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07-28-2012, 10:44 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
The Escape 19 now has ceiling lighting as a standard feature. I figured that it would be a nice addition to my Escape. Below is how I retrofitted a ceiling light in my Escape 19. It was an easy job once I got over the fear of cutting the ceiling vinyl material.
I purchase a double pancake LED light from http://www.fiberglasstraveltrailersrv.com
Other materials needed are:
4 feet of black 18AWG wire
4 feet of white 18AWG wire
(actually the wires can be any 2 colors to identify the positive and negative. Black and wire are standard colors for positive and negative respectively).
Wire crimp connectors, 2 for 18-gauge wire and 2 for 16-gauge wire.
A 2-foot piece of wire. The wire should be stiff enough to penetrate the insulation. I used a piece of music wire (which is a misnomer as it is used in model airplanes and found in hobby stores)
8 1"x1"x1/2" plywood blocks
5 minute epoxy
acetone or alcohol
I made a template from a cereal box outlining the light and the 4 mounting holes. I made reference lines mounting holes and for the light's center line. The red line is the cut line that marks where the ceiling vinyl is to be removed.
__________________
2008 Toyota Highlander
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07-28-2012, 10:48 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
The template is taped to the ceiling 25" from the sink side cabinet to the light' center line.
The vinyl material and insulation is cut away, leaving the underside of the fiberglass shell
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2008 Toyota Highlander
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07-28-2012, 10:56 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Remove the MaxFan trim plate. Run the stiff wire from the MaxFan to the light cutout.
At the light opening, tape the 2 electrical wires to the stiff wire and pull out toward the MaxFan
__________________
2008 Toyota Highlander
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07-28-2012, 11:05 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Wires Pulled
Clean the fiberglass with either acetone or alcohol. Using 5 minute epoxy, attached the plywood blocks at each screw mounting position
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2008 Toyota Highlander
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07-28-2012, 11:12 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Connect the 2 wires to the MaxFan wires. The MaxFan wires are tucked in on the driver's side. The Black wire on the MaxFan side is positive and the white wire in negative. For some reason the trailer feed wire is red on my Escape
Attached wires to the LED light
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2008 Toyota Highlander
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07-28-2012, 11:17 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Screw the LED light to the wood blocks
Add covers and done!
__________________
2008 Toyota Highlander
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07-28-2012, 11:18 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
I need a double scotch and I don't even drink the stuff.
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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07-28-2012, 11:20 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
This light fixture has a two-way switch that allows only one light or both lights to come on
__________________
2008 Toyota Highlander
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07-28-2012, 11:37 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 893
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
That looks perfect.. like it was installed at the factory.. great job.. Glenn needs another drink..
__________________
Former 17ft Plan "B" Escape
Toyota Highlander w/tow pkg
favorite quote: "Put the candle back"
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07-29-2012, 05:45 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Farmville, Virginia
Trailer: 2006 Escape 5.0
Posts: 900
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Great job Rick....gonna put that on my list! The under cabinet lights are a little low for some purposes.
I was afraid you were gonna say the lights came on with the fan : - )
__________________
"In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice. In the morning, I will offer my prayer to you, and wait in expectation" Ps 5:3
'11 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab (5' bed) 09 Escape 5.0
Blacksburg, Virginia (Home of the Virginia Tech Hokies)
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07-29-2012, 07:06 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
nice job, I'm glad Escape now includes 2 factory overheads because they are needed.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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07-29-2012, 10:45 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Looks great, Rick. Nice tutorial on how you did it too.
It is something I have been thinking about for a while, but adding the strip lights inside the cabinets has helped a lot, and put this mod on the back burner.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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07-29-2012, 11:06 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Alcoa, Tennessee
Trailer: 2015 5.0 TA
Posts: 419
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Thank you.
It is going on my list.
Dick
__________________
2015 Escape 5 TA
2016 Ford F-150
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07-29-2012, 01:20 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 (jim)
nice job, I'm glad Escape now includes 2 factory overheads because they are needed.
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At Bandon, Tammy and Reace had a 19 there with two overhead lights, however the trailer did not have A/C, only a standard vent. With A/C there's not too much space for a light.
__________________
2008 Toyota Highlander
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07-29-2012, 02:59 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
one set is over bed, the other is in front of a/c over closet door, gives good light into closet.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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07-29-2012, 08:40 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Pollock Pines, California
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19
Posts: 453
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
No need for scotch, Glenn. It's dirt simple to put one over the wardrobe door -- there's just enough room. The wires for the shower run up the front side of the wardrobe, so a little splicing, a couple of holes drilled, and I was done. Not as centrally located or as nice as Rick's set up, but good enough for my wife to put on her makeup and brighten the kitchen area. Momma's happy, so everyone's happy.
Bruce
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07-29-2012, 09:49 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Well, it would take a couple double scotch before I could even start.
And, you know where that would lead.
And, you have a 19 and I have a 17, so I think, I'll just think about it.
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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09-21-2012, 07:19 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 6
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Thank you for the great info and nice photos. I wonder how difficult it is to fish the wires from the fan to the dinette. We have extra insulation, would that give us extra problem when fishing the wires?
thanks!
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09-22-2012, 01:37 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
I don't think it would be a problem. It may take a try or two fishing the stiff wire between the fan and your light cutout, but that's it. The distance from the fan to the dinette is about the same as from the fan to my new light near the wardrobe. I also have extra insulation and had no problem fishing the wire through -- it was very easy to do. Good luck and please post some pictures of your new light!
Rick
__________________
2008 Toyota Highlander
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09-22-2012, 10:45 PM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 6
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Re: Adding a Ceiling Light to the Escape 19
Thank you Rick, I have to convince my supervisor (aka the wife) that everything will be alright to cut a small hole in the ceiling....
I will sure to post some photos if the supervisor approves the plan.
cheers!
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