My solution to awning lights

[OL Creeker]

Please send a pic of the installation in the daylight. What brand of lights are they? Thanks!

[KyDan]

OL Creeker if you mean me-- my rig is in the shed with the awning rolled
up. Can't get much of a photo today.

I ordered mine direct from China version of Ebay...
It's called aliexpress.com
You can also find them on Ebay from folks who have bought from
China and then re-sell to you.
My order took about 5 weeks to arrive.
I paid $8.50 per 5 meter roll including shipping.
They have gone up slightly to $9.50 now.

Edit-- Here's a link for $8.30 per roll.
Just choose your color and how many rolls and go for it!!
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-...371545755.html

If you're leery of buying direct from China, search Ebay for
5M Roll 3528 SMD Waterproof 60 LEDs/M 300 LEDs

That means there are 60 LEDs per meter of length and the roll is 5 meters long. It has peel and stick 3M tape on the back.
Some here have had theirs fall off. Mine has stuck fine. If yours falls off
you can re-stick with better grade tape.

NOTE: be SURE they say waterproof. Some on Ebay are NOT.
Also note many on Ebay say "from China" so the delivery is direct
from China and will typically take 4-5 weeks to arrive USPS signature
required.
IF you go thru Ebay you don't save time but you pay thru Paypal which
might be safer.
I've ordered direct thru ailexpress.com myself several times and
had no problems. They have their own version of Paypal ie: credit card
info is not saved and the final vendor is not paid until you say you received your order in good condition.
Again- YMMV.

I donno about sticking under the trailer. Sounds neat but it would have to
be totally clean and smooth to have much hope of staying there or you
could mechanically fasten some other way.
These ribbon lights are sealed in clear silicone type cover. Mine have been
wet many times and work perfectly. Some have posted theirs quit after
being wet but I have no idea what brand they had.

YMMV.
They can be trimmed to a shorter length if needed.
They have connection pig tails on both ends so you can cut a ribbon
in 2 pieces and still use both ends.

If you want photos of my awning installation I can try to get you some.
Let me know if that's what you meant.

[Cyoul8r]

A couple of questions:

My lights are TaoTronics TT-SL007 Waterproof RGB, 300 LEDs, 5050 SMD with 44-key remote.

For those that have mounted to the bottom of the awning channel (attached to the side of the trailer) with your own 3M tape, did you remove the original tape from the lights or did you remove just the backing from the original tape and then mount the lights tape to tape?

What is the voltage that these lights can handle. I know they're 12-volt but when using them with the converter on will they take the 14.4 or so volts?

Thanks

[Adony]

I did it tape on LED Strip to 3M TRIM tape that I installed in the underside of the awning strip and they never came loose... BUT when the original led strip failed, that is where I had problems. It was easy to peel / remove the LED strip from the 3-M tape I installed, but replacement LED strip with tape would not stick to my previously installed 3M tape due to residue left from the original LED strip. I then had a massive / time consuming problem of completely removing the 3M tape from the awning strip. My next install avoided the awning channel all together and the LED's were placed in a covered aluminum channel on the side of the trailer just below the awning strip.. Within this channel, I used velcro strips to mount the LED strip for easy future removal if needed...

[R Whitlow]

When to rv show today and batteries plus had a booth they sale a great waterproof led strip that is multiple colors with other features.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Forest River Forums mobile app

[KyDan]

My awning gutter had caulk on it from when it was installed new.
They had caulked the gutter to the wall and then ran a finger or some
thing along the bottom of the gutter to spread and smooth the caulk.
This left a thin layer on the bottom of the gutter.
I almost didn't notice this caulk but am sure glad I did.
That thin layer was peeling off. It took me a few minutes rubbing the
bottom of the gutter with my finger to tease the caulk off the bottom.
In some areas I could get hold of the thin caulk and just pull several inches
or even a few feet off at a time.
With a fresh clean gutter my LEDs have stuck tight no problem for the
last 6 months. I have not been thru a really hot summer yet. So far
so good.
I've used mine on battery power and while on shore power. I'm not gonna
worry about the voltage difference. They are too cheap to worry about.
So far they work great. I'm sure other folks here are using them on shore
power too.
Good Luck!

[BurgPath]

I"m ready to purchase a set of lights. I like the idea of buying through Amazon for any product issues. Has anyone purchased this brand?
Amazon.com: SUPERNIGHT 16.4ft 5M Waterproof Flexible strip 300leds Color Changing RGB SMD5050 LED Light Strip Kit RGB 5M +44Key Remote+12V 5A Power Supply: Home Improvement

The same kit is $6 less if you forgo the transformer. I plan on connecting this directly to camper power, is the investor worth it?

Anyone else have these on a 23SS? Wondering how you handle power connections.

[BurgPath]

Bought the ones on Amazon. Now to install them!

[sparks1032]

Take plenty of pictures!

