LED outdoor strip lighting

Topic: LED outdoor strip lighting (Read 1559 times) previous topic - next topic

LED outdoor strip lighting

February 17, 2016, 12:22:45 pm

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!

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #1 – February 17, 2016, 12:50:51 pm

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #2 – February 17, 2016, 01:44:55 pm

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #3 – February 17, 2016, 03:53:04 pm

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #4 – February 17, 2016, 03:56:54 pm

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #5 – February 17, 2016, 03:58:09 pm

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

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #6 – February 17, 2016, 06:11:38 pm

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #7 – February 18, 2016, 05:33:19 am

I put these on last year.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #8 – February 18, 2016, 08:53:32 am

Craig I like how you did it. Where did you get the 12v and what are you using for your on -off sw?

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #9 – February 19, 2016, 11:17:08 am

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #10 – February 19, 2016, 12:11:01 pm

Same location as ours.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #11 – February 19, 2016, 02:40:25 pm

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?

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #12 – February 19, 2016, 02:55:25 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – February 17, 2016, 01:44:55 pm

way too bright to our taste and probably to any nearby campers as well.

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #13 – February 19, 2016, 03:11:55 pm

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #14 – February 19, 2016, 05:23:57 pm

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..

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #15 – February 27, 2016, 09:28:28 pm

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #16 – February 27, 2016, 10:10:03 pm

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #17 – February 27, 2016, 11:25:08 pm

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

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #18 – February 28, 2016, 08:27:50 am

John, is there a reason other than personal preference for the blue?

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #19 – February 28, 2016, 08:37:16 am

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.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #20 – February 28, 2016, 09:33:59 am

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!!

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #21 – February 28, 2016, 09:59:24 am

I was once taken prisoner by a deer fly in Michigan. Good luck with your project.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #22 – February 28, 2016, 11:03:48 am

Bug lies. Don't believe them.

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #23 – February 28, 2016, 12:06:01 pm

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!

Re: LED outdoor strip lighting

Reply #24 – February 28, 2016, 12:48:34 pm

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

Affiliate Notice