2013 CC 36RE - how to get cable inside for LED lights

[N9ID]

I am hoping someone else on the forum has done this. We want to put LED lights on the side of the 36RE, under the awning, just like so many others have done. I want the installation to look professional, so I don't want wires hanging loose or anything like that. I was hoping to bring the power cable in through the hole where the awning motor power lead enters into the wall. However, when I try to use a wire snake to find a path for the cable, I run into the aluminum framing in the wall. I cannot determine where the awning power line runs.

Has anyone put an LED light strip on the outside of the 36RE, and if so, how did you get the cable from the LED strip to a power source? Where did you connect to 12V or did you use the 115VAC adapter? Where did you mount the control box?

Note to Turbs and Youroo: Your idea of coming straight down from the hole where the awning power cables enters the wall was a good idea, but if I snake any direction from the hole, I go about 3" and hit the aluminum framing. I even tried angling in to see if there was a hole horizontally through the panel, and found nothing. Thanks for taking a look while we were in Amana.

Any help would be appreciated. I would love to get this done before we put the rig in storage farther south.

Thanks,
Mike

[Wayne & Kimmy]

I don't have the 36RE but the 36CKTS, and badly wanted to do the same thing, running in where the awning motor wiring went into the coach. Not being very handy, I never could figure out where the wiring went either, and I abandoned the idea eventually.

I ended up getting 2 of the 15.4 foot strips ant tying them together, and ran starting at the inside base of the awning tube, across the awning (tied in in the middle) and down the other awning tube. I have a little bit of exposed wire right now, but I ran the wire across to the slide out tubing, down to the fender, tucked in behind that and tied into the step light. That way I can turn me on/off by use of the toggle switch inside, and just use remote to change colors, etc if desired. Used the remaining strip under the steps, tied into the same step light, makes a world of difference.

I don't have a picture at present but could upload one later. The pics I have don't show the wiring, just the lights in action!

Wayne

[N9ID]

Wayne, I'll look at what you have done. Thanks for letting me know how you dealtwith this issue. It is frustrating that it is so difficult to get this done.

Mike

[Wayne & Kimmy]

Hi Mike, see below for at least a partial view of what it looks like. At this time I was still running electrical to it from the outside plug, and had wires running under the steps to be out of the way. But you can clearly see the black slide tubing on the left. I was going to cut a small slit to run the wire into it and feed it down the hollow tube, but for now just taped it up there. Then behind fender and spliced into step light wiring. This photo doesn't show the strip I installed under the steps as I hadn't done it yet, nor does it give the view with awning out, but you get the idea. I'm having trouble uploading new pics for some reason.

I spent countless hours in the "My solution to awning lights" thread to get ideas, advice, visuals, etc as I considered this project. You may want to check there also as I know some were able to feed thru that awning motor area, I just can't recall if any were CC or not. Doing it the way I did worked very well for me anyhow, at least so far!

PM me if you like and we can exchange numbers to discuss further. I will be glad to offer any help I can, send some more/better pics, etc.
Wayne

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...9&d=1404873299

[Wayne & Kimmy]

Here is a pic of the steps with the light strip, and another with awning out and angle view showing awning strip along with step strip. Seems like the pic upload process is working from the FRF mobile app, at least right this moment.







Wayne from FRF app

[bt_1959]

Wayne how did you get the wire to the step light? Do have a picture of your cable? I have a 38 ckts and want to do the something. Also I take it that you did not use the power cable that came with the led light kit.

[Wayne & Kimmy]

Here is the long cable I used as well as link to Amazon where I bought it:
Amerlight TM Extension Cable Wire With 4Pin Plug for LED Strip Ribbon (2.5M)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was gonna run this wire down the awning tube channel when I planned on going into the coach via the awning motor wire, but had to give up on that idea. I ended up with 2 sets of lights (the first was not working correctly so I had a 2nd shipped, then after thinking further decided Order another, use both and run down each awning tube with lights). So now this is the wire that runs down the slide tubing, behind fender, and toward the porch light.

I also bought HitLights Luma10 Series (SMD 5050) Multicolor Strip-to-Strip Gapless Connector for LED Light Strips (HitLights Luma10 Series (SMD 5050) Multicolor Strip-to-Strip Gapless Connector for LED Light Strips - String Lights - Amazon.com) to tie the 2 light strips together mid awning. I used Ledwholesalers 4 Pin Splitter for One to Two LED RGB Color Changing Strips, 2355
(Ledwholesalers 4 Pin Splitter for One to Two LED RGB Color Changing Strips, 2355 - Led Lights - Amazon.com) to tie in the remaining strip (had a few feet left over after cutting) together to the long wire and to the remote signal box to the step light wiring.

By tying in to the step light, I did not have to use the A/C power adapter. I cut the wire from one of the AC adapters just beyond the round plug end (another advantage of buying 2 - if I messed up I'd still have one that works!) and wired it directly to step light wiring.

I did initially use the AC power adapter and outside plug until I had time and courage to take the next step. I tucked the big adapter in behind the steps when in use to keep off ground and out of elements, and the cord behind steps to power outlet on other side of steps.

Let me know if any questions. I was pretty excited to do mine, so more than willing to help others.

Wayne

[torben]

Here is what I did

[Sterlingsilver]

We did an LED under awning light strip on our 38CK. I ran the power lead down the arms of the awning mechanism right next to the door. This is the opposite side of where the awning motor wires run but the wire runs the same way. If you will notice how the factory ran the awning power, you can do the same. You can buy the kit of plastic shields that are the same as those used for the awning power. They snap into the U-channel struts and look very professional. Mine came from Dyer. They had to special order the set but they are not expensive.

I ran the wire into the wall just like the awning power. The hole came out near the door and allowed me to connect to the power wiring for the inside door light at the wall switch. I removed the wall switch temporarily and stuffed the remote into the wall insulation. Everything looks great and works just fine.