Overview

The Hella Marine Apelo A3 is a transom and surface-mount underwater light that produces up to 6000 lumens in white (5000K) on 12/24V DC systems. It is offered as either Blue/White or RGBW, in a bronze housing with a white lens.

The beam pattern is 90° x 24°, which helps keep the light spread wide across the stern instead of disappearing into deep water. The housing is sealed to IP68/IP69K for submersion in operation and for high-pressure washdowns, and it includes a high-temperature thermal cutout for out-of-water protection.

Key features

• Multivolt 12/24V DC nominal input for common onboard electrical systems
• Max white output up to 6000 lumens at 5000K
• 90° x 24° beam aimed at wide transom coverage
• IP68/IP69K sealing for underwater use and pressure water-jet cleaning
• Bronze base with a Grilamid lens that is UV stable and impact resistant
• Spike protected to +500 V and reverse polarity protected to -700 V
• 2.5 m tinned marine cable already fitted for the in-hull run
• Edge light accent channel draws under 5 W for a visible signature in or out of the water

Variants

Apelo A3 is available in multiple light-color configurations while keeping the same bronze, white-lens housing and mounting style.

The difference between options is the light-color control: Blue/White switches between two colors and includes a strobe mode, while RGBW is intended for full-color control through an RGB/W lighting controller (not supplied). Physical fit, mounting footprint, and the fitted 2.5 m tinned cable are consistent across the A3 bronze versions.

• 016831001: Light color RGBW. This configuration is for systems where you want color selection through an RGB/W controller, with dedicated white LEDs for strong white output.
• 016830001: Light color Blue/White. This configuration switches between blue and white, and a strobe mode is available by toggling power to the lamp.

Installation and setup

Apelo A3 is a surface-mounted transom light with a through-hull cable pass-through. Typical mounting position is 100-500 mm under the waterline, and one light is commonly used across roughly 600-1200 mm of transom width depending on hull shape and the amount of coverage you want.

The mounting footprint uses a 130 mm diameter face with mounting holes on a 117.5 mm pitch circle. The cable pass-through hole is 15.6 mm diameter, and the installed stand-off is about 23.5 mm. Plan the cable route to a dry, serviceable area before drilling, and seal all fasteners and the cable entry properly for a long-term submerged install.

Compatibility and fit

This light is suitable for fiberglass, timber, steel, and composite hulls. For aluminum hulls, an isolation spacer is required to separate dissimilar metals and reduce galvanic corrosion risk.

If your boat has known stray-current issues, address bonding and grounding before installing any permanently submerged hardware. Underwater lights live in a harsh spot, and a clean electrical system matters as much as the sealant line.

Electrical and system integration

It runs on 12V or 24V DC nominal systems. The Blue/White version draws up to 70 W (5.9 A at 12V, 2.9 A at 24V), and the Edge Light channel draws under 5 W (0.37 A at 12V, 0.2 A at 24V).

RGBW installations should be planned around a compatible RGB/W lighting controller since color selection is handled through the controller, not by a simple on-off switch. Use proper fusing and marine wiring practices throughout, and keep any splices or extensions in a dry, protected location.

Use cases on board

Apelo A3 fits best on larger boats and yachts that want a bright transom wash for docking, night cruising, or lighting the wake area. The bronze housing also makes sense for boats that stay in the water and want hardware suited to long periods of submersion.

Maintenance and care

Like any underwater fitting, performance depends on keeping the lens clean. A quick wipe during regular hull cleaning helps prevent marine growth from dulling the beam, and it also gives you a chance to inspect the seal line and fasteners.

Avoid abrasive pads on the lens, and recheck the installation after the first few runs to confirm the fasteners are secure and the cable path stays dry inside the hull.