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.

Neat idea, wonder why the manufacturers didn't think of it ? Thanks for sharing and happy camping

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.

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

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.

Exterior light indicator | Good Sam Community

rbrand
Explorer
Jun 04, 2017
Nice Idea.
nineoaks2004
Explorer
Jun 04, 2017
Neat idea, wonder why the manufacturers didn't think of it ? Thanks for sharing and happy camping
Lynnmor
Explorer
Jun 04, 2017
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.
Z-Peller
Explorer
Jun 04, 2017
Details on wiring please. Since LED's are on switched hot wire did you have to bring ground wire from somewhere to LED's?
nadkaw1957
Explorer
Jun 04, 2017
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.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Jun 04, 2017
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.
jake2250
Explorer
Jun 05, 2017
Very simple mod! great idea! And hardly and draw. My next mod!
Z-Peller
Explorer
Jun 05, 2017
"nadkaw1957" and "Lynnmor"......thanks for your replies. Doing the same thing with my inverter on/off switch.
STBRetired
Explorer
Jun 05, 2017
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.
Harvey51
Explorer
Jun 05, 2017
Twelve volts across one LED would just burn it out. Must have been a "bulb" with 6 leds in series.

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