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Post by summitbeerowl on Mar 21, 2018 17:05:22 GMT -5
![]() Hello I’ve been reading and reading all the posts I can on the installation of LED strip lighting and just can’t seem to find the answers I’m looking for, so hopefully by starting a new thread I can. So I purchased a strip of LEDs that has a connection on each end. (LEH LED Rope Lights RGBW Light Strip Waterproof 5050 SMD 16.4 Feet 300 Leds LED Strip Lights Full Kit www.amazon.com/dp/B01HD37U6S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_I4SSAbNK9PQWJ I’m thinking I can cut it at about 4’ and mount that going toward the rear of the TT from the outside door light and mount the remaining strip going toward the front. I’m thinkin, and please correct me if I’m wrong, that the lights in the camper are low voltage and so to direct wire the LEDs I would cut the wire to the transformer (I think that’s what it is called) and not use the transformer but just hard wire where I cut it to the camper light wires. Would it be better to drill into the side of the trailer above the light and hopefully follow the wires from the door light to the switch and then install another switch? (One would think the wires to the light would be visible) Or drill a hole into the top of the door light housing and just use that? I like the individual switch idea for each light. It would be nice to have either the amber light on or the LEDs. Has anyone used the aluminum channels on amazon to run their LEDs in? I think that would look more professional but not sure how they connect together. Love to see some pics of them installed. Actually any pics someone has on any of this would be great. I’ve watched so many YouTube videos but just not seeing it. Any help and suggestions are much appreciated! Thanks Attachments:
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Post by kaboom on Mar 22, 2018 9:32:03 GMT -5
I wouldn't cut the wire to the "transformer". It is the controller that changes the color of your light strip red, green, blue and white using the remote. Some remotes also allow you to blend those colors to create a custom color.
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Post by kaboom on Mar 22, 2018 9:58:55 GMT -5
I wouldn't cut the wire to the "transformer". It is the controller that changes the color of your light strip red, green, blue and white using the remote. Some remotes also allow you to blend those colors to create a custom color.
You should be able to wire in the controller to a fused 12v source. Mount the control module in a dry area. Then run the RGBW wire from the controller to the LED strip that is mounted on RV.
A friend used white vinyl track with 3m double side tape to secure and hide the wire. He installed his controller inside of his storage compartment. Drilled a hole and ran the wire out into a
vinyl track. He stuck the track on the outside wall. He followed along the closed awning arm up to the LED strip.
With the awning open you can see the vinyl track on the side wall. When the awning is closed the track blends in next to the support arm.
He bought the vinyl track at Home Depot. It's in two piece's a base strip and a cover strip. They also have corner pieces.
Hope this helps.
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Post by summitbeerowl on Mar 25, 2018 16:16:29 GMT -5
I wouldn't cut the wire to the "transformer". It is the controller that changes the color of your light strip red, green, blue and white using the remote. Some remotes also allow you to blend those colors to create a custom color. You should be able to wire in the controller to a fused 12v source. Mount the control module in a dry area. Then run the RGBW wire from the controller to the LED strip that is mounted on RV. A friend used white vinyl track with 3m double side tape to secure and hide the wire. He installed his controller inside of his storage compartment. Drilled a hole and ran the wire out into a vinyl track. He stuck the track on the outside wall. He followed along the closed awning arm up to the LED strip. With the awning open you can see the vinyl track on the side wall. When the awning is closed the track blends in next to the support arm. He bought the vinyl track at Home Depot. It's in two piece's a base strip and a cover strip. They also have corner pieces. Hope this helps. Howdy and thanks for the reply. I think I may have said it wrong as far as where I would like to cut the wire. I'd like to cut it right before it goes into the AC/DC adapter. I'm thinking then i can hard wire that black wire directly to the campers lights wiring. Correct me if I'm wrong here. looks like according to what you have down i should also wire in a fuse for safety. What do you reccomend there? I like the idea of your friend. I suppose I could drill straight through the camper to the inside of the cupboards that run along the same wall and string the wire over to the door of the camper where i could install a switch. I wonder if it would be possible to have the sensor from the RGBW controller stick through the wall of the camper to the outside to use the remote? Again if anyone has some pics of their installation I'd love to see them.  Attachments:
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Post by kaboom on Mar 26, 2018 12:30:24 GMT -5
I would use a blade style 10 amp fuse.
If your inside cabinets run along the same wall. Maybe you could take the out side wall light off. Then run the IR sensor lead from an inside cabinets through the wall and into the wall light. Drill a hole in the bottom of the wall light housing stick the IR sensor out silicone around the area to seal it up. Then just use the remote to turn leds on or off. No need for an additional switch.
I would look at may be running the led light wire lead out of the wall light also. Maybe even hiding the controller inside of the wall light itself.