[Jjs2000z]

How is everyone hooking up power to these lights?

[grege]

I used the porch light housing, removed the bulb and socket, and attached power to that. I can turn them on and off using the porch light switch inside the camper. The controller is inside my porch light housing and the sensor sticks out the bottom. I got some very flat wire molding and went from the porch light to the bottom of the awning to run my wires to the lights.

Greg

[LKicklight]

did ours the same exact way, has worked well no problems, good job!

Originally Posted by grege

I used the porch light housing, removed the bulb and socket, and attached power to that. I can turn them on and off using the porch light switch inside the camper. The controller is inside my porch light housing and the sensor sticks out the bottom. I got some very flat wire molding and went from the porch light to the bottom of the awning to run my wires to the lights.

Greg

[doc73]

Ok, so I am not going to lie... I have NOT gotten through the 100,000 pages yet just 100 or so... Those putting the left over scraps of LEDs in your compartments / pantries, how are you wiring them for power and color illumination? Do they need their own power supplies / control boxes separate from the lights on the awning? Or are they spliced in some which way? -Pat

[LKicklight]

the led lights can be a little over whelming at first glance. I would start off with one simple bulb and socket along with two wires for dc install. hook one end to the positive terminal of your battery and the other to the negative side. The light bulb should light up...LEDS ARE JUST THAT SIMPLE, think of all those led dots as one light bulb, they all share the same wire for power. Place an on-off switch in one of the wires to break they circuit, that's all there is to it..

Originally Posted by doc73

Ok, so I am not going to lie... I have NOT gotten through the 100,000 pages yet just 100 or so... Those putting the left over scraps of LEDs in your compartments / pantries, how are you wiring them for power and color illumination? Do they need their own power supplies / control boxes separate from the lights on the awning? Or are they spliced in some which way? -Pat

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by grege

I used the porch light housing, removed the bulb and socket, and attached power to that. I can turn them on and off using the porch light switch inside the camper. The controller is inside my porch light housing and the sensor sticks out the bottom. I got some very flat wire molding and went from the porch light to the bottom of the awning to run my wires to the lights.

Greg

Pictures?

Thanks

[Jjs2000z]

Originally Posted by grege

I used the porch light housing, removed the bulb and socket, and attached power to that. I can turn them on and off using the porch light switch inside the camper. The controller is inside my porch light housing and the sensor sticks out the bottom. I got some very flat wire molding and went from the porch light to the bottom of the awning to run my wires to the lights.

Greg

My porch light is in the middle of the trailer. Do I have to re wire the led strip to accommodate this since the led wiring starts at the end of the strip?

[grege]

Originally Posted by pappcam

Pictures?

Thanks

I'm not in town right now with Spring Break. I looked on my phone but all I had was a video of the lights changing. I'll try and get some when I get back.

[grege]

Originally Posted by Jjs2000z

My porch light is in the middle of the trailer. Do I have to re wire the led strip to accommodate this since the led wiring starts at the end of the strip?

Mine is like that too. My LED lights had a short wire on each end that the factory soldered. (If not you can solder to the strip.) I cut the strip so I could use those wires in the middle. I also bought this piece that I used to go from the controller up my wire mold.

1pcs 1M RGB Extension Cable Wire Connector 4pin for SMD 5050 RGB LED Strip Light | eBay

I cut that wire to the length I needed and soldered the bare end to the wires from the LED strip after cutting off the connector. The other end then plugged into the controller.

Sorry I don't have pictures. I can try and get some when I get back in town.

[Jjs2000z]

Originally Posted by grege

Mine is like that too. My LED lights had a short wire on each end that the factory soldered. (If not you can solder to the strip.) I cut the strip so I could use those wires in the middle. I also bought this piece that I used to go from the controller up my wire mold.

1pcs 1M RGB Extension Cable Wire Connector 4pin for SMD 5050 RGB LED Strip Light | eBay

I cut that wire to the length I needed and soldered the bare end to the wires from the LED strip after cutting off the connector. The other end then plugged into the controller.

Sorry I don't have pictures. I can try and get some when I get back in town.

Yes pictures would be great

[doc73]

Originally Posted by LKicklight

the led lights can be a little over whelming at first glance. I would start off with one simple bulb and socket along with two wires for dc install. hook one end to the positive terminal of your battery and the other to the negative side. The light bulb should light up...LEDS ARE JUST THAT SIMPLE, think of all those led dots as one light bulb, they all share the same wire for power. Place an on-off switch in one of the wires to break they circuit, that's all there is to it..

I know how to "wire" them per se... But let me re-phrase my questions since I think I might not have been clear. When people are using the scraps for their step lights and compartments, do they all need their own control / power supply (if using the RGB LEDs) or are people just purchasing the single color lights for this usage. Or are people running the wires back to the one control box.

I have blue LEDs that came from the factory but might want to add the RGB. I would use the scraps to add in my compartments and pantry.