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Old 01-31-2015, 01:07 PM   #1
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LED awing lights - after market!

Ok - I would love to install LED awning lights - or should I say I would like Leo to install them for me....anyway - we have a 2013 Rubicon with an electric awning.....I know where I can buy the light but can anyone tell me how to install the electrical portion of the install?

Leo is not one to "drill holes" into the side of the trailer - so I don't know where/how we would get electric to the lights.

I've looked on You-Tube and they all seem to run electric cords - heck we would need a pull out the ladder every time we wanted "mood lighting".....

Any help or suggestions?
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Old 01-31-2015, 02:03 PM   #2
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Ok, first off... there are 2 types of LED awning lights:

* the kind that install directly on to your RV, under where the awning attaches to the RV. These shine outward from the RV.

* the kind that install on the awning spool itself, and shine inward towards the RV.

If it's the latter you want, you are correct...

Whether you drill holes to run 12v DC power... or simply run a 110 AC cord that you plug in... you'll most likely have to pull out the ladder each time you setup & break down your campsite to use them.

My rig was built before they began including the spool-installed awning lights, and I wanted them. They're made by Carefree of Colorado... and they conveniently make a kit for for those who want to add them to older rigs. So I bought it.

Well, the LED strip attaches in the awning slot just fine... but there's no way that I can see to install a power source to the LED strip that won't rip the power cord out when the awning rolls back up. The only way to do so would be to install the power cord into the center of the spool... but I see no way to do that because of the motor-head.

So that means you have to attach the cord each time you extend the awning... and then unplug it when you want to roll it back up.

As such... I don't use mine very often.
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Old 01-31-2015, 06:44 PM   #3
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I think my dad's lights power wire was sewn into the edge of the awning. So if the cord was run along that seam back to the trailer and run from there to a switch it would work. Roll up with the awning.
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Old 02-01-2015, 11:46 PM   #4
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OK I'm looking at the LED's that would attach to the trailer and NOT the awning...I should have watched my wording!
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Old 02-02-2015, 12:19 AM   #5
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I plan on using some roll LED stuff that I found on Amazon. The game plan it to adhere it to the underside of the drip rail where the awning goes in, then put in a water proof connector box with a gland fitting and feed a wire from the back side so I can switch it from inside... still working on the wire routing.

I will use about half the roll under the awning and the other half in the storage compartment.

Aaron
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Old 02-02-2015, 10:10 PM   #6
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Aaron - when you figure out the wiring, could you post it here?


Thanks
Kathy
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Old 02-02-2015, 11:06 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nana & Poppy View Post
Aaron - when you figure out the wiring, could you post it here?


Thanks
Kathy
Will do.

Currently I have two possibilities, one is to try and fish power off the current outside light. It is always hot because it has an outside switch on the light. The other is to feed power from a nearby inside light through the cabinet bottom, then power it off the triple switch I am installing in the end of the cabinet.

I have done some digging and the wiring on my trailer is very poorly done, they ran loops from light to light instead of straight runs. So a light that SHOULD be on the end of the circuit is looped back to another light somewhere else. Makes it harder to wire in remote switches.

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Old 02-03-2015, 04:19 PM   #8
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I have added RGB led strips to my awning(on the roller), under the awning attached to the trailer, and on the rear of the camper around the door opening under the awning for the patio. I found some small flat 4 wire (wire) that I am going to try and fish through the awning seam to keep from having to get a ladder out every time. Otherwise yes, I have to run wire to each strip to power.
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Old 02-04-2015, 12:35 AM   #9
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Look at my pictures under my username. I bought two sets of RGB lights, soldered together then ran ran power wire down awning bracket (bracket attached to camper) and went in to power source just above front storage compartment.
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Old 02-04-2015, 11:32 AM   #10
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thank you all.....
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Old 02-05-2015, 09:29 PM   #11
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I went in through the same hole that the power wire for the awning goes into the interior. I pulled a panel out of the back of the TV cabinet in the bedroom and fished the wire into the basement and back up to the main control panel in the kitchen. It was a pain but it's now just a matter of the switch instead of ladder, extension cord etc.
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Old 02-06-2015, 09:27 AM   #12
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Thanks Burl.....I guess we will have to wait until spring (early May for us) and check out the TH for the power awning wire.....
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Old 06-23-2016, 06:14 PM   #13
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I tapped in to the outside light for power and so it would be controlled by the inside switch. Ran the wires to the led strip, which was taped under the mounting point of the awning on the side of the trailer. covered the wires with white wire tracks from Lowe's. Basic but works great.
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Old 06-25-2016, 01:34 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jbee View Post
I have added RGB led strips to my awning(on the roller), under the awning attached to the trailer, and on the rear of the camper around the door opening under the awning for the patio. I found some small flat 4 wire (wire) that I am going to try and fish through the awning seam to keep from having to get a ladder out every time. Otherwise yes, I have to run wire to each strip to power.
When we had our Voltage we ran RGB lights under awnings, had to make splice as lights were around 16'. For power I came into same hole as front light power source. Cleaned up hole and recaulked in black. Could not grab wire with fish tape, so measured exactly were hole came into camper and did shallow drill. Took lines to back of control panel. Found 12V constant hot and then grounded. Drilled small hole for RGB control wire to stick out of panel and used very small ty-wrap to not allow wire to fall back behind panel. Put Chinese remote in cabinet and would just point to control wire to adjust brightness, colors etc. This was an all day job..
Quote:
Originally Posted by lakebuster View Post
Look at my pictures under my username. I bought two sets of RGB lights, soldered together then ran ran power wire down awning bracket (bracket attached to camper) and went in to power source just above front storage compartment.
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Old 06-25-2016, 01:36 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lakebuster View Post
Look at my pictures under my username. I bought two sets of RGB lights, soldered together then ran ran power wire down awning bracket (bracket attached to camper) and went in to power source just above front storage compartment.
More detailed version later in this post.
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