Lighting design question

I converted a 6x12 ft cargo trailer to a camper. I used all LED lighting much like you have pictured. I used 6 spaced evenly down the center. All were 2 bulb fixtures with their own on off switches. I wired all of them to a single wall switch by the door. When they were all on my wife referred to it as stadium lighting because it was so bright. But she came to appreciate the ability to have extra light when needed and turn off what she didn't want. So my advise would be to put a light anywhere and everywhere you think you my need it. Cost of fixtures is small compared to trying to wire one in later when you find you missed a spot. By the way I could camp for a weekend using whatever lights I wanted using only a 12v SLA battery from a alarm system. Same one I use in my Vexilar for ice fishing.

The audio connector is the product designers idea of a joke, it is the power connector for the fixture. The joke is the connector shorts itself on insertion and removal.

westend wrote:
Do you want a combination fan-light or are you interested in light fixtures? I'd suggest to keep things simple, there will be much less troubleshooting or failures down the road.

FWIW, I built my own fixtures because I wanted simplicity and the most overhead clearance possible. I used a card frame with a glass "lense" and use LED panels that are inexpensive. Some of my fixtures are switched at the fixture by installing a mini toggle. Others are switched at the wall. Total cost for each fixture and LED was under $4.

If you look at my floor plan and lighting plan, you'll notice that I have two 24"x72" bench/beds, I thought of adding some sort of reading light where the head would rest, while searching on the net I stumble upon these light/fan combos, I just wanted to know if they're practical as a reading light and keeping the area cool without draining the batteries, that's all.

Do you want a combination fan-light or are you interested in light fixtures? I'd suggest to keep things simple, there will be much less troubleshooting or failures down the road.

FWIW, I built my own fixtures because I wanted simplicity and the most overhead clearance possible. I used a card frame with a glass "lense" and use LED panels that are inexpensive. Some of my fixtures are switched at the fixture by installing a mini toggle. Others are switched at the wall. Total cost for each fixture and LED was under $4.

Thanks for the info you guys.

What do you guys think about these lights? for my two main lights (kitchen and dining)


They sell a smaller white version I could use in the bathroom.
I could use a led strip under the cabinets in the kitchen.
I'm still not sure on which model I should get for the two beds, some sort of reading lights.
What's the deal with these light/fan combo thing? I probably wont have AC at first so if it gets hot at night? I don't understand what that minijack is for? and that bracket on top?

My shower light is very much right above the handheld shower:



A headlamp would work to some extent for getting stuff out of storage compartments, but isn't as convenient as lights in the compartments themselves IMHO. Some reasonable restraint could be used; if the only thing in a compartment is the shore power cord, you probably don't need a light there to find the cord. Likewise, there's little need to study the propane tank in the middle of the night generally. It's more handy for spaces that need more extensive scrutiny, such as general storage compartments.

I would not suggest a 120V light as the main outside light when there are plenty of 12V lights that work fine, since using the light would require either being connected to shore power, running the generator, or operating an inverter. I would definitely not suggest wiring up a 120V outlet with 12V power as you or someone else will get mighty confused at some point.

Both. I like how my little trailer is wired. I can turn on a group of lights all at once, and then be able to turn them off individually as needed.

Do you guys recommend light fixtures with a switch on it or a switch on the wall?

DrewE wrote:
My general thoughts:

1. Spotlights/floodlights on the outside are probably excessive, though you know your usage better than I do. I think (but I do not know for sure) that you would be legal on the road in the US if you put opaque covers over the lights while driving.

2. I would not attach the only entry side outside light directly to the awning, mainly because it means you have no "porch light" if you do not have the awning extended. I'd suggest some sort of a light attached to the side of the van, either instead of or in addition to the awning light. If nothing else, you might like some light when deploying the awning. Having some low-power light to act as a sort of night light/porch light if you go out wandering in the dark is a great convenience, too; just enough to see where the door is, and maybe where a rock or hole right in front of the door is.

3. There's no great shock hazard from 12V lights, and so far as I know there are not any GFCIs available, certainly not as common standard parts. The resistance of the human body is sufficient to generally prevent a dangerous current from flowing from a 12V source. (With wet skin, the human body resistance does go down a lot, but even so 12V is no more than uncomfortable absent extreme circumstances.) In my class C, the light in the shower is identical to the other ceiling lights throughout the motorhome and they are not any sort of waterproof or damp location fixture so far as I can make out.

4. Consider putting a light in your outside accessible storage compartment(s). They are mighty handy. A simple stick-on battery powered light would probably be perfectly acceptable since it shouldn't be on for hours and hours at a time, and would need no extra wiring.

Would a good headband type light work for all those plumbing/electrical/gas hatches here and there? or else my campervan is going to look like a Christmas tree lol

So your bathroom light is above the shower? mine would be directly in the shower, I was just nervous that I might splash it with the hand held shower head but if you say there's no problem, I'm going to take your word for it.

I think I'll have to find some other type of lighting the exterior led strip, take a look, I don't see any space where I could fit it in.

How bout plugging a led floodlight into the 110v outlet, with some sort of clamp so I could hook it up to the awning when it's out or the roof rack when it's closed?

I red alot of posts saying to keep the light away from the door (insect wise)

GordonThree wrote:

I doubt it. Does Quebec Province have any sort of vehicle road-worthiness inspections? They'd be the ones to give you trouble.

American cops will only notice your white flood lights if you're using them improperly, that is, on the highway as a nuisance to other drivers.

I have two remote 30w LED floodlights on the back of my trailer and one on the front, and haven't had trouble with the law in 30,000 miles, in US or Canada (since I've put the lights on.) I thought about wiring them into the reverse switch, but two things stopped me. Number one, the reverse switch wire in my trailer's 7-way cable is cut off flush (by manuf no doubt), it would be extensive surgery to restore it to functional status. Number two, more importantly, often times backing up at night, I want to see what's behind me even if I'm driving forward.

I also doubt I would get into trouble if they're always off (on the road) but I will check with Quebec's version of the DMV, my spotlights/floodlights are already installed on the roof rack but not wired yet.

I also want to wire my rear view camera so I can see behind me driving forward.

I planned on having some sort of switchboard near the dash with all the switches.