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thinkink27 · 12-13-2015, 01:15 PM

I'm trying to hook up multi-color LED strip under my awning. The LED strip has a controller that can change the colors. I want to use the 12 volt power supply from the porch light. I connected everything and the lights come on but I cannot change colors. Connected it directly to the house battery and it works. House batteries were at 12.7 volts. Tested the wires at the porch light and they were at 12.2.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

BFlinn181 · 12-13-2015, 02:58 PM

The wire for the porch light was only sized to power one bulb, you're trying to run a string of LEDs and a controller. I'd size the wire for the distance and run it directly from the batteries or fuse panel to get adequate current. If you run from the batteries, be sure to install a fuse.

Gary RVRoamer · 12-14-2015, 09:03 AM

As you are seeing, LEDs are very much voltage sensitive. Even the normal variations in RV power are enough to cause some of those color strips to act whacky. I've found that the most reliable way to power them is via a converter module on a 120v power supply. They also last longer that way.

thinkink27 · 12-16-2015, 09:58 AM

Argh! My back up plan would be to run new wires though the porch light opening to inside the motorhome. Then find another source or create a new connection. I would have like to have the lights connected to the porch light so I can turn them on with the porch light switch.

Ray,IN · 12-16-2015, 02:27 PM

What is total amp draw of this product? I doubt the porch light wiring is the problem, most likely the off/on switch is the limiting component. I refer you back to post #2.

YC1 · 12-16-2015, 03:07 PM

Any chance during the test that you had the led input turned over 180 degrees. There is often a tiny arrow that must match up. This has nothing to do with the input voltage of course.

navigator336 · 12-16-2015, 04:11 PM

When you say the LED's come on I'm assuming they come on 'white'. I've never looked at these LED strip lights or worked with them so I'm just surmising how they work. To be color changing I suspect they are in individual groups of three (one each red, green, blue). If so and they are on 'white' that would mean all three in the groups are on simultaneously. If so, that would indicate the problem is with the controller and not the lights themselves. As mentioned above, this could be a voltage issue. Did you wire the controller in series or parallel to the porch light? If you wired it in series, the incandescent porch bulb may cause too much of a voltage drop to operate the controller properly. Did the lights seem dim on the porch power compared to the direct battery power?