Kiwi_too
Western, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/13/2003
View Profile
|
MegaJohn wrote:Kiwi_too wrote:Are you a boondocker? To reduce 12v consumption, why not go with a battery operated, motion detector, night light.
Walmart
Camping World
Not a bad idea. Unfortunately, until someone passes in front of the light... it's dark.
Sometimes other family members come with us who might be disoriented in the dark. The single LEDs put very little load on the battery bank and provide just enough light to find your way and do your busness... I also don't have to carry replacement batteries.
Happy Camping!
John.
You are correct about the motion sensor. I use the night owls. They are fairly sensitive. I'd say 120-150 degree coverage. I have 4 strategically placed. One at the foot of the bed comes on when our feet hit the ground and that is enough to see to the bathroom door.
May God bless your travels
Me, The Wonderful Wife 
and two Spastic Border Collies 
U.S. Army Retired 
2004 Coachmen Aurora, 3480DS
2007 Saturn Outlook, FROG
|
MegaJohn
NW Geogia
Senior Member
Joined: 08/21/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
The DW & I installed the other 3 LEDs this afternoon... two in the living/kitchen room fixtures and one in the fixture over the vanity sink. They light the area pretty good... enough light to get around and brush your teeth at the end of the day.
Here is the assembled fixture...
It's not very impressive during the day, but here is the fixture with the bulbs turned off and the LED on...
We purchased two battery powered "puck" type LED lights from Big Lots ($3 each)... one for over the dinette and another for over the kitchen sink. I also purchased a set of auto accent LED bars from WalMart ($10)... one will be installed to illuminate the steps (I'll install a switch inside the door) and another for over our bed (also switched).
The Mrs & I are ready to try them all out this spring!
Happy Camping!
John.
* This post was
edited 01/29/12 08:06pm by MegaJohn *
Stock 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 MegaCab, 5.9L Cummins, Automatic, 2WD, Dually
- 30' 2006 Pilgrim Interntional travel trailer, dry weight ~7k pounds, GVWR ~9k pounds
- Husky weight distributing hitch, friction anti-sway control, electronic brake controller
|
Bbasso
USA
Senior Member
Joined: 09/08/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Just found this while looking for something else... Looks like it fits your needs perfectly.
|
MegaJohn
NW Geogia
Senior Member
Joined: 08/21/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Bbasso wrote:Just found this while looking for something else... Looks like it fits your needs perfectly.
I like it... you know what would be cool?
Put something like this at strategic locations inside your camper... some on the outside to light the steps (or other areas needed) then have them come on automatically at dusk with a photovoltaic "eye"... Include a switch in case you need to disable them. Then all the important areas would be lit when needed.
I'm too frugal (or cheap) to gather all the pieces and put it together... but it would be way cool! 
Happy Camping!
John.
* This post was
last
edited 01/31/12 06:57am by MegaJohn *
View edit history
|
LAdams
Northern Illinois
Moderator
Joined: 10/06/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I like that Mega John - where did you get the LED???
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
HUNTER THERMOSTAT INSTALL
HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS
|
|
|
MegaJohn
NW Geogia
Senior Member
Joined: 08/21/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
LAdams wrote:I like that Mega John - where did you get the LED???
Les
Actually, they're "custom made".
Check out my first post to this thread on 01/29/12. It includes links to the LEDs & holders I purchased at my local Radio Shack... 2 LEDs - $2.19, 2 LED holders - $1.69. I used some scavenged resistors from my junk box and some light gauge wire I had laying around from a piece of Cat 5 cable.
When I installed the LEDs, I found I'd trimmed the leads shorter than I should have... leaving the leads a bit long or not taping them together would have made the installation easier. However, the shorter leads do not impact their performance.
I used black electrical tape to insulate the leads. I would have preferred some other material, but didn't have anything on hand I liked. I tried some heat shrink I had laying around, but it was not small enough to do a good job... and may have made the leads more rigid which would have made the install more difficult.
I'm not very good with a solder iron, but I think the job was pretty easy and the results were on par with what I'd envisioned. If you have a need and the materials & tools on hand, I'd recommend it. They seem to work very well for us... time will tell if it was a good or poor upgrade.
If you need more specific info, please let me know.
Happy Camping!
John.
|
