Led Dimmer Switch for Overhead lights

[catellier]

I have 2015 Georgetown 378. It has a basic on/ of switch that controls the overhead lights. Want to replace it with a dimmer switch. Any recommendations or success.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by catellier

I have 2015 Georgetown 378. It has a basic on/ of switch that controls the overhead lights. Want to replace it with a dimmer switch. Any recommendations or success.

Some 12 volt LED light can not be dimmed.
Hopefully someone will be able to tell you more.

[Mickeystamper]

Catellier,
Several of us 378 owners installed lighting over the microwave to help with lighting over the stove. It is sad that with the 378 overhead light is either all or nothing and if a dimmer can be safely installed, it would be a good addition. Keep us informed how it works out.

[wrapperman]

Look on either Amazon or eBay.
Search 12 volt LED dimmer.
Just make sure it is for LED's and that it can handle the amperage. (Watts)
It needs to be PWM type of dimmer.
I will be installing one next month.

[Wa11y757]

I don't know what kind of light fixture you have in your unit, but my led ceiling lights were as bright as the sun. I took some static cling window tint that I had left over from doing the windows, and cut a couple of pieces to put I'm my light covers. Now two of them are way dimmer than the rest if them. We use them when watching TV or even as night light.

[ramair]

We added 120v rope lighting above both our slide outs and installed in a wood trim and we use this while watching tv and such, Also did a custom wood head liner. Works great

[pribbens]

Originally Posted by wrapperman

Look on either Amazon or eBay.
Search 12 volt LED dimmer.
Just make sure it is for LED's and that it can handle the amperage. (Watts)
It needs to be PWM type of dimmer.
I will be installing one next month.

For my MBS I'm looking at this one
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AY6NUJW/...GT1GJBCQ&psc=1
As stated, the LED's must be able to be dimmed, especially 115VAC, but I'm somewhat reluctant to put this PWM dimmer on the 12V LEDs---at 12VDC I'm suspecting that all the parts are basically passive, a resistor and a string of LEDS to make a 12VDC LED--this is the typical LED Rope light configuration. The MBS are individual lamps--if there are active parts I could ruin all of them. I may pull all the lamps but one and make a test, but I'll do that one of these months, if not one else responds.

Anyone else care to chime in here with the voice experience?

[PenJoe]

LED lights, be it AC or DC must be marked "dimmable". The dimmer switch must also be LED specific. However, incandescent lights will dim with an LED specific dimmer.

[pmsherman]

I replaced all of the overhead light bulbs in my 2011 Georgetown 327DS with bulk purchased 48 bulb LED panels that fit in the fixtures. There panels have an absolute maximum voltage rating of 12V because they get very hot at higher voltages. These inexpensive panels also have no regulators on the circuit boards. I added a voltage regulator to each fixture ($1.25 each - another bulk purchase) to limit the voltage which makes the lights run cool. I could also easily install a single regulator at the switch to dim all of the lights or modify the regulators in the fixtures to allow individual adjustment.

Phil

[pribbens]

Hi Phil,
Sounds interesting.
Would you post a link to your panels and voltage regulators?
Thanks

[catellier]

It appears that for dimmer switch to work at the on/ off switch, you need to know the wiring diagram of the switch. The main power to all the lights must come through that switch. I have request from Forest River an answer to that question but I have not received a reply. JR Products make a dimmer switch that will work if all the power to lights is directed through that switch.

[pribbens]

Thanks for the tip.
Yes, assuming LED lamps are dimmable, then
Robot Check
is rated at 12 volts and 15 amps, I presume the 12 VDC is nominal so okay for car-rv use. Some 50 watt equivalence LEDs I have are rated at 6.5 watts, that is about a half an amp per bulb. So 15 amps should give a lot of headroom even for 100 watts (at 1 amp per bulb), I believe my MBS has, at most 6 lamps per switch.
Black, Brown about $51 prime and white $68.11 prime....
if you have the space to mount this larger switch....
until this site finishes the check, search amazon for
JR Products 12065 White Dimmer On/Off Switch with Bezel

[wrapperman]

Pribbems, that switch is not for LED's. Please do not use it for such!

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by catellier

It appears that for dimmer switch to work at the on/ off switch, you need to know the wiring diagram of the switch. The main power to all the lights must come through that switch. I have request from Forest River an answer to that question but I have not received a reply. JR Products make a dimmer switch that will work if all the power to lights is directed through that switch.

When you say "main power" does that mean both Hi (+12V) & Lo (ground)?

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by bubbles

When you say "main power" does that mean both Hi (+12V) & Lo (ground)?

Unfortunately the answer to that is yes. The inexpensive dimmer switches require both the negative and positive leads to the LED. Most RV installations do not expose that.

[pribbens]

Originally Posted by pribbens

Thanks for the tip.
Yes, assuming LED lamps are dimmable, then
Robot Check
is rated at 12 volts and 15 amps, I presume the 12 VDC is nominal so okay for car-rv use. Some 50 watt equivalence LEDs I have are rated at 6.5 watts, that is about a half an amp per bulb. So 15 amps should give a lot of headroom even for 100 watts (at 1 amp per bulb), I believe my MBS has, at most 6 lamps per switch.
Black, Brown about $51 prime and white $68.11 prime....
if you have the space to mount this larger switch....
until this site finishes the check, search amazon for
JR Products 12065 White Dimmer On/Off Switch with Bezel

Not rated for LED USE! right there in the specifications, some tried, and got bad results, others accepted the poor performance.

Thanks to wrapperman
for pointing this out.

[PenJoe]

Originally Posted by wrapperman

Pribbems, that switch is not for LED's. Please do not use it for such!

Good catch!! An LED dimmer will work with incandescent lights. An incandescent dimmer will not work with LED lights. The LED lights also have to be designated dimmable.

Also check Amazon for the JR15225 that is LED approved. However, read the review that may require a "high side dimmer". Two reviews indicated even the advertised as approved did not work.

[ScottBrownstein]

Here is a high side dimmer
Found it at 12 Volt Light Dimmer Module12 Volt Light Dimmer Module

Bit pricier and don't know it the switch plate matches what you have.