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Topic: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's (Read 1082 times) previous topic - next topic

Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Trying to install a dimmer for my under counter LED lights. 
There are 4 separate sets of under counter lights (lamp table; sink counter; bar; bath counter)  all controlled by a single 12 volt switch at the kitchen sink.  The dimmer I bought is a remote controlled rectangular box that requires 12V and Ground "IN" on one side and 12V and Ground "OUT" the opposite side that I can hide behind the switch panel.  No problem with the 12V IN and OUT which is at  the switch;  but where/how do I locate  the common Ground that feeds the lights?  I've  pulled the 2 bottom drawers out from under the stove and there is a maze of bundled wires including the 12V from the switch that disappear to the back wall and down under.
Fiddler
1959 Parris Island grad
40' 2001 U320 Build 5875
1999 Suburban K1500 toad
1986 Corvette Pacecar
ssoftail@comcast.net

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #1 –
The little box probably has a remote? On/Off Up/Down?  If so you can bypass the FT 12v switch and us the box to turn on and off.  Run the hot 12v that goes into the switch (this is generally the wire that goes to the post in the middle of the switch but not always) to the input12v on the box.  Run the wire from the other side of the switch to the output 12v on the box.  The 12v ground on the output side should be able to connect to any 12v ground.

If you want to keep the FT 12v switch then you insert the box in the 12v line between the switched side of the switch and the lights. Ground should be the same.

LED lights are polarity sensitive. + and - need to be right or they will not work.  Hooking them up backwards usually doesn't hurt them but check to be sure.

Did you get a wiring diagram?  All of thes coming from China have instructions that are confusing and wiring diagrams that leave something to be desired.  I had one that labeled a wire "+12v ground". What does that mean? 

I have a small 110 v plug in power supply from something that outputs 12v.  I usually try things out with it so I know how it is going to work before cutting coach wires.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #2 –
LED's working fine thx to your excellent guidance in previous posts.  As you presumed, the remote box did come from china w/no documentation at all. 

 With regard to the ground wire connections:  Your instructions say to connect any ground to the output side of the box.... do I also connect any ground to the input side or leave it unconnected? 
Fiddler
1959 Parris Island grad
40' 2001 U320 Build 5875
1999 Suburban K1500 toad
1986 Corvette Pacecar
ssoftail@comcast.net

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #3 –
Abit of experimenting is in order.  Ground is ground so my guess both sides need to be grounded. One side for the circuit to the lights, the other for the circuits in the box.

Try that out.  Let us know.  I have one with me that I am going to insert into the bedroom under cabinet lights, one of these first days.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #4 –
Thx for the prompt reply Roger.  I cannot locate the common ground for the lights.  Meanwhile,  I tested the remote for the dimmer with a 12v battery and it looks like its operating OK.  It draws the 13.5 volts down to 12.3 volts and the on/off switch operates as well.

No matter if I hook up a random ground to the dimmer in or out; or not at all. Once I connect 12v to the dimmer, the lites come on.  It looks like the only way to have it operate properly is to locate the ground feeding the lites and then split it between in and out to the dimmer.  The challenge of course is where do I find the ground connection common to all 4 lite sets; and is it reasonably accessible? 
Fiddler
1959 Parris Island grad
40' 2001 U320 Build 5875
1999 Suburban K1500 toad
1986 Corvette Pacecar
ssoftail@comcast.net

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #5 –
You should be able to find the ground for the kitchen undercounter lights.  Based on my disecting my wiring I would not expect all of these separate undercounter lights to have a common ground.  The switch for my undercounter lights is at the kitchen.  If the different under counter lights have a common ground then splicing into the ground there might work there.

This is a tough one.  Generally all of the lights controlled by a switch have a hot line and a ground that is common.  But not all.  Ceiling lights on the side where there is a slide have a relay to cut th m out if the slide is in.

Keep experimenting.  That is usually the only way to figure this stuff out.

The drawing is a common light circuit. 


Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Home2fromHastings –
Ground is ground

Aughhhhh!    :headwall:  It is not a large hole into which all current drains.

(sorry, I was an electromagnetic compatibility engineer in a previous life)
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #7 –
You have got to be kidding?  An electro something compatibility engineer....  Heck, I had trouble keeping up with roger and Douglass the other day looking at Roger and Sudan coach systems for led dimmers, remotes and then they got off into the PC systems...you'd have had a ball.  I think best way for me is to follow roger around and beg for help...and you woulda understand it all!

Really cool stuff!  Could not have thought though you could improve a Foretravel.
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #8 –
Let's see ... Michelle is correct in this use.  The common ground for the LED circuit needs to go through the dimmer control.  I checked three different LED dimmers that I have and they all require the common ground to go through the controller.  If it is just switch controlled then any ground will do.

In my coach the undercounter lights are in the kitchen, the bathroom and the small cabinet behind the passenger's chair.  The switch controlling them is under the cooktop on the face of the kitchen cabinet.  The bundle if wires back there has a four green (ground) wires connected together with a crimp on wire cap.  One of those is a common ground, one is for the water pump switch, one had an undiscovered function and one was the common ground for all three undercounter light sets.  So I pulled the wires apart, jumpered everything the way it needed to be through the dimmer control and it did not work.  Every way I tried it through the dimmer it would not work.  Back to the original wiring, fine.

So my conclusion is that on my 2001 coach it is extremely unlikely that any LED lighting was used except for the indicator lights on switches (like the water pump). I think the undercounter lights and likely the toe kick lights are tiny incandescent bulbs in a tube.

If you pull all of those out and replace then with LED strips then you could and would probably want to dim them.

