LED Light Strip Under Awning

[Mike484]

I have seen several RVs with an LED light strip under the awning, looks great and adds a whole lot to the patio area. I am wanting to install one on ours.

Looking at these at places like Camping World, they are well over $100, and not great reviews. Home Depot has a set at $60 with great reviews.

I will be running these right under the awning at the side of the trailer and tieing them into the porch light. Do the ones here look like they will work OK?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-18-ft-LED-Connectible-Indoor-Outdoor-Color-Changing-White-and-RGB-Tape-Light-with-Remote-Control-16508/206273002


This is the effect I'm looking for:

[kfxgreenie]

Do you want color choice or just a single color. I installed these because they come with a plastic channel with real 3M tape that attaches to the trailer so they do stick long term. And if the light sets fail, at that point I can clip in a different set of led strips lights. I also installed a cheap dimmer.

The seller has different lengths and plastic channel colors, but the lights themselves are either white or blue.

http://www.amazon.com/Camper-Motorhome-Trailer-Mounting-Channel/dp/B00UK5FCO4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1463600200&sr=8-6&keywords=rv+led+awning

[mfifield01]

I installed one with components from Amazon. I ended up securing the aluminum strip with stainless screws. Check out this post:

http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?p=191116#post191116

[dwall]

I have looked into this also. My only concern is if the tape would secure the strip to the side of the camper sufficiently. Has anyone had problems with this? Also, would it wire directly into the porch light or would it have to be run off of a transformer?


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[mfifield01]

I had problems with the tape holding the aluminum channel. It was mainly due to not having a flat enough surface. There was a lip on the rain gutter that didn't allow the channel to make full contact. I put some stainless screws into the gutter.

I installed a new porch light with switch and power it off of the porch light.

[bobbecky]

The only issue there may be with the Home Depot kit that I didn't see mentioned is, what is the voltage for the lights if you are not plugged in with the 120 volt adapter? And what provision is there for using a 12 volt supply if that is what you are using? I managed to buy a set from CW when it was on sale a while back, and it came with the 120 volt transformer, but also had a pigtail for connecting directly to the 12 volt wiring. There was also a little remote control included that makes it possible to change the colors and other display options. I was also able to fit the controller inside the porch light housing.

[Mike484]

I'm planning to plug into the porch light with direct 12v, not use the 120v converter. May need to rethink the multicolor though because it will require the control for the color changing. I do like the dimmer, but a single color (I like the blue) with just a simple switch so I can turn the LEDs off if I only want the porch light, would be much simpler.

As far as adhesion, surface preparation is the most important for good adhesion, need to clean the surface first with some alcohol to assure a clean surface.

[tech740]

I went with automotive body trim adhesive to hold mine on. Worked great. I also went with 120v instead of 12v because we don't dry camp. Keep in mind the just because you flip on the switch won't make the lights come on at least mine wont. That just powered the controller box. You still need the remote. I ran mine down the awning arm and through the wall were the awning wire goes through then to a plus in my underside storeage.

[mfifield01]

The controller runs on 12v for mine. It's just inline. 12v is the only way to go. 120v limits you too much. I've used mine as a guide backing into a campsite at night. I had hookups, but not until everything was setup.