Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-02-2019, 11:06 AM   #1
Member
 
JerryE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 32
Awning Tube LED Lights

Has anyone been able to install LED lights into the channel on your awning , I would like to install an RGB light strip in the channel but I am having a hard time finding one that will fit anyone have any ideas ?
JerryE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2019, 11:20 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,288
Quote:
Originally Posted by JerryE View Post
Has anyone been able to install LED lights into the channel on your awning , I would like to install an RGB light strip in the channel but I am having a hard time finding one that will fit anyone have any ideas ?
I see all kinds of problems with anything that is permanently installed. Awning tube rotates how many times while extending and retracting? How will you wire it? What will it do to your awning when rolled inside?

Might be able to get a local upholstery shop to make you a strip of material with the cord sewn in so you can slip it into the channel like regular awning material.

On the part that hangs out of the channel add a bunch of grommets and use them to support an LED "Rope" light, running the power supply along the awning support frame until it reaches a power source. I don't see this as practical for Boondocking, more for campgrounds with electric hookup so at this point you can either plug in to outside power plug or one of the extra plugs on the power post..

When ready to de-camp, unplug, pull strip out of channel with LED rope, and store like Christmas Lights (I always used a bucket).
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)

"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"

2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change)
TitanMike is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2019, 11:43 AM   #3
Member
 
JerryE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 32
I thought about that I was thinking I could just run the wires up the awning arms and plug and unplug before rolling and unrolling , then the wires would not have to roll up and the light strip would just live in the channel , would be a bit of a pain but I loose so much light behind my slide I that I think the benefit of the extra light would be worth it
JerryE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2019, 02:52 PM   #4
Just as confused as you
 
Scrapper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: south central Wisconsin
Posts: 5,108
I have not tried it buy you might a strip with the 3M adhesive tape. Some have a socket on the end to plug the cord into. Run out your awning, put the strip on the awning tube. Unplug the cord when you want to roll in the awning. The LED strips don't get very hot and in a couple of minutes they should be cool enough they won't damage the awning material. Most could be cut to the length you need.
__________________
Richard & Jill
2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS Classic Super Lite
2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4WD All Star Edition
Camping since 1989, Seasonal since 2000.
Car Shredder Op/Tech, Scrap Metal Recycling - retired
Scrapper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2019, 03:01 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
CincyGus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 878
https://www.amazon.com/Carefree-SR01.../dp/B019QGPTMM
__________________
2020 Chevrolet 2500 LTZ, 2019 Forest River Wolfpack 23Pack15, 2014 EZGO Golf Cart.
CincyGus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2019, 03:05 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
robbiels7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New port Richey FL
Posts: 1,464
Quote:
Originally Posted by JerryE View Post
Has anyone been able to install LED lights into the channel on your awning , I would like to install an RGB light strip in the channel but I am having a hard time finding one that will fit anyone have any ideas ?
I did not do the awning but I did do the under belly. I tapped in to the light switch to the steps. Click image for larger version

Name:	20190504_204206.jpeg
Views:	189
Size:	31.5 KB
ID:	206202Click image for larger version

Name:	20190504_204232.jpeg
Views:	185
Size:	28.5 KB
ID:	206203
robbiels7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2019, 12:43 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Eastern Pa
Posts: 134
Awning LED strip

We have factory installed LED strip in the awning. Don't know how they handle the rotation for the electrical connection, but we like the quality of light it puts out. HOWEVER, after two years about a half dozen LED';s have gone out.. Don't know how I'm going to resolve that if it gets worse.
jjuscg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2019, 03:29 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 182
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjuscg View Post
We have factory installed LED strip in the awning. Don't know how they handle the rotation for the electrical connection, but we like the quality of light it puts out. HOWEVER, after two years about a half dozen LED';s have gone out.. Don't know how I'm going to resolve that if it gets worse.
I'm having the same thing on our Sunseeker awning. Haven't looked very closely at it as of yet, but RGB as well as white LED strips are widely available cheaply, with rainproof (encapsulated in clear silicone-like material) construction. I'm sure I can figure out how to install it after an examination. You can cut these strips to about any length, roughly every 3 inches. they are identified as to where to cut with scissors.
Photo Lab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2019, 04:00 PM   #9
Pickin', Campin', Mason
 
5picker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
Here's a YouTube video where someone installed them in the roller slot.
They have to be plugged/unplugged each extension/retraction.

