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Old 10-06-2011, 01:13 PM   #1
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Additional LED Lighting

I ordered my 17B with LED lighting, and combined with the dual 6V batteries & solar options, I love it. Still there is always the urge to "personalize" a trailer, so I ordered strip of LEDs Bulb America. I ordered This Version which is a 16.4' (15 meter) length of Cool White LEDs that have individual LEDs spaced about 2" apart. It can be cut between every 3rd LED. I ran a strip under the awning that provides an interesting night light:


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Old 10-06-2011, 01:15 PM   #2
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

I'm adding this as a reply because I have a couple of more pictures. For more of the modifications I've done since traveling with the trailer 111 days this summer, see My Blog Spot Page.

Of course, when I was done I had a fairly long strip left over. I managed to solve another problem with the trailer - seeing inside the upper storage compartments. Since my interior lighting is under the cabinets, they don't provide any light inside the storage bays. Even during the day it is sometimes difficult to see in the backs of the cabinets; at night is it impossible. My solution during the summer was to "buy" a half dozen Harbor Freight LED flashlights (they give them away with a coupon, although now they require a purchase) & I have a bunch of them. I left one in each compartment. It worked, but sometimes I'd end up with two in one bin and none in the one I was looking in, they eventually need batteries or fail (after all they were free) so I was looking for a better solution.

I made up a bunch of cabinet length strips from the LED strip I used for the outside lighting, added a switch for each cabinet, found a power source for each and now have great lighting:
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Old 10-06-2011, 02:01 PM   #3
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Great idea, Jon! Can you show details about how you wired the lights and switch?

KSitte
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Old 10-06-2011, 02:10 PM   #4
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

That certainly is a great idea for inside the cabinets. I may just steal that.

As far as the outside goes, I was never much of a patio lantern kinda guy, but it sure does look neat.
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Old 10-06-2011, 02:26 PM   #5
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

A photo of the wiring would be difficult since the distance inside the cabinets is pretty short. What I did is look for wiring already in the cabinet. If I found it I checked that it was always live, added a 5 amp in line fuse since I was using #20 wire, and wired the switch in the + side of the run between the fuse & lighting strip.

If the cabinet didn't have a 12V source, I added one from the nearest cabinet that did. For all 7 cabinets I added 3 fuses (in other words, found either 12V DC in 4 of the cabinets or very easy runs between cabinets) however I might have had more 12V wires than most since I had Reace add 3 interior 12V outlets when the trailer was built. A pair of #20 wires are small enough that they can be threaded through the space between the back of the cabinet & the wall covering and along the front edge of the shelf over the front dinette.

The switches are from Mouser Electronics (108-0001-EVX Mountain Switch Toggle Switches SPST OFF-ON) although Radio Shack sells an equivalent for a bit more $. I thought about using a lighted switch, but found enough light leaks under the door to tell you have left it on.

The most difficult part was routing the wiring so it would be out of the way of storage in the bins. Lots of screw down cable clamps and wire ties!
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Old 10-06-2011, 02:34 PM   #6
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

As far as the outside goes, I was never much of a patio lantern kinda guy, but it sure does look neat.
Actually, I'm not either, but saw the installation on a large stick built trailer & liked it. I like to read & found the exterior light created too many shadows to be comfortable. The strip produces very diffused light - even the bugs have a hard time deciding where to go!

He put his on the awning tube so it was only useful when the awning was fully extended plus he had to plug & unplug it each time he used it. My only concern at this point is whether the Scotch double sided tape will continue to hold on the plastic used for waterproofing the LED strip. So far it made it on a 300 mile round trip...
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Old 10-06-2011, 02:41 PM   #7
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

How did you connect the strips to the wire? Do you need some kind of adapter, or did you just solder the leads on to the strip?
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Old 10-06-2011, 03:08 PM   #8
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

The original strip comes with 12" leads. When you cut it there are solder pads every 3 LEDs & you need to add your own wires.
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Old 10-06-2011, 03:13 PM   #9
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Thanks, Jon. Seems fairly straight forward then. Think I will go for it. I did look at The Source website (formerly Radio Shack in Canada), and yeah....wow....at least $6 for a simple toggle switch.

It is $10 cheaper to get the strip without the weatherproof rating, which using inside I should not need. Think I will put it in the closet too.
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Old 10-06-2011, 07:19 PM   #10
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

What about a BRIGHT reading led light?
9 and / or 15 leds are not bright enough.
In the dark Geo
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Old 10-06-2011, 07:45 PM   #11
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

I'm too electrically challenged, or maybe too wired to handle a project this large.

I solved the in-cupboard lighting with the Sylvania Spot.It light. The one I got is about four inches long and turns on and off by swiping your hand against it. Runs on AA cells. I attached it with Velcro.

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Old 10-07-2011, 06:24 PM   #12
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Quote:
Originally Posted by Geo
What about a BRIGHT reading led light?
9 and / or 15 leds are not bright enough.
In the dark Geo
I have the LED lighting provided by Escape inside the trailer, and have no problem reading. Each fixture has a 15 LED panel, but if you need more check Harold Kroeker's post - LED Lighting Upgrade. He points out a 25 LED direct replacement for the 15 lamp panel.
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Old 10-08-2011, 12:21 AM   #13
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Someone on here said that if you could change a light bulb, you could do the LED lighting yourself (instead of getting it from Escape.). Is there anything included in the $200 LED package besides the bulbs? Is that it?
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Old 10-14-2011, 02:38 PM   #14
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
That certainly is a great idea for inside the cabinets. I may just steal that.
I AM gonna steal it! Great addition Jon
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Old 10-16-2011, 06:34 PM   #15
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

The only incadescent lights in or on our 19 are the license plate light, and the light over the stove.
We also have the extra signal and brake lights on each side of the rear window.

I am sorry we did not get running lights over the front window.

We have the 12volt battery and this will carry me for at least a week.

On my last trip I run the furnace full time, night and day (Minus weather) and the fridge.

I also run the stove hood fan when the stove is on.

I had lots of battery left.

Doug
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Old 10-16-2011, 08:00 PM   #16
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Why running lights over the front window?

baglo
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Old 10-16-2011, 09:39 PM   #17
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Baglo;
My tow vehicle recently purchased is a Dodge Laramie Longhorn.

The higth of the 19 is a cuople of feet hiher than the cab of the truck.

You might call it decoration, I think o f it as "See and be seen". Much the same as the tractor trailer units on the highway.

Right now with the extra lites on the rear of the trailer I have been told it looks like a christmas tree, people see it.

I drive with all the lights on all the time day and night.

The runninig liights on the side are just noticeable, and get muddy real quick on our roads, as do low mounted lights.
I noticed this on my last trip into the boonies.

Lights mounted high so far have been clear of dust and dirt, to say nothing of mud.

When I came back from the last trip it cost me twenty bucks in a car wash.

Then there is the pure vanity of it, be noticed.

Doug
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Old 10-16-2011, 11:16 PM   #18
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

And then there's ...
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Old 10-16-2011, 11:23 PM   #19
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

For LED lights look at www.superbrightleds.com I have bought some lights from them.
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Old 02-15-2012, 03:42 PM   #20
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Re: Additional LED Lighting

Jon;
Have you had any prblems with the tape holding the LEDs in place? I just got a roll of the LEDs today and will, as soon as the weather warms up a bit, run a strip under our awning.

Second questions: I see wires running into the 'fridge vent. Is that where you are drawing power? We had Reace install an interior switch for the outside lights, so I'm thinking of powering the lights from the same circuit, making them switch-able.

Thanks;
Dave
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