patio awning outside led upgrade

[rjlarsyn]

I removed the outside patio light in my 2000 roadtrek 210 to add a LED light strip that would run the length of the awning. I also installed a dimmer on the inside. My wife loves it.
Since this was a project I have been thinking about for quite a while I thought others may benefit from my experience and a few pics. Notice I had already replaced the standard bulb with an LED version. I have done a lot of mods but every new one offers challenges and can be nerve wrecking. Hope this helps.
First step was to drill out the rivets. If you plan to reuse the light make sure
the drill bit is only as large as the rivet shaft.
http://www.classbforum.com/forums/at...1&d=1507823633
Then I took a box cutter and thin chisel and slowly worked my way around the light. I would suggest doing this on a warm day when the goo may be a little softer. Go slow take your time the pot metal is brittle and it does not take much to break it.
http://www.classbforum.com/forums/at...1&d=1507823633
Then I used a nylon string to "cut" the goo behind the light. You may want to rap the string around a couple pieces of broom handles to get more leverage. I did this after the photo and also used a sawing motion to cut it out.
http://www.classbforum.com/forums/at...1&d=1507823633
Slowly and carefully remove the fixture. The wiring is not very long behind it so be carefully you leave enough slack to attach crimps.
If you intend to add an LED light strip like me, I had to measure where to drill the hole to run the wiring to make sure I did not drill the hole too high. Also be sure to mount the LED strip slightly below the hole. This way the pigtail will not allow rain to run down and possibly into the rv. Lastly I gooped it up with silicon and the pigtail hole and riveted it back in place.

[Ron J. Moore]

Thanks for sharing...especially the pixs. Ron

[gklugie]

Nice job.
Thanks for sharing.

[Deano]

You just partially answered a post I made earlier. Thanks.
I want to add an LED strip lamp as well. Can you tell me if it is possible to access a hole for a wire, mid way back on the MH body, from the porch light lamp hole?

[rjlarsyn]

I will try to add some pics of the finished product soon

[rjlarsyn]

The finished product. I drilled the hole for the electrical as high as possible but kept it under the drip rail. I sealed the hole around
the entrance with silicon. Note the slight downward slope from the hole to the led strip. I will probably run a bead of silicon along the led
strip to insure adhesion. Got too aggressive with the chisel and should have used the sting as soon as it would fit behind, see the scratch
marks next to light.

I put a dab of silicon on the end of the light strip where I cut it.

My Roadtrek has a cabinet in place of a jump seat so there was not much room to run wiring behind the cabinet. I decided to use the power from the original light
but put a dimmer switch on the inside. It was easy to feed the wires between the outside hole and the place I put the dimmer. There was two hidden screws behind the fabric holding the u shaped piece above the door. This was the only piece on the inside I needed to remove.

http://www.classbforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4969&stc=1&d=150790290 5

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http://www.classbforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4971&stc=1&d=150790290 5

[peppster66]

Great job, my wife has always wanted one of those led strips under the awning, I really like the idea of adding a dimmer switch,, thanks for the pics,,, great addition to the van, thanks,,,,