Community Forums

RandyJack · 12-31-2018, 08:16 AM

Our new and beautiful Coachman Freedom Express has 8 led ceiling lights that all come on from one switch.

These lights provide an abundance of light when needed but are way to powerful when less light is desired. The only option is all on or all off.

I would like to find a way to replace the one single switch with maybe 2, 3 or 4 switches.

Has anyone made such a modification or knows how I might do it?

I do not know the wiring path of the lights or how to find out.

Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.

Mark_K5LXP · 12-31-2018, 09:27 AM

I solved this problem in a past camper by modifying the fixture with a switch to select which bulbs were active. So the "master" switch turned them all on, then the "fixture" switch gave me high/low. Low tech but easy to do and didn't involve any wiring changes.

LED's are dimmable with PWM or even resistive dimmers, so you could install a dimmer at the primary switch or at each fixture. Google "12V LED Dimmer" for options.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

RandyJack · 01-05-2019, 06:38 AM

Thank You Mark for the idea. My fixtures are 8 each recessed 4 inch puc lights. The lights are spaced about 4-6 feet apart.

As each light is recessed, I do not see any way to add a switch to the fixture.

The one main switch is located on the main electrical panel. I am going to ask for a wiring diagram with hopes that each light has a separate wire coming to the main panel. That might give me more options to work with.

Mark_K5LXP · 01-06-2019, 08:01 AM

Oh, there's always a way.

Without seeing them it's tough to say but the fixture I modified I put the switch smack dab in the middle of the light. Depends on the fixture just how much impact having the switch there will be but once it's there it looks like it belongs. Or buy a switch that matches others that are used in the coach and install that on a wall or even in the ceiling and that becomes the dim control.

Odds are the fixtures are wired like Christmas tree lights, all in a series path. That being the case, one fixture or ceiling mounted switch could dim all the successive fixtures down the line.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

RandyJack · 01-06-2019, 02:15 PM

Having the lights strung is christmas light fashion would make the challenge much more difficult.

I would really hope each of the lights had a wire leading back into the switch area, bundled and have a pigtail going to one side of the switch.

Wishful thinking I do believe. My TT is in the shop for slideout repairs. I will have the unit back home in a few weeks and can remove the switch panel at that time.

My lights look similar to the photo below but I have 8 of them on 1 switch.

I was hoping someone already had some experience with this and allow me to get the right parts ahead of time.

Mark_K5LXP · 01-07-2019, 05:26 AM

Hope in one hand, reality in the other, see which one fills up first...

If you think how these things are put together it's a whole lot easier and uses less wire to run one light to the next and down the line to the switch, I can see why you'd want a dimmer. Seems an awful lot of lights on one switch. Handy perhaps when first walking in but pretty rude first thing in the morning. Maybe what might be easier is to open up the string and control different fixtures from some new switches. Getting documentation for how this thing was put together would take a lot of the guesswork out, short of that you'd remove a few fixtures and see if it's obvious where the wires are going from/to. If that doesn't give you any insight, disconnecting and reconnecting them to see which other fixtures are upstream and downstream. You'll get there from here eventually, just gotta dig into it.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM