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Old 04-24-2015, 11:58 AM   #1
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Need LED Light Strip for Step Well

As you can see in the below photo, I have a short light strip along one side of one of my entry steps. I’d like to replace them with brighter LED’s that I can wrap around the top of the entire step well. After doing some internet shopping I am on LED overload - there are TONS of light strips out there. I need something that can be cut to length and I want something that and has a good white color temp as opposed to a blue. Can anyone recommend one they’ve personally used?

Also, the current light strip is in a plastic tube. That tube is stapled to the carpet. None of the cut-to-length LED strips I’ve looked at come in plastic tubes. Any suggestions on the best way to mount a new strip to the carpeting?

Thanks!

Craig

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Old 04-24-2015, 12:57 PM   #2
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Light color is measured in Kelvins, a temperature scale used in science. What we call 'white' light depends on your eyes. Incandescent bulbs are about ~2600 K.



When picking an LED, check it's color by the Kelvin scale.

These LEDs are about 3000 K, I think they're close to 'white.'

Amazon.com: HitLights Warm White SMD3528 LED Light Strip - 300 LEDs, 16.4 Ft Roll, Cut to length - 3000K, 82 Lumens / 1.5 Watts per foot, Requires 12V DC: Musical Instruments

You could buy plastic tubing at a local home improvement center and pull the light strip into the tubing. Most LED strips I find already in plastic tubing is 120 v, not 12 v.

Amazon has lots of choices, so does Ebay.
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Old 04-24-2015, 06:15 PM   #3
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Mount the self-adhesive led strips to a skinny molding and tack in place. Screen molding is a convenient size.

Screen molding at Home Depot

Just about any of the adhesive strips can be cut to length - they even have factory markings every inch or tow for safe cut points.
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Old 04-24-2015, 07:13 PM   #4
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Menards sells the cut-to-length LED strip light in both 12V and 120VAC versions. Some models even come with a remote. Match that to Bob's suggestion of encasing it in a clear plastic tube from a hardware store, and you have what you want.
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Old 04-24-2015, 10:35 PM   #5
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Here is a simple fix. Walmart, in their automotive section, sells two strips of LED lights, 12" long. They're 12 volt and have 3M tape on one side. They're about $10. I used them under my steps, outside and they worked great. They're pretty bright, so one strip should be enough.
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Old 04-26-2015, 09:07 AM   #6
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You can't stick the adhesive strips to carpet. Well, you can but they fall off soon. Thus the need for a mounting tube or strip.

The alternative is a rigid strip of a suitable length. They are often available in variopus lengths and colors, so you can hunt for something that suits. Walmart, KMart, auto parts stores, etc, have them.

Here is a nice 20" rigid strip if you can use that length. It is very bright - I have one mounted as an under-cabinet light in the galley work area.
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Old 04-26-2015, 09:10 AM   #7
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This is what you need. Awesome lights! Mount to a small wood lath screwed under the lip. \ken

Amazon.com: Maxxima (MLS-1827) Cool White 18" LED Self-Adhesive Strip Light: Automotive
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Old 04-26-2015, 09:43 AM   #8
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I put a strip of led lights from amazon (from the roll of leds I used in our fluorescent light fixtures in the MH) into a clear plastic tube from the hardware store.

About $10 invested for the three MH fixtures and the home deck step railing.

Hangs outside under a deck step railing.

Been good for about 5 months so far. Never gets hot.
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Old 04-26-2015, 10:10 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer View Post
You can't stick the adhesive strips to carpet. Well, you can but they fall off soon. Thus the need for a mounting tube or strip.

The alternative is a rigid strip of a suitable length. They are often available in variopus lengths and colors, so you can hunt for something that suits. Walmart, KMart, auto parts stores, etc, have them.

Here is a nice 20" rigid strip if you can use that length. It is very bright - I have one mounted as an under-cabinet light in the galley work area.
$40 for 20 inches??? That's 50 cents an inch. Seems a bit steep when 5 m (16.4 feet) is only $12 on Amazon.
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Old 04-27-2015, 12:32 PM   #10
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Quote:
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$40 for 20 inches??? That's 50 cents an inch. Seems a bit steep when 5 m (16.4 feet) is only $12 on Amazon.
Yep,
Sure seems a bit on the high side of cost to me too. What you see below is about $12.00 from Amazon. The ones on the upper portion of the steps are 3528 LED light strip specs and, the ones along side/under the coach passenger side and, under the bottom front lip of the steps, are 5630 LED specs. MUCH BRIGHTER!
Scott







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Old 05-09-2015, 02:05 PM   #11
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I completed my little LED project today. I decided to take Don's advice, so I took the easy path and bought a twin pack of adhesive back LED strips at Walmart. At $20, they were a little more expensive than I had hoped for, but I had some free time today and I just wanted to git 'er done. The LED's are very bright so I decided to use only one strip. I'm sure I'll find a use for the other strip somewhere else in the MH! 😃

I found some scrap stained moulding in my garage that was perfect for mounting the strip. I cut it to length, countersunk the mounting screws and screwed it into the step well after drilling pilot holes. The whole project took me less than an hour, and I'm happy with the results.

Thanks for the help guys!

Craig

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Old 05-09-2015, 06:50 PM   #12
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Thanks for posting the result.

Great Idea for install.
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Old 05-09-2015, 09:23 PM   #13
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Need LED Light Strip for Step Well

Quote:
Originally Posted by deandec View Post
Thanks for posting the result.

Great Idea for install.

My pleasure.

I just checked the LED's now that it's nighttime. Holy cow they're bright! Almost too bright. They not only light up the step well, but the dash too, LOL! Since they come on with the patio light, I'm hoping they don't become distracting while watching TV at night. Time will tell...
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Old 05-10-2015, 09:46 AM   #14
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I agree, it does not take a long strip to get some subtle lighting help.

I am searching for a switch mounting point to make the light useful and not intrusive.

Then the step light could be left on without the patio light on whether we were in the rig or away from the rig.

My current step light is tied into the electric exterior step switch and as a result is usually turned off when parked.
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