Exterior light indicator

[nadkaw1957]

If you're anything like me, you've gotten up in the morning to discover that you've left your exterior light(s) on all night. And while you might not worry about battery drain with such a small draw, it can be annoying to neighbors.

I had some 12V leds in various colors laying around, so I wired them to the switched side of my light switches and voila.

[JTLance]

Lance uses these....a factory look and cheap.

http://www.americanrvcompany.com/JR-Products-12045-Single-Replacement-Lighted-On-or-Off-Switch-Campe...

[RollandB]

A few years back we got a knock about 1130pm, had mistakenly left our bright (seldom used) outside light on. The next week I replaced all the outside light switches with illuminated ones once they were turned on.

Nice way you did your mod.

[filrupmark]

I need that. The last time we were out my wife said, Did you know the outside light was on last night ? Hmmm, I guess I forgot. Imagine that !

[nadkaw1957]

beemerphile1 wrote:
My trailer came with lighted switches for all the outside lights. I still forget and leave them on occasionally in spite of the glowing red switch.

That's the thing I like about these LED's - they're bright enough that they light up the opposite wall at night if I leave them on... pretty hard to miss. 😄

[nadkaw1957]

Harvey51 wrote:
Twelve volts across one LED would just burn it out. Must have been a "bulb" with 6 leds in series.

It's an LED manufactured for 12V. It has a resistor wired in series. These That's why I stated "12V"

[beemerphile1]

My trailer came with lighted switches for all the outside lights. I still forget and leave them on occasionally in spite of the glowing red switch.

[Harvey51]

Twelve volts across one LED would just burn it out. Must have been a "bulb" with 6 leds in series.

[STBRetired]

Nice mod. Will suggest that to a couple of friends who have a tendency to leave their porch light on all night and all the next day.

[Z-Peller]

"nadkaw1957" and "Lynnmor"......thanks for your replies. Doing the same thing with my inverter on/off switch.

[jake2250]

Very simple mod! great idea! And hardly and draw. My next mod!

[Lynnmor]

Z-Peller wrote:
Details on wiring please. Since LED's are on switched hot wire did you have to bring ground wire from somewhere to LED's?

Yes, you do.

[nadkaw1957]

Z-Peller wrote:
Details on wiring please. Since LED's are on switched hot wire did you have to bring ground wire from somewhere to LED's?

In my case, both hot and ground were there behind the panel for all the lights. I just tapped into the ground for the cathode side of the LED and attached the anode side to the switched connector on the appropriate switch.

[Z-Peller]

Details on wiring please. Since LED's are on switched hot wire did you have to bring ground wire from somewhere to LED's?

[Lynnmor]

nineoaks2004 wrote:
Neat idea, wonder why the manufacturers didn't think of it ?

It might cost a nickle?

Another idea is to install lighted switches. I replaced the water heater switches with lighted ones so that I can see at a glance if they are on.