How to access the LED strip over my slide out

[DarkSkySeeker]

There is an LED strip tucked over and behind the top of my slide out trim.



I really like it for lighting in my TT, but half of it just stopped working. I can not figure out how to access it to troubleshoot. The space between the top of the slide trim and the ceiling is only about 4 inches. I would need a mirror just to see in there.

Any ideas?

[schlep1967]

DarkSkySeeker wrote:

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

Do you think there are fasteners under those end caps?

I don't know. My slide trim doesn't have end caps. What I can see on mine is that they used something like a brad nailer to attach the trim and then used a wood putty to fill the holes. You may have to pry it off carefully which would most likely pull the nails through the back. And then use a brad nailer with nails that have brown painted heads on them to put it back up.

[shastagary]

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.

[ScottG]

Deleted.

[DarkSkySeeker]

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

Do you think there are fasteners under those end caps?

[Johno02]

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.

[Johno02]

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

[Johno02]

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.

[DarkSkySeeker]

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"?

[Johno02]

Here is a picture of ours after the strip was installed



And here is what I used:
Led Light Strip

[Johno02]

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.

[schlep1967]

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.