LED Lighting under awning
I have a Carefree Eclispe Power Awning and want to install LED lighting. I have purchased this strip http://www.ebay.com/itm/170972259352?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 to install....
Forum Discussion
I installed two horizontal 150/5050 RGB color mixing strips on a 2000 Thor GT-26 (between the doors) under the awning. I used a strong double sided tape (from a fabric store no less) since the original 3M sticky tape on these strips were not adequate. When the awning is stored for travel, it covers the LED strips almost completely. When the awning is extended (from 2" to full travel), the LED's did a nice soft lighting effect. Another nice feature is that the lights are not directly visible into a neighboring RV, only the soft glow on the ground. Make sure you buy high quality outdoor vehicle ready weatherproof LED strips, such as the High Power RGB LED Weatherproof Flexible Light Strips - WFLS-RGB from superbrightleds.com. I love those and you can get them two and four led wide. The cheap strips on amazon.com do not work well and their color consistency is poor (trust me on that). They also have some nice controllers.
But I used a RF remote high output RGB controller (Genssi Music Sound Sensitive Wireless RGB LED Strip Light Controller 144W from amazon.com) that allowed color changing, fixed colors or even sound activated effects. It had a nice 256 step dimming feature for a smooth and very adjustable brightness. And being RF I use the remote outside when lounging on warm summer nights. There is a controller that have a touch color wheel you can slide your finger around to select both intensity and color (TORCHSTAR Touch Panel LED RGB Controller w/ Rainbow Color Ring DC12V-24V 12A/3 Channels-Black Version TR08) on amazon). Both these controllers can run up to two 150/5050 5Meter strips.
I did drill a small hole at the end of the strings through the wall and into the back of a kitchen cabinet, then ran hidden 12V power wires to the overhead light (between the ceiling and the roof). That was the hardest part actually, I used a electricians snake. Hooking up the controller was quick and easy since the controller had screw connectors.
Some mentioned that glueing RGB strips might ruin the trailer exterior paint when removed. Probably true but I plan on replacing the strips should they fail anyway. I sealed the small hole for the wires with silicon, you can barely see it. It stays with the RV.
If anything, it is a nice effect to have these lights, especially aqua or light purple colors. No bugs seem to be attracted to them. My neighbors comment all the time how nice they are, and camping with them is great.
But I used a RF remote high output RGB controller (Genssi Music Sound Sensitive Wireless RGB LED Strip Light Controller 144W from amazon.com) that allowed color changing, fixed colors or even sound activated effects. It had a nice 256 step dimming feature for a smooth and very adjustable brightness. And being RF I use the remote outside when lounging on warm summer nights. There is a controller that have a touch color wheel you can slide your finger around to select both intensity and color (TORCHSTAR Touch Panel LED RGB Controller w/ Rainbow Color Ring DC12V-24V 12A/3 Channels-Black Version TR08) on amazon). Both these controllers can run up to two 150/5050 5Meter strips.
I did drill a small hole at the end of the strings through the wall and into the back of a kitchen cabinet, then ran hidden 12V power wires to the overhead light (between the ceiling and the roof). That was the hardest part actually, I used a electricians snake. Hooking up the controller was quick and easy since the controller had screw connectors.
Some mentioned that glueing RGB strips might ruin the trailer exterior paint when removed. Probably true but I plan on replacing the strips should they fail anyway. I sealed the small hole for the wires with silicon, you can barely see it. It stays with the RV.
If anything, it is a nice effect to have these lights, especially aqua or light purple colors. No bugs seem to be attracted to them. My neighbors comment all the time how nice they are, and camping with them is great.
