Lights 'n' Ladders

[slewis95407]

Originally Posted by 440justin

Scott,

That looks good! Do you have a close up picture of the porch light showing how you wired up inside of it? Looks like your light still works as well. This is what I am going to do, with the only change of mounting the LED's closer to the awning.

I wired the LED strip directly to the fixture lamp socket. Filed small slot to except the wire from the LED strip, Soldered small 2 conductor wire to lamp socket (LED strip light 24W @ 12V = 2A) and then made my connection to the LED strip.

My fixture is a Starlight which has different function. Energize the porchlight switch and it operates with the photocell and proximity sensor, switch off and on again and it operates with photocell only. There isn't much room in the Starlight making things a little difficult to route the wires. If you are wiring to a traditional porch light it would be very simple. The Starlight uses a cool white LED lamp.

[f6bits]

We hit the road this week, so I got a picture of the new lighting. It's a little more well-lit in person.


I'm *so* glad I went with the Warm White. It's still pretty white, but definitely softer than the the higher color temp LEDs. Patio lighting is plenty good for eating on the patio and just hanging out. Probably not good enough for reading a book. I have no regrets for mounting it at the gutter end rather than on the roller.

[f6bits]

I had bought two reels of lights: Warm White and Bright White. I used the warm white for the awning and decided to use the bright white ones for my passthrough storage compartment. It fit pretty well along the framework. I started near the existing light fixture, then above the hatch, along the rear wall, and the above the other hatch. I think I can see everything when it's dark now.

[iamrwnut]

Can not wait to do these LED mods.

[f6bits]

Here's how I wired it using a shallow lightswitch box, rocker switch, and male 12V connector:


And the final mount that covers the original wiring hole:

[Momedic]

Mikell

Can you tell me what gauge of wire you used to make you cord

[chartrand]

Originally Posted by f6bits

I had bought two reels of lights: Warm White and Bright White. I used the warm white for the awning and decided to use the bright white ones for my passthrough storage compartment. It fit pretty well along the framework. I started near the existing light fixture, then above the hatch, along the rear wall, and the above the other hatch. I think I can see everything when it's dark now.

How on earth were you able to get your Q200 into that space, mine won't fit.

[f6bits]

Easy. Subract 80. It's a Q120. Now I'll have to remember not to upgrade to a 200.

Originally Posted by chartrand

How on earth were you able to get your Q200 into that space, mine won't fit.

[f6bits]

And this weekend I did the rear storage compartment:

[CUFFS054]

Chart, great idea.Thanks for the thought!

[f6bits]

p.s. The first go round, I bought the spool of LED lights that had the nice connector at one end. This last spool I bought has raw wiring at *both* ends. While at first I thought it wasn't as "finished" as my first ones, I enjoy the bonus of it being *two* usable strips of LEDs. Once I cut off the excess, I can wire up the remainder from the other end.

[SlowPoke]

Really nice job with all those LED additions!!

But, you know, the FAA will be asking you soon to clear the runway for departure...

ROFL, Just kiddin!

[f6bits]

Someone asked about the bugs. Apparently, the desert and beach don't have light-lovin' bugs, but the Sequoias sure do! I turned the lights on one evening and the outside wall became covered in little gnat bugs. Several of them got inside. Fortunately, that's not our typical campsite, so it's not that much of an issue.

[enyapp]

Originally Posted by f6bits

Today, I finished up the wiring, using my new best friends:
http://www.pepboys.com/product/detai...07/?quantity=1
I installed a rocker switch through a ½" hole and used the above linked part to tap off existing switches for 12V and ground.

Got a picture or a diagram of how you used the Dorman parts? Which type of adapter from the assortment pack did you use (three are pictured on the linked site)? I am just not sure if I am picturing it in my head correctly.
Thanks for your insight.

[f6bits]

The trailer already had rockers for the porch light and ceiling lights. I pulled the 12V feeder lead off the rocker and slid the leftmost Dorman adapter on that looks like a chair. On one tab, I put the 12V feeder back on. On the extra tab, I added a new wire to feed my LED rocker switch.

I did the same thing from my Slideout switch since it had a well-grounded lead going to it. From the Dorman adapter, I ran the new ground lead to my illuminated rocker *and* the LED strip.

[mjeronimo]

Is the little control box for the light in the control panel?

[f6bits]

There's no control box for my setup. It's just a plain string of warm-white LEDs powered by a 12V switch I added to my control panel.

[trackstand]

Would this work? the way I read this is I would not need the 120v transformer if I tap into My awing switch?

http://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics%C2%...=12v+led+strip