How to access the LED strip over my slide out

Run the slide in partway and see what you can get from the ends. Other option is to remove the board/trim across the front.

I installed a led strip over our slide in exactly the same location. The one I used had sticky tape on the back, so I just stuck it in place. You can just reach over the top and feel it. Mine, being one of the cheaper (16 foot or 5 meter) strips from ebay also has a problem with about half of it going off on occasion. I just reach over and rub it where it goes dark, and usually it will come back on. So the problem is just a bad spot in the strip, and a bit of pressure seems to fix the connection for a while. You probably have the same type of problem, the best fix is to pull it off and reinstall a better quality strip, but it will cost a lot more. Apparently temperature changes make it expand and contract, which breaks the connections. But I love the indirect light it gives.

Here is a picture of ours after the strip was installed



And here is what I used:
Led Light Strip

Johno02 wrote:
...the best fix is to pull it off and reinstall a better quality strip

How did you make the electrical connection "in the blind"?

Be sure and get the strips that are 12V. that way, no 110v power is required, and it can be wired directly into any 12V source. Attached wire to strip before installation. Then just pressed the strip in place with the sticky on it. Wire attached at front corner. wire runs down the front, on the back of the wood, attached with wire clips. Ours is a motor home, so I was going to get 12V from under dash somewhere, but found a unused, fused, 12V power wire under the drivers seat for a power seat. I do not have the power seat, so I just used that for power to the lights. Installed an in-line switch in the cord about halfway up the slide, where it is easy to get to. Left enough slack in the wire for the slide to come in and out without binding. slack wire hides under driver seat.

Here is the same idea in the bedroom slide, except it is on a shelf I installed above the head of the bed. Notice connecting wire down to the light on the left side. I tapped power from the light, and installed another switch in the lamp base. Walls are white, so I covered the wire up to the shelf with white duct tape, and it is almost invisible unless you are looking for it.

Left over section of light strip.


Lighted shelf

This was an easy mod, but I just wanted to note for anyone thinking about doing the same. The light strip needs to be on the wood strip rather than on the top of the slide itself.. If you mount with the strip facing up on the top of the slide, then the wood moulding creates a shadow on the ceiling with a sharp cutoff line. Mounted facing the wall, on the backside of the wood, the light bounces off the wall and lights more evenly as can be seen.

schlep1967 wrote:
Other option is to remove the board/trim across the front.

Do you think there are fasteners under those end caps?

Deleted.

use a smart phone to make a video of the spot where the led's stop lighting and look for a broken connection on the strip.
you may be able to solder a jumper wire at the bad connection spot by pulling enough of the strip loose to hang it over the edge and see the bad spot.
otherwise it's more than likely easier to replace the whole strip.