Replacing a led light strip

[lindahjo]

The led light strip above the slide out needs to be replaced. I have a 2018 forest river Salem 27rkss. I purchased a RGB 4 pin led light strip. The old strip is connected with 2 wires & is operated by a switch near the door. Can anyone help me out as to how to wire it? The new strip has 4 wires, blue, green, white and red.

[Capacitor]

The white is probably the ground and the red, green and blue connect to the positive. That will give you white light. If you want blue, just connect positive to blue, etc.

[lindahjo]

Thank you.
One thing I forgot to mention were the wires that are coming from the wall. One is black and red, the other is red. Which one is the ground?

[cboss]

Originally Posted by lindahjo

Thank you.
One thing I forgot to mention were the wires that are coming from the wall. One is black and red, the other is red. Which one is the ground?

The black is probably ground. Check it with a multimeter just to be sure.

[Flybob]

I would not trust the adhesive on the strip. Get 3M auto trim double sided tape.

[lindahjo]

I made a mistake on the wires coming from the wall. There is a white wire & a white & red wire. Thanks for your help!

[cboss]

Originally Posted by lindahjo

I made a mistake on the wires coming from the wall. There is a white wire & a white & red wire. Thanks for your help!

In that case the white/red is most likely positive and the white is probably ground/negative. Again, CHECK it with a multimeter to be sure.

[lindahjo]

Thanks for your help. Should be good to go!

[D W]

Originally Posted by Capacitor

The white is probably the ground and the red, green and blue connect to the positive. That will give you white light. If you want blue, just connect positive to blue, etc.

Typically, those RGB LED strips have an IR RGB Controller which is fed by 12V and feeds the 4 pin LED strip. A remote control then allows the user to select the desired display and color array.

[Capacitor]

That is correct but I assumed she was after a white light and not a silly light show display. The strip she has with 3wires to pos will create a light that is commonly called cool white, like surgery room white. More than likely the LEDs are 5050 size. I prefer a warm white which are 5030 size and have a two wire connection.

[D W]

Originally Posted by Capacitor

That is correct but I assumed she was after a white light and not a silly light show display. The strip she has with 3wires to pos will create a light that is commonly called cool white, like surgery room white. More than likely the LEDs are 5050 size. I prefer a warm white which are 5030 size and have a two wire connection.

Could be. I was under the impression that the OP purchased the RGB product for a reason, otherwise a plain white LED strip would have sufficed. ????

[Capacitor]

That very well could be! Hopefully the OP comes back and tells us what she wants. (I’m assuming again that the OP is a she!)

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Capacitor

That is correct but I assumed she was after a white light and not a silly light show display. The strip she has with 3wires to pos will create a light that is commonly called cool white, like surgery room white. More than likely the LEDs are 5050 size. I prefer a warm white which are 5030 size and have a two wire connection.

They don't have to be a silly light show. I installed colored LEDs so I can have red outdoor lights in dark sky parks. I keep them dim, when we use them. The white LEDs are still in place for regular lighting.

[cboss]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

They don't have to be a silly light show. I installed colored LEDs so I can have red outdoor lights in dark sky parks. I keep them dim, when we use them. The white LEDs are still in place for regular lighting.

X2. We sometimes like dim amber lights. We've never done a 'light show", except for 4 Jul when we let the lights do red-white-and blue (dimly), and at Christmas when we set the lights for red-green-red-green. After all, the other campers have Christmas lights also. We also turn them off around 2200 when we hit the sack.

[Capacitor]

I may have been wrong in post 2. I just looked at an rgb strip I have without wires and the solder pads are labeled +12, R, G, B which would make the OPs white pos. Check with a 9 volt battery.

[lindahjo]

Hey guys, I assume you are men, lol. I am a female, good guess. I originally bought the rgb led lights to be used in a different RV. Only half of the led lights in my Salem were working. I thought I could use them as a replacement. No light show, just white. The led lights are operated by a light switch when you enter the camper. Again, the 2 wires coming from the wall are white & red/ white. Rgb led lights are 4 pin, blue, red, green & white.

[Capacitor]

Use a 9 volt battery and put the white to the pos and touch any other wire to the Meg. They will either work or not. If not reverse leads. The lights are diodes, they only work one way.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Capacitor

Use a 9 volt battery and put the white to the pos and touch any other wire to the Meg. They will either work or not. If not reverse leads. The lights are diodes, they only work one way.

If it's a multicolor strip, all three colors have to be on to get white. I think this will result in white light:

1. attach the red wire to the pin labeled 12+ (or something like that),
2. bridge the other three together
3. connect the bridged pins to the black wire.

That will enable the existing switch to control the light. It will also defeat having multicolor LEDs.

[Doppleganger]

The extent of Wodstock's light show is a ton of LED lights that she lays on the ground. She's got more now. Including a frog. I'm getting worried about our cargo capacity now.