Overview

The Garmin JL Audio LED light caps for ETXv3 and VeX enclosed speaker systems is a pair of rear caps that add a down-firing LED light to compatible tower and enclosed speaker pods. They mount to the back of the enclosure and let you aim the light where you want it before tightening the locknut, which is handy when you are trying to light up a cockpit walkway, transom area, or the deck below a hardtop.

Power is taken from a switched +12V supply, with short-circuit protection handled by an in-line fuse holder on each cap’s positive lead. Each LED circuit uses a 150 mA fuse, so the total fuse sizing scales with how many LED circuits you are running on that switch.

Key features

• Down-firing LED strip built into each rear cap for lighting the area below your enclosed speaker pods.
• Connects to a switched +12V source; LED circuits can be wired in parallel for one switch control.
• In-line fuse holder on each cap’s positive lead, using a 150 mA fuse per LED circuit.
• Installs through the rear logo cap using a single drilled hole (7/16 in), then seals by tightening until the O-ring is fully compressed.
• Can be retrofitted over an enclosure’s existing rear logo cap after drilling and deburring the center hole.
• Clearance note: the rear cap adds thickness behind the enclosure (varies by size), which matters on tight tower mounts and under hardtops.
• Independent light cap functionality is not compatible with M3 or M6 ETXv3 and VeX systems equipped with RGB LED lighting.

Variants

This product is offered in multiple configurations to match the enclosure size on your boat.

The size option reflects which enclosed speaker systems the light caps fit, and the added rear thickness differs by size. Electrical hookup and installation steps are otherwise the same across the range.

• 010-13699-00: Size 7.7 in / 6.5 in. Fits 7.7 in ETXv3 enclosed tower speakers and 6.5 in VeX enclosed systems, adding 0.655 in of thickness to the rear of each enclosure.
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• 010-13700-00: Size 8.8 in. Fits 8.8 in ETXv3 enclosures, adding 0.741 in of thickness to the rear of each enclosure.

Installation and setup

Plan on removing the speaker from the enclosure to access the rear logo cap and wiring. The rear logo cap is drilled at center using a 7/16 in drill bit, then any sharp edges should be filed so the wiring and seal are not damaged. Feed the cap’s wiring and threaded stud through the hole, seat the cap flush, then rotate it to aim the downlight before tightening the locknut until the O-ring is fully compressed and no longer visible.

If your tower or hardtop has limited clearance behind the enclosures, measure the available space first. The caps add thickness to the rear of each enclosure, which can affect clamp position and cable routing through tower legs.

Electrical and system integration

Wire the LEDs to a switched +12V circuit and a proper negative ground. For short-circuit protection, use the supplied fuse holder on each cap’s positive lead and keep the fuse holders outside the enclosure. Fuse sizing is based on the number of LED circuits you are powering, at 150 mA per circuit.

For marine installations, keep these lights off the vessel’s navigational lighting circuits. Treat them as utility or courtesy lighting so you can control them independently without affecting required running lights.

What’s included

• 2 LED light caps (pair)
• M10 locknut tool
• 2 M10 x 1.5 nylon-insert flange locknuts
• 2 in-line fuse holders
• 2 150 mA fuses
• 2 female connectors

Use cases on board

These light caps make the most sense on boats where the enclosed speakers are mounted high and the area below them stays dark at the dock. They are a good match for wake boats, center consoles with hardtops, and cruisers with tower-mounted audio, where a downlight helps with boarding, stowing lines, or moving around the cockpit after sunset.

Maintenance and care

Rinse the caps with fresh water after saltwater use and check the wiring exits and fuse holders during routine electrical inspections. If you remove the caps for service, re-seat the O-ring and tighten the locknut fully so the seal is restored.