step lights?

JimM68 wrote:
Finished this project today, except for wiring in the lights. I ended up with some LED truck clearance lights from Napa. I drilled counter sunk holes to attach them under the steps before I installed the new anti skid strips.
Still gotta figure out how to wire them, I'd love to run the "extra wire" down from my starlight motion sensor porch light, but no idea haw to feed that down thru the RV.

Jim,
Yep, running a wire down from any porch light assembly would be a pain, to be sure. What I did was, pick up a 12V source, inside the console, that's right beside the passengers right knee, the one you see as you enter the coach. I simply tied in a switch to that source and, to the lights you see in the pictures at the front leading edge of the step. The only issue you'll have is, trying to conceal the wire while, allowing for full travel of the steps from retracted to, full extension.

I tried all sorts of ways to hide that wire but, it still has to travel, along with the steps. I kind-a like being able to have that light, without the doors being open, which would trigger the other LEDs that I installed.
Scott

Finished this project today, except for wiring in the lights. I ended up with some LED truck clearance lights from Napa. I drilled counter sunk holes to attach them under the steps before I installed the new anti skid strips.
Still gotta figure out how to wire them, I'd love to run the "extra wire" down from my starlight motion sensor porch light, but no idea haw to feed that down thru the RV.

Deano56 wrote:
that is one nice floor in that garage, too nice to work on

Deano56,
I surely thank you for that nice comment on our garage floor. The house is brand new and, prior to our moving in, I contracted a professional company to do that floor. It's an epoxy based floor with black and white specs on a gray floor. In the RV side, I had them install, two, 2" stripes, the same distance from each side of the RV garage so that, the coach sits dead center, each and every time I back it in. The stripes are under the two clear coats so, they will never wear off.

I've dropped some pretty darn heavy objects on that floor and, it's not chipped yet. I mop it once a week with that product called Fabuloso and warm water and, that floor remains ultra clean and very easy to lay down on for working under close quarters situations. If ever I spill anything on it, no matter what it is, it just wipes right up and there's no staining what so ever.
Scott

If you go to Walmart and look in the automotive section, they have a pack of two 12" long white LED lights with 3M adhesive. They're perfect of the step(s) and cost about $11.00. Just wire them into the yellow light under the step. They're very bright so aim them down, not out or they'll blind you when sitting outside the coach.

that is one nice floor in that garage, too nice to work on

We use the solar type. Easy install. Not super bright but you can definitely see the steps.

JimM68 wrote:
I want to put lights under my steps (Kwikee) before I put them back together. Originally, there is this little hockey puck thing that is way up under the RV and basically does nothing but cast a glow on this little circle of dirt.

I'm thinking about truck clearance type lights, I can use counter suck screws to attach them before I put on the new antiskid.

Wondering what to wire them to?
Not sure when the existing light is on, seems to be all the time? I'll hafta study on it. I'd love to wire it to my motion detector starlight porch light, but have yet to figure out how to fish the wire down thru the wall? Tips on this would be welcome too.

What have you done to provide proper step lighting?

Hey Jim,
Well, you're in luck. I just finished one of my little projects. Originally I, like you, like everyone else with a Kwikee step light, had the little "puck" orange light. That thing is junk. So, one day while at a auto parts store, I came upon some nice little LEDs that, I knew were going to be better than what was under there. So, I bought them and, removed the junk-puck and, installed the two LEDs, one on each side under there.

That turned out to be seriously brighter than what was there. So, I lived with that for a while. Then, I got an even better idea. I purchased some LED STRIP lights off ebay and started goofing around with them just to see the effects on certain applications. I was having a ball with those. And, talk about a cheap project. It just about don't get any cheaper than this.

The first part of this project was simple. I cut a section of those strip lights and, stuck it to the bottom side of the body, just above the first/highest step. And, I tied it into the wires that trigger the new LEDs that I installed a while ago. Now, that made a serious difference in illuminating the steps. Whereas, the LEDs that I had installed really only illuminated the underside of the step area, to the rear of the steps. Good but, not great.

While that did a nice job of illumination of the top step, I wanted still more. So, I purchased some other, MUCH BRIGHTER LED light strip and, started goofing around with it.

What I did with a section of that was, glued it to the front/underside lip of the bottom step. Then, I glued the rest of that strip, to a rail, under the compartment doors, on the passenger side of the coach. That section is 15' long. I then wired in a separate switch to control both the long section under the compartments and the new little one, on the bottom side of the step.

WOW!!!! You should see the underside of the coach and, the front step now!! It's so COOL! I now have several choices for illumination on that side of the coach, in the evening hours. I have an LED strip just under the awning mounting point on the upper part of the body which, is seriously bright or, dimmable if you really want "mood" lighting. Or, I have the "Under body strip" and under front step light which, is really a nice effect. Or, I've got an LED porch light which also illuminates the door handle. Or, if I leave the screen door open, it illuminates the orange LEDs under the step and, the LED strip under the body lip, just above the top step.

This stuff was all fun to do and, just about "0" technical issues. I've also done some recent LED under isle lights in the coach too which really turned out well. Below are some photos of how they look. There's one that shows the much brighter LED strip vs the less bright LED strip, while sitting on the floor of the garage. And, one that shows the effects of the under-body lights with the garage lights on and, one with them off. And, you'll figure out the rest.

Oh, and I also goofed around with some under-bed-rail lights of my truck too. That was a kick to get that job done.
Scott

They make SO many solar power lights now IMHO there is no reason to hard wire anything to gain light.

Just walk down the lighting aisle at Lowes or Home Depot and be prepared to be wowed how many option there are now a days.

Rope lights....DH put rope lights up on ours....

I put a pair of LED accent lights..one is on the top step shines out straight across the top of the step the other is on the bottom of the top step and shines down at an angle onto the lower step..Work very well..Too many LED accent light options to recommend one.. LIGHT only comes on when door is open remember.