Hello,
When I was at the RV show in Houston, it seems a lot of manufactures are using LED lights either at the outward end of the awning or just under the awning whilst rolled up. I like this idea as it would make it easy to light up the awning area at night. I do have now some Xmas LED lights that can be attached with clips to the awning that use 110 (vs 12v). I just thought it would be nice to have them already attached and just turn them on. My plan is running LED strip outdoor lighting (say 5050) just under the rolled up awning attached to the fiberglass side wall. This would allow the light to be used whether or not the awing was out. I was going to run a short power wire to the porch light such that I could just plug it into the porch light to power the strip lighting (under the awning). I was thinking about having some sort of connection on the strip lighting and also on the porch light (kinda like a removable extension cord). This would allow it to be removed and replaced when needed easily. This would also prevent the wind whipping the cord around. So, when the porch light is on, and the strip plugged in, the lights would work. I just wanted to know if anyone had done this and if so had any tips or advice? Thanks!
I positioned our LED light strip on the coach side of the awning roller facing almost horizontal toward the coach (3 o'clock)--with the 3M adhesive and some help with Shoe Goo onto the fabric. This provides lighting for the steps and compartments on that side plus lights up the side of the coach and the ground under the awning. I did not want to stick lite strips on the coach paint and possibly have them fail down the road. I run the power cord down the rear rafter arm and the transformer end plugs into a timer so the lights go out at around 11 PM. We do prefer darkness for sleeping.
I have contemplated using a remote instead so I can turn the lights on/off whenever I want.
I do not worry about not being able to use the lights when the awning is rolled up as I also converted our porch lite to LED light strips.
We have LED rope lights we lay on the ground and Tiki torches we place in areas we want to enhance with light but also bug deterrents.
LED color temp makes a big difference in the way these look. We see many with the cool white (higher Kelvin temperature, more blue) at night these seem very harsh and way too bright to our taste and probably to any nearby campers as well. The warm white will get you more incandescent color, more like a candle or a campfire. These seem much more comfortable to us in the evening when we are sitting outside. The only way to know what you will like is to buy a roll of each and try them out at night.
Whichever you choose get a dimmer for the light string. Then you will have light level control too.
There are red/green/blue/white LED strings and color/dimmer controls as well so you can have any blend of color and level you want.
For us it doesn't take much light to get the ambiance we want. All of the bays have LED lighting in them so the outside lighting didn't need to provide that function.
We started with a roll of 120v white Christmas Tree lights. We still have them in a bin and they work very well in lots of cases.
You may want to look at the 12v LED tape lights rather then the rope lights. They are easy to install, come in 16 foot rolls and can be cut to length. Look on youtube for LED tape lights and there are tutorials on how to install. All kinds of colors.
Do you have the fluorescent porch light? If it is like the light on my 94 GV the porch light has an interior and exterior switch. I gutted my porch light and glued in LED strips bypassing the exterior switch for the porch light. I plan on using the exterior switch for the led light strip running out of the top of the porch light with a plug and make an extension cord as you described. This will allow us to switch the LED off and on at the porch light without disconnecting as long as you have the porch light turned on inside.
FWIW,
Regarding color, I can't say that I didn't think about even a yellow light. I thought that might be preferable due to bugs? Agree that I like the warm white a little more. You are correct, it seems to me that most of the ones that I saw at the show were the bluish white LEDs. I hadn't thought about the dimming function. This is a welcome idea. And nitehawk, did you attach them to the roller such that when you roll up the awning, they are covered by the awning. I was concerned that this may prevent the awning from rolling up well. No real concern there? Thanks!
Thanks Ricky, I did change out the fluorescent porch light like you did to LED. I like it as it gives off more light too. I was thinking along same line as you. The outside switch for the porch light would make a good spot to plug in the LED lights. I also have seen the multicolor ones. Initially, was not interested, now have to admit, am considering.
Thanks to all, will post photos when done.
Best of travels
No problem rolling up with the 12V waterproof LED lite strip in the roll. The awning fabric wrapped around the roller initially gave me some concern but by judiciously applying Shoe Goo where the 3M adhesive didn't want to hold we have now had toe lites on the awning for three years with no problems.
I put these on last year.
Craig I like how you did it. Where did you get the 12v and what are you using for your on -off sw?