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Post by summitbeerowl on May 6, 2018 16:02:51 GMT -5
![]() Well, here's the completed project. Didn't turn out too bad. Of course always a few things to do different next time.  Since I've asked many questions about how to do this I thought I would do a quick write up. Earlier I posted the LED strip that i purchased on Amazon. Then I purchased some aluminum channels again from Amazon along with a new switch and face plate for 3 switches. I wanted to make it look as factory as I could. Also purchased a splitter so i could cut the Led strip in half. It has a connection on each end so i can route these ends into the camper as close to the switch as possible.  Next I drilled a hole just to the right of the door. This is where i will route both connector ends of the Led strip. They will route into an overhead cabinet.  |
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Post by summitbeerowl on May 6, 2018 16:10:47 GMT -5
The wires will all come here. Your can see the original switch below. This is where I will add a switch to control the LED strip.  Back outside here is the channel with the short strip attached. This will go above the door.  Here's the strips attached to the outside after cleaning the camper with simple green and alcohol. You can see where the hole is that the wires feed through into the camper. I siliconed the hole but made sure it was only big enough to snake the wires through.  |
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Post by summitbeerowl on May 7, 2018 11:38:50 GMT -5
So here we have the 2 wires coming inside from the LED strips. They connect to the splitter and reconnect to the LED module. from the module is the original black wire that i cut right before it connected to the ac converter.  You can see the red and white wire going into the ac converter. this is where I cut it.  Then I thread it through the wall down to the light switch.  |
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Post by summitbeerowl on May 7, 2018 11:51:40 GMT -5
Now for wiring the switch. Not being used to camper wiring it seemed strange that all these connections were hot and so I couldn't figure out how to connect my new switch.  So I posted the question online and continued working. Got the new switch added to a new switch plate so all would look original.  Since I hadn't received any answers yet I decided to run a positive and negative from an under cabinet light down to the switch. Then I would have my power. (+ & -) That's the white wire you see in the pic.  |
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Post by summitbeerowl on May 7, 2018 11:53:55 GMT -5
Made the connections at the switch.  Installed the face plate with switches on the wall.  |
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Post by summitbeerowl on May 7, 2018 11:59:43 GMT -5
Put all the covers on the aluminum channels.  Everything works great!  Well, hopefully that helps anyone thinking about doing this project. All together it probably ran around $65.00. A considerable savings from having a dealer installed system. Plus I could make it the exact length I wanted on the outside. Thanks for reading! |
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Post by Chuck on May 8, 2018 10:53:27 GMT -5
Nice DYI project, thank you for sharing  Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by summitbeerowl on May 9, 2018 10:47:22 GMT -5
Nice DYI project, thank you for sharing Safe Travels Chuck Thanks Chuck. Was a fun little project. Makes it feel a little more up to date like the big boys. LoL |
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Post by ragecajun on Jun 21, 2018 0:33:21 GMT -5
Alternative Idea:
I did a similar project on my now totaled 31' Bumper Pull. I install a high Quality Outdoor LED strip to the under edge of my trailer roof, under the rolled up awning. I ran wires to the Outdoor Kitchen, silicone'ed and secured to the trailer side with Wire holders. I connected the outdoor set with a interior set (cheaper $18 Amazon set) along the inner perimeter of the Outdoor Kitchen and wired it up to a Bluetooth Puck controller and power source, plugged into a 110 outlet in a cabinet.
The lights were controlled by my phone and had multiple features, (danced with the music, multiple selectable and custom colors, responded to the Phone Microphone to your voice, multiple chasing and flashing options.
It was a big hit at any park we pulled into. I had approximately $150 into the set up and only regret was that I wish I ran the wires inside the trailer walls.
BTW I saved the LED's to install on my new trailer, when I decide on a model..... |
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Post by kaboom on Jun 22, 2018 22:05:32 GMT -5
It turned out great. Nice job!
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Post by summitbeerowl on Jul 9, 2018 20:10:24 GMT -5
Alternative Idea:
I did a similar project on my now totaled 31' Bumper Pull. I install a high Quality Outdoor LED strip to the under edge of my trailer roof, under the rolled up awning. I ran wires to the Outdoor Kitchen, silicone'ed and secured to the trailer side with Wire holders. I connected the outdoor set with a interior set (cheaper $18 Amazon set) along the inner perimeter of the Outdoor Kitchen and wired it up to a Bluetooth Puck controller and power source, plugged into a 110 outlet in a cabinet.
The lights were controlled by my phone and had multiple features, (danced with the music, multiple selectable and custom colors, responded to the Phone Microphone to your voice, multiple chasing and flashing options.
It was a big hit at any park we pulled into. I had approximately $150 into the set up and only regret was that I wish I ran the wires inside the trailer walls.
BTW I saved the LED's to install on my new trailer, when I decide on a model..... I think the "dance" feature would annoy all those I camp with.....I think I should get it. LOL |
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Post by summitbeerowl on Jul 9, 2018 20:12:35 GMT -5
It turned out great. Nice job! Thanks Kaboom! Found out I needed to tape all the wires together that plugged into each other in the connection box. With all the bouncing around they can come apart. Easy fix with electrical tape. |
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