Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Rope light replacement options (Read 1845 times) previous topic - next topic

Rope light replacement options

After about 2 years of ownership many of the incandescent bulbs in the rope light strings around our ceiling mirrors and under counters have burned out.  FOT said they can order a new set but it would be OEM - they do not have an LED option.  MOT said they can install LED rope lights but mentioned about 8 hours of labor (maybe that includes valance rope lights which I don't have).

So,  I read every forum post I could find on rope lights and decided to do this myself.  Here is the best option I've found for LED rope lighting.  LED - Warm white - Rope Light - 150 ft. Spool  It is 3/8" in diameter, cuttable every 3 inches and about a $1/foot plus extra plugs and caps. 

The coach is in storage so I don't know how many feet I actually need - probably about 70' total - but I have not found spools less than 150'.  I did find a couple of web sites that will custom cut lengths but they are a bit pricey.

Has anyone found any other better options?  If so please share.
The selected media item is not currently available.

Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Mark Benko –

So,  I read every forum post I could find on rope lights and decided to do this myself.  Here is the best option I've found for LED rope lighting.  LED - Warm white - Rope Light - 150 ft. Spool

Mark,

I would be somewhat hesitant to use that particular product since it is spec'd at a single voltage (12V).  It may not be terribly long-lived in an RV environment (where 12V does not equal the 12V the diodes are designed to work at).  Why go through all the work to install it only to have it fail rather quickly?

I wonder if there is a rope product (or accessory for such) that would provide the constant current needed for good LED performance/longevity?  Perhaps that is what the factory is having to do to install the LED accent lighting in the newer coaches.

-M
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: Rope light replacement options

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Mark Benko –
After about 2 years of ownership many of the incandescent bulbs in the rope light strings around our ceiling mirrors and under counters have burned out.  FOT said they can order a new set but it would be OEM - they do not have an LED option.  MOT said they can install LED rope lights but mentioned about 8 hours of labor (maybe that includes valance rope lights which I don't have).

So,  I read every forum post I could find on rope lights and decided to do this myself.  Here is the best option I've found for LED rope lighting.  LED - Warm white - Rope Light - 150 ft. Spool  It is 3/8" in diameter, cuttable every 3 inches and about a $1/foot plus extra plugs and caps. 

The coach is in storage so I don't know how many feet I actually need - probably about 70' total - but I have not found spools less than 150'.  I did find a couple of web sites that will custom cut lengths but they are a bit pricey.

Has anyone found any other better options?  If so please share.

I had my rope lights replace by FOT with small strip LEDs. These are able to be dimmed. Very small string, sticky back application and really fit in nicely where the rope lights were. I will be glad to supply pictures if wanted.
Steven & Anna Lindemann
2012 Prevost  H3-45 VIP
2007 Foretravel 40' Nimbus
2014 Cadillac Escalade

Private/Charter Bus Driver-Owner
30 Years of Driving the Stars of Nashville

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Mark,

I would be somewhat hesitant to use that particular product since it is spec'd at a single voltage (12V).  It may not be terribly long-lived in an RV environment (where 12V does not equal the 12V the diodes are designed to work at).  Why go through all the work to install it only to have it fail rather quickly?

I wonder if there is a rope product (or accessory for such) that would provide the constant current needed for good LED performance/longevity?  Perhaps that is what the factory is having to do to install the LED accent lighting in the newer coaches.

-M

Michelle - I read your previous posts about constant current and understand the benefit but have not found that type of LED rope light.

Quote from: Steve and Anna Lindemann –
I had my rope lights replace by FOT with small strip LEDs. These are able to be dimmed. Very small string, sticky back application and really fit in nicely where the rope lights were. I will be glad to supply pictures if wanted.

Steve - If you could - pics would be great.  I've found the sticky back strip LEDs online but was unsure if they would be long enough to go around the ceiling mirrors.  The longest I've found are 16.4'.  How long ago did you have yours replaced?  Did they have to preorder?  Any info would be great.
The selected media item is not currently available.

Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #4 –
These guys are where I got my roll of replacement rope light.  Nothing has burned out in about 5-6 years.  12 Volt 2 Wire 3/8" CROWN Rope Light - 206M12/C - Action Lighting?, Inc.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #5 –
Try Elemental LED.  They have LED light strips by the foot and in several lengths up to 100 ft with 3M adhesive backing.  They can be cut to anything length you need.  They have couplers, connectors, dimmable power supplies and the strips come in several different light intensities and color temps.  A 120v - 12v power supply gives you stable power.  They sell 12v batteries so you can probably run them on 12v dc anyway.  Almost all of our interior lighting is 12v LED.

Brighter Flexible LED Strip Lights In Bulk Spool - ElementalLED.com

This strip is 180 lumens per foot @ 2.16 watts per foot.

The light strips are available in indoor grade or mist resistant or waterproof.

I use these for internal lighting in cabinets, under-cabinet lighting and toe kick and stairway lighting.  They work well for me.  They are commercial grade.

Check them out.

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

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #6 –
Anyone know what these connectors are called? 

I'd like to replace the auto-on, in-cabinet rope lights with an LED version.  I'd like to buy a roll of the LED rope light and these clip connectors, as well.
Jennifer
2003 36' U295 (# 6070)
Thousand Oaks, CA

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #7 –
Jennifer, do the lights come on with a switch connected to the door?  If so than any LED roll strip lighting will do.  I am in the process of adding lighting to almost all of my overhead cabinets using magnetic proximity switches.  I would like to do the accent lighting in my ceiling recesses with dimmable remote controlled LED too.

I am replacing all of my ceiling halogen lights too with glass LED lights.

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

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Home2fromHastings –
Jennifer, do the lights come on with a switch connected to the door?  If so than any LED roll strip lighting will do.  I am in the process of adding lighting to almost all of my overhead cabinets using magnetic proximity switches.  I would like to do the accent lighting in my ceiling recesses with dimmable remote controlled LED too.

I am replacing all of my ceiling halogen lights too with glass LED lights.

Roger

Yes, when you open the cabinet, the lights come on.  They all have those magnetic proximity switches, so I'm hoping to keep all that in place. 

If the new LED roll has two wires, as well, it looks like I just remove the connector clip and wires from this old roll, splice the wires into the new LED roll, add the heat shrink tubing, and clip them back in? 

Here's a pic with the heat shrink removed. 
Jennifer
2003 36' U295 (# 6070)
Thousand Oaks, CA

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #9 –
The LED strip lighting on a roll (~16 ft) that I get is waterproof and has a set of connecting wires on each end.  For shorter runs (almost all of them) i use connectors like these.

5pcs Quick Conectors Adapters Cable for 10mm 5050 Single Color LED Strip Light |

They are actually a connector at each end of a short run of wire.  Cut them in half and you have two wired connectors to the LED strips.  Or if you want to go from one cabinet to the next, string the wire through a hole and connect LED strip on either end.  I like using a bit of heat shrink tubing too.

The only issue I have run into with these inexpensive strip lights is that the adhesive seems to have a short shelf life.  Use them right away or the adhesive just gets gummy.  Easy to clean off and then use a narrow strip of double stick carpet tape.  My more expensive ElementalLED strip lights have a much better adhesive.  I like the price on the cheaper ones.  Time will tell if they last.

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

Re: Rope light replacement options

Reply #10 –
Great, thanks Roger.
Jennifer
2003 36' U295 (# 6070)
Thousand Oaks, CA