I am face first, head inside the cabinet and Susan asks the obvious question, as she usually does when I am up to my elbows in something, "Why do you need to dim the undercounter lights?"

Roger

Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #9 –
Hi Roger:

I had assumed the same position under the stove top and can appreciate the joyful experience we shared.  We have the same model coach so it's simplified discussing the issues here.  Coincidentally,  the dimmer you showed in your post is the exact model I am trying to install; it was less than $5 online w/free shipping.  At this point, I'm considering Michelle's question and may likely  leave the lights "undimmed";  they are brighter than I would prefer but I guess I'll get used to it.  Many thanks for your support on this and I really appreciate your knowledgeable comments as well.  You're an excellent asset to our group and will look forward with pleasure to your posts in the future.  If you happen to come across a solution to the dimmer install in the future, please don't hesitate to post it, and I'll do the same.

By the way,  I also just emailed James Triana with hopes of providing some guidance to us in locating the common ground wires for the undercounter lights.  Here is his response in quote (including the typo):
 "We do not make recommendations other that how the coach left the factory"
 Huh?  I'm disappointed in that for over 12 years,  his responses have been a great resource for me and no doubt as well as for all FT owners;  too bad, now it appears there's a new,  albeit sadly disappointing, customer support policy he's been instructed to follow.

Fiddler
1959 Parris Island grad
40' 2001 U320 Build 5875
1999 Suburban K1500 toad
1986 Corvette Pacecar
ssoftail@comcast.net

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #10 –
Hi Roger:

Following my disappointment msg to James Triana regarding his initial reply;  I was pleasantly surprised with his second reply which, as he always did in the past, provided helpful guidance while qualifying his first response to me on the ground wires.

 Quote:
"The ground wire should be a green wire, they all run to a common ground in the storage bay(drawing B-2126. I just cannot tell you how to install the dimmer which in not OEM."

I'm going to check the wiring diagram he suggests and will let you know if I have any better luck.


 
Fiddler
1959 Parris Island grad
40' 2001 U320 Build 5875
1999 Suburban K1500 toad
1986 Corvette Pacecar
ssoftail@comcast.net

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #11 –
I think the problem i going to be that those undercounter lights are no LED and the LED dimmer just won't work.  Virtually everything on the inside and outside of my coach is LED.  I have most if the overhead cabinet interiors and closets lighted with LEDs too.  That makes a huge difference.  Working on the rest and all of the outside bays too.

I have a dimmer on all of the ceiling lights in the LR.  It works great.  The key fob dimmer was going in the BR but Susan doesn't think we need it.  Maybe next week.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #12 –
Roger, what proxsimity switches do you use on the cabnit doors ? The same ones thar FOT uses?

 Richard B
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #13 –
Richard,

See this post for links to many common LED parts.

LED Strip Lighting

These magnetic switches are smaller, perfect for door switches. They are about 1" long. They can be wired for normally open (lights off when the door is closed) or normally closed function.  Good quality self adhesive backing or you can use screws.

Roger

Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #14 –
Thanks Roger, just what Im looking for ;)
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #15 –

I realize this thread is 3 years old, but this seems the best thread for a update on installing a dimmer for the under counter strip lights. (as the OP was doing)

We have under counter lights (were rope, now LED) in 4 locations: bath, kitchen counter, dining area counter, and living room area cabinet just behind the passenger seat.

On our 2003 U320, one switch operates all 4 locations. Photo one shows the switch, which is just under the cook top.

This switch has white wires on the two terminals, the top is constant hot 12 volt, the bottom is switched 12 volt to turn on/off all 4 locations of strip lights (previous rope, now LED). 

Photo 2 shows the wiring at the switch, and a bundle of 4 green ground wires (top of the photo) connected together (but not connected to any switch).

One of the green wires goes to coach common ground, or "true ground" if you will.  One goes to the relay for the electric element of the Aquahot, one is ground for the window valance strip lights, and the 4th is the ground for the under counter lights. (all 4 grounds connected together). The three ground wires going to specific locations have to be connected to the common "true" ground.

I will install a dimmer for only the under counter lights, set it once at the  "dimness" we want,  then install it hidden under the cook top permanently. We will use only the current on/off switch after that.

This is the dimmer we plan to install: TORCHSTAR PWM Dimming Controller for LED Strip Light, DC 12V - 24V Dimmer Knob ON/OFF Switch with Aluminum Housing, Single Channel 30A
 Amazon.com: TORCHSTAR PWM Dimming Controller for LED Strip Light, DC 12V -...   

Photo 3 is the dimmer we selected.

 For the dimmer positive in, it will be new wire from the switched bottom terminal of the on/off switch. For the dimmer negative in, it will be a new wire connected to the constant "real ground". 

For dimmer positive out, it will be the old bottom terminal white wire removed from the on/off switch. For dimmer negative out, it will be the current green ground wire that feeds to the under counter strip lights.

We are not changing the window valance rope lights and have no need to install a 2nd dimmer for that circuit. We use the under counter lights at night, but do not use the valance lights.

Thanks to Roger who I consulted on how the existing wiring is run.  I  was then  able to verify with a volt meter  (and splitting the 4 ground wires to check and label what each ground green wire does).






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Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide
 

Re: Installing Dimmer for UnderCounter LED's

Reply #16 –
Installed the LED dimmer today. It works great.  Mounted it above the top drawer against the front panel near the on/off switches. By reaching up under the open top drawer, I can still adjust the hidden dimmer switch.

The dimmer is high quality, aluminum body, with vents at each side. Rated for 30 amps, so oversized for our needs and thus should last a long while with light loading.

Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide