Overview

The Hella Marine 0881 Courtesy LED Surface Mount Strip is a low-profile strip lamp for interior or exterior courtesy lighting on 12V or 24V DC systems. It mounts on the surface, sits shallow against the panel, and is commonly used under gunnels, along steps, inside lockers, and under cabinetry where you want light without a bulky fixture.

Courtesy Intensity power draw is under 1.5W, with current under 0.15A at 12V and under 0.06A at 24V. The housing is completely sealed and made from UV resistant enhanced impact acrylic, and the lamp is pre-wired with a 500mm twin-core marine cable for straightforward routing to a switch, dimmer, or lighting circuit.

Key features

• Courtesy Intensity power draw under 1.5W (under 0.15A at 12V, under 0.06A at 24V)
• Shallow profile surface-mount strip format for tight mounting spots on board
• Completely sealed lamp body with UV resistant enhanced impact acrylic construction
• Protection ratings: IP6K7 and IP6K9K, plus reverse polarity protection
• Pre-wired 500mm twin-core marine cable for clean, watertight cable routing
• Fastenings at each end are covered by snap-on end caps for a tidy finish
• Supports analogue dimming and works with the Hella marine dimmer 5XA 998 572-001
• White light version listed at 5000K

Variants

This strip is offered in 12V and 24V versions, with light color options that include White, Warm White, Blue, and Red. The White option is listed at 5000K, while the colored options are typically used for low-glare wayfinding or accent lighting.

Across the range, the format stays consistent as a sealed, surface-mount strip lamp with a pre-wired 500mm twin-core lead, so selection mainly comes down to matching your boat voltage and the light color you want in that area.

Installation and setup

Mount it on a flat surface where the light can wash the deck or walkway without shining directly into eyes. Common spots are under toe-kicks, under gunwales, on stair risers, at cockpit entries, and inside storage lockers.

Plan the wire exit before drilling so the 500mm lead can route to your junction point without a sharp bend. Seal any wire pass-through in the mounting surface to keep water out of cored panels, and leave a small service loop so the lamp can be removed later without pulling on the cable.

Electrical and system integration

Match the variant to your DC system voltage (12V or 24V). With current draw under 0.15A at 12V and under 0.06A at 24V, it fits well on courtesy lighting circuits, step-light circuits, or a dedicated switch panel output, and it is easy to group multiple lamps on the same circuit when wiring runs are planned properly.

Reverse polarity protection adds a margin of safety during installation, but it is still worth confirming polarity at the connection point. If you are integrating into a dimmed circuit, use an analogue dimming approach compatible with the lamp, or a dedicated Hella marine dimmer module where appropriate.

Use on board

White light suits general wayfinding in cockpits and companionways. Warm white is often used in cabins where you want a softer look, while red is helpful for preserving night vision on watch and blue is commonly used as low-level accent lighting in cockpits or footwells.

This is a good match for boats that need a sealed, low-draw courtesy strip that can live in exposed areas like a cockpit step, transom entry, or locker opening without taking up much depth behind the panel.