cost upwards of $300 for a good model.
The biggest advantage fluorescent lights have over other lights is the low amperage draw from your
battery. Most 4' models only draw 3 to 4 amps which will let you run all night on one battery. Another
advantage is they can be used in the water or out of the water if so desired. While there is an array of
fluorescent lights on the market, we believe the only fluorescent lights bright enough to attract good
numbers of fish are the 4' models.
"Halogen Lights" are probably the most popular lights on the market because of their Small Size,
Lack of Electronics, Brilliant Light Output and Modest Price. Unlike fluorescent lights, halogen lights do
not utilize electronic inverter ballasts, and they are not affected by low voltage or cold water
temperatures. Not all Halogen lights are created equal though. Some halogen lights being sold expose
the halogen bulb directly to the water, which will result in the bulb turning black and burning out.
Halogen bulbs have to burn hot in order to keep the bulb burning bright. For that reason, we would
advise staying away from lights that do not utilize an inner globe. For more information on this see
"Halogen Cycle". Many halogen lights utilize replaceable bulbs which are easily replaced by the
consumer and available at most hardware stores. Their small size makes them easy to store in your
tackle box or glove box, and you can easily change from one color to another with some models. The
300 watt, 120VAC models generate over 4800 lumens and omit more than 1.5 Million Candle Power of
light, which is by far the brightest fishing lights on the market.
The disadvantages to halogen lights is their hunger for electricity. Halogen bulbs burn extremely hot
and bright and therefore they require more amperage to run. While you can still get up to 28 hrs. of
runtime per battery charge using a 50-watt light, they do require more amperage than a fluorescent
light unless you are using the 120VAC models. Unlike fluorescent lights, Halogen lights must also be
submerged in water to use and can not be used as a utility light. However, since they are completely
submerged under the waters surface, the wind and waves have no affect on them, and there is no light
lost to reflection off the waters surface. Therefore, since Halogen lights cost less than fluorescent
lights, utilize replaceable bulbs, allows color to be changed and are compact and easy to store, most
fisherman feel halogen lights still offer the best value for their money.
"LED Lights" are new to the market and consist of multiple LED's in various colors. The biggest
and really only advantage LED lights have is their low amperage draw. You can run an LED light for
days on a single battery charge. The drawback to LED's is their poor light output compared to
halogen or 4' fluorescent lights, plus they do not illuminate a 360 degree radius of light. LED's project
a pinpoint light which only illuminates straight forward. So, the only way you can use LED's effectively
in a fishing light is to use a large number of the LED's to make up a 360 radius. Lights that use
enough LED's to project a 360 radius of light will cost at upward of $250 which is not affordable to most
fisherman. If enough LED's are used in a light to make the light bright enough, the amperage draw
also goes up, which defeats the purpose of using LED's to begin with. When the LED's or electronics
burn out, they are not replaceable by the consumer, which is also a big draw back to these types of
lights. Future technology may help improve these lights, but for now most LED lights don't put out
enough light for what they cost.
"Mercury Vapor Lights" are also a newcomer to the fishing light market. The high powered lights
consist of a 120VAC mercury vapor or sodium bulb, transformer and some type of weight to keep the
light on the bottom. The lights are designed to float just off the bottom and light up the surrounding
water. The good thing about these lights are that they are very bright! The downside to them is their
price and the bulbs most models are exposed and easily broken. Most models do not have bulbs that
are replaceable by the consumer. Most lights run 175 watts with a lumen output around 8000 lumens.
There has been some concern these lights may be contaminating the water with Mercury. Mercury is a
toxic metal associated with contamination of water, fish, and food supplies, and can lead to adverse
health affects.
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| Fishing Lights Etc. 201 W. 23rd. Street Hays, KS 67601 Phone 785.259.1343 FAX 610.271.1343 |