Want to replace my light switch with a dimmer switch

[Dennis78]

I have a 2018 Prime Time Crusader 28RL and want to replace my interior light switch and my awning light switch to dimmer switchers. The lights are just to bright and would like to tone done the LED lights. I have a double gang switch see photo provided. Has anyone done this successfully? What dimmer switch did you use.
Any help or guidance would be helpful

 

[D W]

It can be done IF the LED'S are dimmable. Some are not.

 

[Dennis78]

Thanks for the quick response. Is there any way to tell if they are dimmable?

 

[Capacitor]

Take the leads off of the switch and touch them to a 9 volt battery.
Home Depot has led dimmer switches but I think the LEDs have to be dimmable.

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

The quick and easy way to tame those LED lights is with something like LIGHTDIMS https://www.amazon.com/LIGHTDIMS-Di...1785&sprefix=led+light+covers,aps,116&sr=8-31

 

[Dennis78]

Thanks I'll look into it.

 

[BehindBars]

I have a 2018 Prime Time Crusader 28RL and want to replace my interior light switch and my awning light switch to dimmer switchers. The lights are just to bright and would like to tone done the LED lights. I have a double gang switch see photo provided. Has anyone done this successfully? What dimmer switch did you use.
Any help or guidance would be helpful

Yes, I have successfully dimmed nearly all my motorhome and my trailer lights, including the awning strip. There are a lot of threads on the forum on this topic, including discussions of dimmer switches.

Thanks for the quick response. Is there any way to tell if they are dimmable?

From my experience, all the 12 volt DC powered LED lights I’ve ever tried are dimmable. I have dimmers on 5 different types of RV LED lights, including the awning strip light. They all dim full range just fine. Nearly all LED lights in my motorhome are on dimmers.

I did use LightDims as mentioned earlier on the bedside reading lights, and to darken the display on the microwave oven. LightDims would obviously not be a good solution for an awning strip light.

Some 120 volt AC powered LED lights can be non-dimmable based on the type of internal power supply used. But, 120 volt lights are not generally what we’re talking about here in the RV. You should have no trouble dimming DC RV lights.

 

[BehindBars]

Take the leads off of the switch and touch them to a 9 volt battery.
Home Depot has led dimmer switches but I think the LEDs have to be dimmable.

If there are two leads on the switch, they may very well be the +12 volt source, and the lead going to the light fixture. Connecting a 9 volt battery there would prove nothing and possibly cause damage.

The Home Depot does have LED dimmer switches, but are any of them for 12 volt DC circuits? You did not specify.

Have you encountered any specific RV DC lights that are not dimmable? If any exist, maybe we could compose a list.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

To the best of my knowledge, all 12-volt LED devices and bulbs are dimmable.

I've added a "dimmer control" to each fixture by adding a variable resistor in series with the 12-volt line mounted on the side of the fixture. The series resistance value is 500 ohms. This is for individual bulbs. As for the string of LEDs on the awning, a lower-value resistor will be needed as the current demand for the string is higher.

This was no "off the shelf" project but a DIY. With me being quite mechanically inclined and an electronic engineer, this was a "walk in the park" project. Your mileage will vary.

Bob

 

[emugel]

. . . would like to tone done the LED lights. I have a double gang switch see photo provided. Has anyone done this successfully? What dimmer switch did you use.

Something like this? You would need two of them - one for each fixture you want to control.
https://www.recpro.com/rv-12v-dc-toggle-style-light-switch-with-high-side-dimmer/

this looks like the same switch for a couple of bucks cheaper:
https://www.amazon.com/RV-12V-DC-Incandescent-Lighting/dp/B0BZGMV41Y/ref=asc_df_B0BZGMV41Ytag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=663236957902&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7922361337844134610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqm

or, if you'd rather have a rotary switch instead of a toggle (but it has only a 5A rating):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0936W4T8...trial&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

 

[BehindBars]

Something like this? You would need two of them - one for each fixture you want to control.
https://www.recpro.com/rv-12v-dc-toggle-style-light-switch-with-high-side-dimmer/

this looks like the same switch for a couple of bucks cheaper:
https://www.amazon.com/RV-12V-DC-Incandescent-Lighting/dp/B0BZGMV41Y/ref=asc_df_B0BZGMV41Ytag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=663236957902&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7922361337844134610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqm

or, if you'd rather have a rotary switch instead of a toggle (but it has only a 5A rating):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0936W4T8...trial&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

The first two dimmers linked are made by American Technology Components. They are very good 12 volt dimmers, that also come in a wider version with a larger dimmer slider. I have 6 of these in the large slider version. They all work great and have never failed. They do require that a ground wire be present at the switch location.

If the situation is such that a ground wire or point is not available at the dimmer location, there is at least one rotary knob dimmer that will work on just two wires. I have one of those, too.

 

[jimmoore13]

https://www.google.com/search?q=12+...CDgxMDZqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8