They do make roller slot specific lights. They are different than the adhesive type strips that are widely available. Still need removed or unplugged.

I've also seen a track that slides in the slot that holds the ever popular "Rope" lights.

__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA

Days Camped '19=118 '20=116 '21=123 '22=134 '23=118 '24=86
5picker is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2019, 05:29 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Central Oklahoma
Posts: 339
Our WindSport came with lights like you want. We never use them, because we seldom use the awning. I have thought about putting a strip just under the awning like our Coachman came with. We used them a lot.

Frank
__________________
Frank & Brenda
Thor Windsport 27K TST 507 Tire Monitors
2012 Jeep Liberty Limited Jet 4X4, Hopkins TOWD light wiring, Blue Ox baseplate W/Ready Brute Hercules tow bar and Ready brakes
FrankMor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2019, 08:54 AM   #11
Member
 
JerryE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 32
Just an update if anyone following this thread I did buy the following RGB lights from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They slid right into the slot like I hoped they would have ,
I ran the cable through the awning arms alongside the power cable for the awning , for now , I will have to plug and unplug when I extend or retract the awning , I am going to look at options down the road of trying to run the cable with the fabric to avoid this step but for now its whaty I have to work with .

They are wired in a different pattern then the typical RGB lights so when I made up the cable to go from the strip to the control box I had to flip a couple wires to get them to match what the controller was doing , but after that they work good in the daylight , I will post a picture when it is dark out ,

Thanks for all the replies and input .
JerryE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2019, 09:06 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Brendon37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 312
Quote:
Originally Posted by robbiels7 View Post
I did not do the awning but I did do the under belly. I tapped in to the light switch to the steps. Attachment 206202Attachment 206203
Looks good buddy!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	lights1.jpg
Views:	88
Size:	202.6 KB
ID:	206625   Click image for larger version

Name:	lights2.jpg
Views:	79
Size:	176.2 KB
ID:	206626   Click image for larger version

Name:	lights3.jpg
Views:	70
Size:	167.5 KB
ID:	206627  
__________________

2006 F-250 CCSB 4x4 6.0 Powerstroke
Air Lift 5k bags w/ onboard compressor
2022 Keystone Raptor 351
B&W Companion
Brendon37 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2019, 09:19 AM   #13
Kasual Kamper
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fairfield County CT
Posts: 1,297
Quote:
Originally Posted by JerryE View Post
Just an update if anyone following this thread I did buy the following RGB lights from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It says they're battery operated?
__________________
Current: 2013 Flagstaff MicroLite 21DS
Past: 2000 Fleetwood Mallard 19N
TV: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder SL 4x4
JayArras is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2019, 09:21 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
robbiels7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New port Richey FL
Posts: 1,464
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendon37 View Post
Looks good buddy!
Thanks back at you! Cheap and for the most part very easy up grade. I did the same on my golf cart.
robbiels7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2019, 09:45 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
Lights of any sort.....Great Bug Attractors....if you love bugs. Blue light seems to be one of the favorite colors. IMHO.
TheWolfPaq82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2019, 09:48 AM   #16
Member
 
JerryE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 32
They are powered 12v battery for the trailer power ,
JerryE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2019, 09:50 AM   #17
Member
 
JerryE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 32
WolfPaq, I agree I am here in Minnesota where the mosquitoes are so big they will carry you away , but I have found with the colored lights they are not as bad as if I was running the clear lights .
JerryE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2019, 09:53 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
My Blue lights under the awning seem to be "WELCOME" sign for anything with wings.
TheWolfPaq82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2019, 10:00 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
robbiels7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New port Richey FL
Posts: 1,464
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82 View Post
Lights of any sort.....Great Bug Attractors....if you love bugs. Blue light seems to be one of the favorite colors. IMHO.
That's why we keep a bug zapper on the other end of the camper.
robbiels7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2019, 10:33 PM   #20
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 59
Our 2016 Surveyor has lights on the awning tube. After a little over a year they quit working and I had to replace the light strip. The awning is a Dometic 9100. The power for lights comes up the back arm.
RnRushin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
awning, led, light

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:59 PM.