I used 2 strips of the 300 self-stick waterproof led's out on the awning, with a rocker switch next to the awning switch. The only wrinkle I found was, the wire that I sewed into the edge of the awning fabric made the awning roll up crooked, so I sewed a dummy wire into the other edge as well, problem solved. Turning those lights on really brightens things up. I also gutted the porch light and threw a bunch of led's in there while I was at it. IIRC, I grabbed 12V from the same source the awning motor uses since I put the switch right next to those controls. Easypeasy.
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.balloondepot.com%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fhiddenforlink%2Fawninglight.jpg&hash=e72002f8d0bc64da41da20322ae389c0" rel="cached" data-hash="e72002f8d0bc64da41da20322ae389c0" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.balloondepot.com/wp-content/gallery/hiddenforlink/awninglight.jpg)
Same location as ours. ^.^d ^.^d
I have a manual awning and my porch light is tied into the lighted handle. I would like to run another 12v feed through the existing porch light and install a switch inside. My problem is where to pick up 12v and feed through the existing hole where the porch light fee is. Any ideas?
We've seen a few of these "Carnival Lights" and they can be obnoxious for neighbors wanting a early bed time. We're in bed early & up and out around 5.30 to have my coffee and cig, and am very carefull that even our yellow exterior coach light does not intrude. CG Etiquette, after all. ^.^d
Mike I totally agree. In my case we plan to use them when we are outdoors in the evening. When we go inside lights out, including porch light. We are always polite to everyone. Also plan to install dimmer to keep light level down.
Dimmer is a good idea. I like 'em at klieg lamp level when you're working on your race car in the middle of the night, in the middle of no where that you've towed it to though..
I installed led strip lights today. I installed them on the face of the coach at the top, because my awning is manual and I wanted the wiring to be pernenent. I brought another 12v feed to power them to keep the porch light unchanged. I am able to get lots of colors change brightness etc and control everything with a remote. Total cost $59.00.
Nice job Joe. I like the lights on the coach as well. The awning doesn't need to be all the way out and sittimg in the evening facing out from the coach puts the lighting behind you. I have not tried the multi color strips but the idea of any color at any light level is intriguing and it is cheap enough to just try it out. Thanks for the report.
Talking of the LED strips again, I have ordered 2 rolls of the Blue ones and will be putting them under the coach like FT has on the Realm. I like the light and it does not affect any one else's space but gives decent ground effect. I will be fastening them to 15 ft lengths of 1" wide aluminum and attaching that to underbelly on both sides about 4" in from edge. They will be controlled by a new switch by dash.
This job is a few months away from doing though.
JohnH
John, is there a reason other than personal preference for the blue?
The color choices are many. Red, Green, yellow, white are just a few. Its a multi color strip. Chose blue for the picture. You can select color, brightness via the remote.
Here in Northern Wisconsin we have mosquitoes that mate with Canadian geese so we do NOT sit outside under our coach awning in the summer in the northwoods. We set up our 12'x12' screenhouse and sit in there and admire the LED rope lights on the underside of the coach awning.
I have been informed that someone heard two mosquitoes arguing about grabbing one of us and taking us deeper in the woods to eat until one said that then the BIGGER mosquitoes would take us away from them!!
That said, the DW just received a multi color, remote controlled, programmable five meter waterproof LED light strip, adhesive backed, off Amazon for about $26.
Now I/she have to figure out where to put it. Now, keep all suggestions clean!! Please!! >:D >:D
I was once taken prisoner by a deer fly in Michigan. Good luck with your project.
Bug lies. Don't believe them.
Though I have a 5 meter warm white 5050 led, I went ahead and ordered a 5 meter RGB (changes colors) 5050 led. After looking at the photos, I like the colors (and you can select yellow which would seem preferable for bugs and dim the output). There are two very viable ways for me to mount the strip lighting. One way is on the coach just under the main awning and the other way seems to be one the awning roller such that it is on the exposed aluminum facing the coach. Both ways seem good. I am leaning toward the putting them on the roller. The main reason for this consideration is I don't have to worry about loose wires blowing around and the strip pulling off the sides with wind that could be more likely with exposed lighting wiring. I am going to try to wire it such that it plugs into the porch light and the strip when rolled out and exposed. The connecting wire and color controls would then be removed for travel and replaced when awning rolled out for light. I think this would work well for me. I certainly appreciate the input and great to have all the ideas that have been presented. Thanks to all! I will post photos when done. Best of Travels!
