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Starmaster · 04-24-2018, 02:20 PM

We’ve always felt the outside lighting on our VTDP 4037 was lacking to say the least. So, the latest project was to address the situation with different and additional lighting.

The first step was replacing the existing porch light next to the door with a Motion Guard MG1000-450 motion sensing light. We went with this one because it has adjustable sensitivity and is also brighter than the Starlight product. Here’s a link to it:BY MOTION-GUARD MG1000-450 12 Volt Exterior Motion RV LED Porch Light, RV Security Motion Porch Light, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZO20IKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_i_VR43Ab7P5YTDH . We also replaced the existing bulb in the scare light between the curb side slides with a brighter LED bulb.

The real improvement in the outside lighting came from the addition of the LED warm white light strips; one just below the kitchen slide topper, the other on edge of the bottom of the kitchen slide. These were attached using 3M VHB mounting tape.

The wiring goes through a hole drilled directly into slide then sealed. I fished the wiring down through the wall to the 12vDC at the TV lift behind the sofa (which had to be removed for wiring access/routing). I mounted a double switch between the TV lift switch and the sconce. Each strip has it’s own dimmer.

There was a lot of discussion as to whether these should be color or just white, but we decided, 90% of the time we wanted just white light for visibility, not decoration (DW has since informed me my next project is ground effect lighting, sigh...). There was also some thought to making these BT controllable but I didn’t see the need.

We’re very pleased with the additional lighting, a great improvement for sure over what little was there. I’ve attached a couple of pics of the lights and switches.

Dave

NealC · 04-24-2018, 02:25 PM

Nice work. I added LED lights to ALL slide topper bases (kitchen, bedroom, FWS) and it's my favorite functional lighting followed by under slide lighting. I routed wires down the side then entered from the bottom of the slide. I'd love to see pictures of where you entered through the slide. I prefer not interfering with the slide as much as possible so I may consider alternate ideas someday for a reroute of the wires. I'll have a post of all my lighting I just finished including underglow as well. Tons of work but good to have. I like the boogey lights as you can set the brightness via the app or remote.

Starmaster · 04-24-2018, 02:49 PM

Hi Neal,

Thanks! I came through the slide at the top behind the overhead cabinets. I cut a 1.5” square hole in the wall on the inside to allow me to fish the wire from the floor to the ceiling (a bit of a PIA for sure). Outside, I drilled a 1/4” hole at the end of the light strip.

In the OH cabinet is where I installed my dimmers. On a side note, depending on which dimmer you use there can be some interaction between them so you should mount these type of dimmers with more spacing between them. I also looked at switches with intregal dimmers, but what I found was larger than I wanted for where I wanted to mount the switches. I think the install with the switches I used looks OEM.

I attached a couple of pics.

Dave