LED project on Sunday

[sdb1103]

Well I just booked a dry camp outing for the weekend of 9/12. Since its always dark there I have decided to do a LED project. I have ordered some water proof LED flexible strips and a few other things. I plan to put the LED strips under the camper right where the side wall ends to add some light without being blinding. If all goes well and I can figure out a way to do it I will also be running some of the same LED's either on the awning roller or just under the awning where it meets the camper wall tho these will be remote dimming 🙂

so many projects ... so little time .... and money 😞 LOL

[Unit505]

I would have liked to have had the eye hidden, but the lead is only about 6" long. No windows near enough on either end of the strip to do that. I did get rid of the 120v to 12v supply and run 12v direct to the 12v outlet on the wall of the entertainment center so I can run the leds from the battery alone.

[bshpilot]

I was able to run the power lead inside my power awning arm....the factory already had a hole behind the awning arm and i was able to use the same hole....the factory wiring for my power awning is hidden by one of our couches & there is a 12vdc source (as well as 120vac under the couch, I plan to run the awning LED's via 12vdc so i don't have to have shore power or the generator running.

I expect to be able to hide the IR remote sensor "eye" in the window - so everything will be inside & protected from the weather (and invisible). Im able to pick up

[Unit505]

One more on the inside.

Click For Full-Size Image.

[Unit505]

Thought I'd post the pic of the remote sensor and led strip where I ran it into the TT.

Click For Full-Size Image.

[rrev]

I just did the same as unit505 except powering was different. I'll post some pics tonight or tomorrow. Depends on when I get cell signal.

[Unit505]

Sorry for the late response. The led strips are able to be cut or to be tied in series to extend them. They have a rather large plug on each end. What I did was to measure the length of the led strip needed, trimmed at the correct point eliminating the plug on one end. I drill my hole be barely large enough to accommodate the led strip and feed it from the inside of the trailer to the outside. The remaining large plug on the end plugs into the controller and the remote sensor which is on the end of a separate wire was fed outside through the same hole. Very tight fit. I used a syringe full of white uv resistant silicon and filled the hole inside and out. I wanted to have the lighting available without shore power, so I used a 12v adapter plug wired to a cigarette plug and plugged inside the trailer. I can have remote control outside and at bed time, if I chose, I can unplug the 12v power and shut off the lights. I'll take a photo of the install when I return home this weekend and post it. Very clean install IMO. For the step leds, I zip tied my control box to the step mount, ran a 12v adapter wire to 12v under the trailer, secured the wires, siliconed the connections, and spray painted the white control box black to make it disappear from view. Again, I'll get those pics up thus weekend.

[bshpilot]

sdb1103 wrote:
unit505 ... looks awesome. how did you run the wire for the LED up the top? Did you drill into the side of the camper or use the awning arms to snake it down?

I've always been planning to go down my awning arm (i even bought wire/extensions for the LED roll), but SBD1103 gives me an idea....maybe i can go UP and thru the refrigerator vent, and down to pick up the 12v i need.

[sdb1103]

unit505 ... looks awesome. how did you run the wire for the LED up the top? Did you drill into the side of the camper or use the awning arms to snake it down?

[DBTex]

To Unit505, very nice looking install…, your hired! It will make your rig stand out and be the talk of the camp ground or tailgate party. For nighttime use, red color is the way to go because it interferes the least with the human eyes ability to focus in the dark.

[Unit505]

I've got many color options with the rgb leds. Going to try the amber out to see if it will work for a bug light. Gone to work on an 84hr shift and won't be home 'til Friday night. Hoping it will make the monster mosquitos go somewhere else.

[emaav]

Unit505,

They look great, I would do the red for night and the green for Xmas

[Unit505]

Just completed my LED project today with smd 5050 waterproof led strips. I didn't get the latest pics today, but this is from yesterday. These strips do virtually every color including white. This pic shows the step lights with cord attached. I wired them in today direct to a 12v source. I downloaded a smart phone app that lets me control them with the phone.

Click For Full-Size Image.

Click For Full-Size Image.

[bshpilot]

sdb1103 wrote:
My kit is very similar. The multi-color light will look cool. If I had seen that I might have gone that route rather than the soft white.

Once you complete your project please share some pictures. I will do the same.

I've installed some LED light strips in my basement storage bays, i built some storage shelves & found the lighting in my basement was insufficient...the strips give much better coverage than a single incandescent 12v bulb stuck in a corner of the bay.

I also got rid of the rope lighting that was inside at the tow kick around my interior cabinets - the LED lighting has much better coverage.

I've used the multi-color strips before (i have a cheesy ceiling mirror that had rope lights in it)....and i replaced it with the multi-color lights, its still cheesy but now we call it the DISCO light....easy enough to install.

Im hopeful that i can pick up 12vdc close to the awning arm & hide all the wiring (which is white anyway) but i hate to see wires run or hanging anywhere.

[sdb1103]

My kit is very similar. The multi-color light will look cool. If I had seen that I might have gone that route rather than the soft white.

Once you complete your project please share some pictures. I will do the same.

[bshpilot]

sdb1103 wrote:
I was putting the LED strip under the camper (the edge) to add indirect light to the camp sight. I wasn't using it to help see the steps. I currently have a yellow light just behind the steps to provide that lighting. I am also looking into a way to add a LED strip the length of the awning.

I didnt get to start the project this weekend. The wireless controller has not arrived yet and had to help the parents with some stuff at their house. Camping this coming weekend so I think this project will be sidelined for a few weeks.

I've got the same orange light under my steps - it only comes on when the step is activated, I put the red LED lights under the coach/step and put it on a switch so i can leave the lights on or off as if i want.

Im working on a similar project for lighting - i plan to use these (stuck to the coach wall) under the awning protector (so they are "shielded" when the awning is closed).

I've purchased the lights & extensions - but haven't had a chance to start my project yet.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ASHQQKI