John, you ask why Blue, well, the Realm has Blue and both of us really like the none intrusive colour it gives when it is close to ground and secondly the colour of our ( Geoff & mine) favourite soccer team back in England is Blue-Everton.
The real reason though is the first one mentioned. My plan is to use the self adhesive backing on LED lights then coat with Lexon clear silicone along both sides to ad strentgh and keep any road crap from damadging seal. The Alum' strip will be screwed to framing behind F/glass panel on underbelly.
JohnH
A couple of things to consider. First my pictures may not show that I have no loose wires. Any wire is in a white raceway which is stuck to the side of the coach. One piece about 4 inches and the other about 5 inches, The lights when not in use are hidden when the awning is not in use. And last I added strips of Gorilla two side tape to help stick the leds to the coach. The tape on the back of the led strip is not very good. Hope this helps.
I guess I'm just an incandescent guy in a LED world.
As long as you keep your diesel engine running, it should be no problem.
Trent
Here's the one's we put on ours. its made by Boogielights. i tried to get a video of the awning lights but they just blinded the camera.
(https://youtu.be/nnkA978OzUI)
FWIW,
I finished my outdoor lights. I put a full roll of the waterproof 50/50 leds under my main (biggest) awning on side of coach. I put it such that the 2 wires attached for power were right at the porch light (just above which left about an inch of wire exposed). I took off the porch light and drilled 2 holes in nearest side. I then ran the led power wires in one of the holes and put a push on/push off switch in the other drilled hole. I then wired the leds to the switch and then to the porch light. So.., the porch light can be used independently from the led strip lights. If one wants more light, just push the new on off button on the side of the porch light and voila' the led strip lights are illuminated, push it again and the strip lights go off and porch light still works fine. It really lights up the area very well. No probably not enough to read a book with small print but I did change out my sewer dump hose O-ring using that as a light and could see it quite well. I did order a dimmer but did not use it as I put it all together before the dimmer arrived. Frankly with one strip not sure the dimmer is needed. If one wanted to put in 2 strips (which would really brighten things up, then I probably would recommend the dimmer).
I have added three photos that should be helpful. One doesn't show much as it is dark. That is what it is like without the porch light and without the leds. The second photo shows the exact same area with the porch light and leds on (nice difference). The third is a close up of the wires going in the side of the porch light. Note the small button at the top. This is the on/off button for the leds that extend toward the back just under the larger awning.
I cleaned the fiberglass with alcohol, applied the strip to the fiberglass, then applied a small amout of silicone above and below the strip along its entire length to help hold the strip lights in place. I also siliconed the porch light where the wires entered the new side hole. I did solder my electrical connections. So far so good. The only real drawback is I have to stand on the entry/coach step to turn on/off the leds. I can not reach the porch light (newly added additional) switch by standing on the ground by the FT. This is not a big deal for me (might be for someone shorter, I am almost 6 feet tall). Getting additional light now is sooo easy.
Someone mentioned yellow lights for bugs. LED's generally operate at a frequency that does not attract bugs like an incandescent bulb so yellow is not necessary. I've replaced most of my exterior lighting at home and the cabin with LED bulbs. I ran some LED rope lights under the railing on our cabin's deck but found them to be too bright. I had intentionally bought dimable LED (some are and some aren't) and I had them connected to a light sensor so that they'd come on at night and go off during the day automatically. I set the brightness I liked but they refused to come on and off automatically while significantly dimmed. Ended up having to switch to a timer. Never figured out why the dimmer didn't like the light sensor.
We added some LED strip lighting under the awning last night, it comes in a strip of led modules approx. 6" apart. Installed in a track system that has covers over the spacing, in total there is 22' of LED and each module is about 80 lumens, the track blends very well and is very robust. The wiring was simple as it is through body and tied into the outside lamp switch, when the awning is rolled up and stowed the light bar is completely concealed.
I have purchased the same led lights with track which was cut into four sections for shipping. Where did you get your power from. Any install suggestions. Tks Dan
Dan I took my power from my doorbell located inside one of the upper cabinets. I routed the wire out through the porch light. I wanted the porch light to remain separate from the leds. If you look at my earlier pictures on this post the wire came out the same hole the porch light feed does. My leds work with a remote so no switch is required. Hope this helps.
I tapped into the porch light power, since you can toggle the fluorescent lights on and off from the light itself it made for a good hot wire tap. I just leave the porch lights off now and use the led's. The install was very easy, I used 3m double sided tape and prepped both the bus and the tracks with alcohol before applying.