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MSHappyCampers · 11-26-2014, 03:56 PM

I finally got LED strips installed on the slideout under the main awning and under the kitchen cabinets!

I had a little problem finding exactly what I wanted at a price I wanted to pay! I wanted the RGB strips that were waterproof and a remote control that was RF instead of IR so I could control the lights from inside or outside. At first I was planning to just install the strip outside on the slideout, but then decided that under the kitchen cabinets would be nice too. I didn't want to use two remote controls, so that called for a multi-zone system.

After a lot of research I ended up buying the materials from two different companies. SuperBrightLED's had the multi-zone controls with the RF type remote, but their LED strips were very expensive. I found a 16' RGB strip from Parts Express that was only $19.90, a fraction of SuperBrightLED's price of $115.95! Below are the links to what I bought:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...ote/1794/4278/

The package included the remote control and one controller. I had to order another controller for the other zone. This remote will control up to four zones, individually or all at once. In addition to selecting any of the colors individually, you can mix the colors, and you have about eight programs that do some pretty amazing things! Here is the extra controller:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...er-/1800/4374/

This is the power that I used. This 50 watt power supply will power up to about 32' or RGB strip. I just cut the output cable and connected it to both controllers.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...wer-supply/68/

Here is the LED strip:
Lavolta RGB 300 SMD5050 LED 16 ft. Tape Lighting Strip 12 VDC Waterproof IP65 for Standalone or Add-On Strip to Lavolta KIT-1

The LED strip can be cut at 2" intervals. Because of the 45-degree turns on the kitchen cabinets I had to cut the strip into three pieces and join them with short pieces of stranded wire. The strips don't bend! One caution here....when you cut the strips you have very short copper connections that you have to solder the wires to. This requires a low-wattage (I used a 15 watt) soldering iron with a sharp tip, and very small diameter rosin core solder. It also requires a fair amount of soldering skill. I understand that they have push-on solderless connectors that can be used for this. You might want to look into that. I chose to go the soldering route because I have been in electronics repair all my life. I didn't trust the mounting tape on the strip. I found the Scotch 411 below at Wal-Mart. I bought the 175" roll and paid $8.47 for it. That stuff really sticks, yet you can pull it off and re-attach it if necessary!
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Scotch-Out...ingMethod=p13n

Here are some shots of the finished project.

palehorse89 · 11-26-2014, 03:59 PM

Great job Joe! Looks great!!!! Thanks for the picture's.....

OLYLEN · 11-26-2014, 07:31 PM

Kinda looks like a house one would not talk about visiting..LOL

Just kidding, nice job

LEN

powerboatr · 11-26-2014, 07:41 PM

WOW

i think i see a new project coming on

Dogpatch · 11-26-2014, 07:42 PM

Nice!

Technorick · 11-26-2014, 09:46 PM

Nice work! Where did you pick up the 12v feed for the slide out.? Do all these strips go back to a 12v home run? Or does the piece on the slide out plug into an ac to dc power pack and pick up control signals from the remote?

scooterbob · 11-27-2014, 06:24 AM

Looks good, gives me Ideas.

Bumps · 11-27-2014, 06:38 AM

Joe: It looks like you are already set up for Christmas! LOL! I admire your patience with the teeny little wires! \ken

MSHappyCampers · 11-27-2014, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technorick

Nice work! Where did you pick up the 12v feed for the slide out.? Do all these strips go back to a 12v home run? Or does the piece on the slide out plug into an ac to dc power pack and pick up control signals from the remote?

The outside strip is mounted on the aluminum windshield under the awning roller. I drilled a 1/4" hole through it and through the wall of the slideout into the top kitchen cabinet that has the AC outlet for the microwave/convection oven. I plugged the power supply in there. I used a 4/c 22 AWG stranded cable from the controllers to each of the strips.

The remote control is RF (radio frequency) instead of IR (infrared) so it will work inside or out without having to "see" a sensor!

stan5711 · 11-28-2014, 01:55 PM

can the controller be hooked up to 12v or does it have to have the power supply.

RickO · 11-28-2014, 02:08 PM

Great job Joe!!!

MSHappyCampers · 11-28-2014, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stan5711

can the controller be hooked up to 12v or does it have to have the power supply.

Yes, you can connect the controller direct to 12 VDC if you have it available. You would have to be careful about the current draw. The RGB LED strips pull about 1.5 watts per foot. For a 16' strip that would require about 2 amps of current. You would have to check the current draw on the circuit, then see what size fuse that particular circuit has in the fuse panel.