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Old 02-17-2018, 12:56 AM   #1
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Adding LED Strip under awning - Challenger

I ordered RecPro LED light strip to place under my awning so I can have lights without my awning being out. I searched the forums but didn't see any specifics about who has done this and what they did as far as wiring.
I am thinking about wiring it to the same 12V wire the awning lights are on and place a rocker switch so I can go back and forth between the lights if I want to. but... before I reinvent the wheel, I would love to hear what others have done. I can also connect to the entry door light switch since that light is essentially useless anyway. Your thoughts and ideas? TIA

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Old 02-17-2018, 01:50 AM   #2
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[QUOTE=Techn0;108672]I ordered RecPro LED light strip to place under my awning so I can have lights without my awning being out. I searched the forums but didn't see any specifics about who has done this and what they did as far as wiring.
I am thinking about wiring it to the same 12V wire the awning lights are on and place a rocker switch so I can go back and forth between the lights if I want to. but... before I reinvent the wheel, I would love to hear what others have done. I can also connect to the entry door light switch since that light is essentially useless anyway

I am doing the same but removing light strip from awning and using that wiring
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Old 02-17-2018, 01:11 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by Techn0 View Post
I ordered RecPro LED light strip to place under my awning so I can have lights without my awning being out. I searched the forums but didn't see any specifics about who has done this and what they did as far as wiring.
I am thinking about wiring it to the same 12V wire the awning lights are on and place a rocker switch so I can go back and forth between the lights if I want to. but... before I reinvent the wheel, I would love to hear what others have done. I can also connect to the entry door light switch since that light is essentially useless anyway. Your thoughts and ideas? TIA
If your Challenger is like ours, you'd probably end up using or tapping into the switch leg for the outside door light to power your new lighting, since Thor used SPDT switches for both the awning and outside the door lights..

Thor used SPDT switches on our Challenger which means you have power to the empty terminal on the switch. These switches are commonly used for "3 way" lighting. (Turning a light on in one location and turning it off in another.)

If you connected to the blank terminal on the switch, you'll end up with an "either or" lighting situation. No way to turn off both lights since the switch position would dictate which circuit was powered. Thor sure has some wacky ways to do things.. I guess if they use the same switch everywhere, ( instead of a SPST where needed) it minimizes the chance of installing the wrong switch in the wrong location at the factory. Read idiot proof...well idiot resistant anyway.

Great idea about adding LED lights though. Please let us know how it turns out. Hope this helps. [emoji88]
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Old 02-18-2018, 01:21 PM   #4
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This is on my mod list as well. Seems that most new models have the LED under the awning so it can be used without rolling it out.

I'm leaning towards adding an new switch so that both can be operated independently or together but I really haven't put much thought in to it beyond that.

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Old 02-18-2018, 08:05 PM   #5
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Okay, after all said and done, I wired it directly to the step light. It was the easiest to wire. Now I don't have to run any extra wire or worry about adding a SPDT rocker switch. it looks just the new 2018 lighting. Check box, mod complete.
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Old 02-19-2018, 01:03 AM   #6
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Picture of the final product. Very bright!
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Old 02-19-2018, 01:45 AM   #7
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Looks great.
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Old 02-19-2018, 02:18 AM   #8
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Nicely done!
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Old 02-20-2018, 03:29 PM   #9
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Very nice! Might have to add this to the "Honey Do" list.
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Old 02-20-2018, 09:30 PM   #10
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Thanks Erich, gotta get this done.
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Old 02-24-2018, 04:59 AM   #11
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Picture of the final product. Very bright!
What year daybreak?
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Old 02-24-2018, 01:54 PM   #12
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What year daybreak?
2017 Challenger
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Old 02-24-2018, 03:23 PM   #13
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Very nice, wish I was handy enough to do this to our Challenger!
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Old 03-16-2018, 07:23 PM   #14
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Okay, after all said and done, I wired it directly to the step light. It was the easiest to wire. Now I don't have to run any extra wire or worry about adding a SPDT rocker switch. it looks just the new 2018 lighting. Check box, mod complete.
I was thinking about doing this to my Challenger as well. I haven't looked yet, but where did you run the wire? I assume there is a hole somewhere on the awning track to go through.
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Old 03-16-2018, 08:48 PM   #15
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I thought about doing this with my Miramar. However, I decided to leave it the way it came. The light reflects well under the awning and doesn't shine so bright into my neighbor's windows. I don't often sit outside without the awning out anyway. I have rope light that I put around my mat which I leave on to easily find my way when returning to the RV in the dark, without lighting up the neighborhood.
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Old 03-16-2018, 10:25 PM   #16
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I was thinking about doing this to my Challenger as well. I haven't looked yet, but where did you run the wire? I assume there is a hole somewhere on the awning track to go through.
I followed the awning LED light wiring down the awning arm, which routes to inside the coach and then down behind the wall where the cushion for the drop down bed is or whatever that is officially called. It routes right down underneath the stairs and was easy to connect directly to the step light. I did have to loosen the awning arm so you might want to have someone with you or use all your legs and arms like I did. ;-)
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Old 03-16-2018, 10:35 PM   #17
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Picture of the final product. Very bright!


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Old 03-16-2018, 11:10 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by Techn0 View Post
I followed the awning LED light wiring down the awning arm, which routes to inside the coach and then down behind the wall where the cushion for the drop down bed is or whatever that is officially called. It routes right down underneath the stairs and was easy to connect directly to the step light. I did have to loosen the awning arm so you might want to have someone with you or use all your legs and arms like I did. ;-)


Thank you. I may give this a shot when it gets warmer
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Old 03-23-2018, 08:31 PM   #19
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I'm not very handy but I'm going to give this a shot on my 2017 Challenger. I can see where the existing wire enters behind the awning track. If I understand your post correctly, you fished the new wire through that hole and down the inside of the wall so that it's not visible from inside the coach. Is that correct? If so, was that easy to do? Any tips?? Thank you!
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Old 03-23-2018, 08:55 PM   #20
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I'm not very handy but I'm going to give this a shot on my 2017 Challenger. I can see where the existing wire enters behind the awning track. If I understand your post correctly, you fished the new wire through that hole and down the inside of the wall so that it's not visible from inside the coach. Is that correct? If so, was that easy to do? Any tips?? Thank you!
That's correct. Take the padding cover off of the inside support beam and you'll see where the wires run from the top and down through the bottom of the coach. Hope that helps.
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