RTT lighting

[ColoDisco]

After reaching our last campsite and finding all our headlamps and lantern were without power I decided the RTT and awning needed some lighting. Hit Amazon and bought a couple rolls of weatherproof LED lights, some connectors so I could connect multiple strips together. Also added a new fuse block to separate out the power to the tent. Also because the default for this setup is on. In other words if the lose power they automatically turn on when power is restored. This is a problem as you will not know they are on and they can drain your battery. For now I just pull the fuse until we reach camp. Plan on putting the power supply on a switch.

Here is what I bought:
LED lights, cool white for the awning area and in the tent. Warm white for the annex area.
LEDwholesalers 16.4 Feet 300xSMD3528 LED Flexible Strip with Waterproof Sleeve LED Ribbon 5 Meter Reel 12 Volt, White 2047WH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003G9408K/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Lhxtub0HW9CT1
LE Lampux 12V Flexible Waterproof LED Strip Lights, Warm White, 150 Units 5050 LEDs, Light Strips, Pack of 5M https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JQV6S96/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Ynxtub17P8P46

Bought these switches to allow us to dim the lights and turn the off individually.
Globle New LED Dimmer Controller 12V Switch ON/OFF LED Strip Light Dimmer Controller Multi Mode https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HTXICGK/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Gpxtub1F6EBM9

And these to tie them together or start new connections.
Estone 10pcs Connector Adapter Cable LED PCB Strip 3528 to 3528 Single Color 8mm Free Welding https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GTGLCXI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Lqxtub15V8Z9C

ZITRADES 8mm 2Pin 10Pcs LED Strip Connectors For 3528 Single Color LED Strip BY ZITRADES https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B98ZUBG/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ysxtub0S3T4MA

Bought this wire to run power.
20m 66ft 20awg Extension Cable Wire Cord for Led Strips Single Colour 3528 5050 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009VCZ4V8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Hrxtub0KDBVT5

Fuse block:

Awning lighting:

Tent lighting:

Annex lighting. Still need to do the finishing touches on securing the wiring.

Please share any of your solutions to lighting!

 

[fubar]

Great idea to put a separate switch on the lighting main power. I have "dimmers" for my LED strips and I'm not really sure they are off-off. Added to my winter project list...

 

[ducktapeguy]

I just installed a single light strip in my tent over the weekend and am waiting for a few more components to finish it. I'm planning on setting it up almost exactly just like yours, and basically bought the same components. How do you like those switches? Is there anything you would do differently? More or less light in certain areas? Which color do you like better, the warm white or cool white? I'm still debating on the color temperature.

On my interior light, there's a fabric covering the pole so I couldn't use the self stick adhesive as originally planned. Instead I bought some thick clear vinyl tubing from Home Depot and slit a 3 ft length and used that to hold the LED strip to the pole. Probably works better than my original plan because now I have some ability to adjust the direction it's pointing.

 

[Scottydog13]

I have a couple sets of solar powered light strings. Can leave the small panel open to the sun on my roof, then all set for darkness..

 

[ColoDisco]

I just installed a single light strip in my tent over the weekend and am waiting for a few more components to finish it. I'm planning on setting it up almost exactly just like yours, and basically bought the same components. How do you like those switches? Is there anything you would do differently? More or less light in certain areas? Which color do you like better, the warm white or cool white? I'm still debating on the color temperature.

On my interior light, there's a fabric covering the pole so I couldn't use the self stick adhesive as originally planned. Instead I bought some thick clear vinyl tubing from Home Depot and slit a 3 ft length and used that to hold the LED strip to the pole. Probably works better than my original plan because now I have some ability to adjust the direction it's pointing.

My favorite is warm white, which works well in my annex. After seeing my friend and co explorer Leon's FJ setup I opted for cool white in the tent and outside. We use 2 mini hozuki's as ambient light and reading lights in the tent when the LED's are off. Switches so far are perfect! Might switch out the cheesy plastic connectors for solderless with shrink tubing to make the connections cleaner.

Leon's FJ:

 

[Sonoranrunner]

Remote controlled led light strip under awning. Taped into rear dome light for power.

 

[yj4trails]

For inside the tent I have a fleetwood fan/light combo and for the annex area a 12 inch LED strip with remote.

 

[johnspark]

moths to the flame....

I'm just sayin...I'm not sayin.... eepwall:

 

[dstock]

Great write up, thanks!

I have decide between the cool white and the warm white, past experience with white led's make things more difficult to see, where as the warm white seems more agreeable to my eyes. Hard to explain.

 

[johnspark]

Put one of these on the first bar of the tent in the opening and one on the upper bar of the tent and be happy.

http://www.rampageproducts.com/lightingled.html#traillight

10 bucks each. :victory:

 

[ColoDisco]

After using them a couple times I have some updates. Having some connection issues with the strip to strip connectors. Changed out my tent lights to warm white. Much better on the eyes. Annex lighting keeps trying to unstick so I will be opting for a hard mount strip. Looking at a 12v 30" long aquarium light off amazon that I can screw directly into my tent base. Awning lights are amazing. Have a picture from our recent Grand Canyon trip I will post up later tonight.

 

[calicamper]

After reaching our last campsite and finding all our headlamps and lantern were without power I decided the RTT and awning needed some lighting. Hit Amazon and bought a couple rolls of weatherproof LED lights, some connectors so I could connect multiple strips together. Also added a new fuse block to separate out the power to the tent. Also because the default for this setup is on. In other words if the lose power they automatically turn on when power is restored. This is a problem as you will not know they are on and they can drain your battery. For now I just pull the fuse until we reach camp. Plan on putting the power supply on a switch.

Here is what I bought:
LED lights, cool white for the awning area and in the tent. Warm white for the annex area.
LEDwholesalers 16.4 Feet 300xSMD3528 LED Flexible Strip with Waterproof Sleeve LED Ribbon 5 Meter Reel 12 Volt, White 2047WH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003G9408K/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Lhxtub0HW9CT1
LE Lampux 12V Flexible Waterproof LED Strip Lights, Warm White, 150 Units 5050 LEDs, Light Strips, Pack of 5M https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JQV6S96/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Ynxtub17P8P46

Bought these switches to allow us to dim the lights and turn the off individually.
Globle New LED Dimmer Controller 12V Switch ON/OFF LED Strip Light Dimmer Controller Multi Mode https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HTXICGK/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Gpxtub1F6EBM9



And these to tie them together or start new connections.
Estone 10pcs Connector Adapter Cable LED PCB Strip 3528 to 3528 Single Color 8mm Free Welding https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GTGLCXI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Lqxtub15V8Z9C

ZITRADES 8mm 2Pin 10Pcs LED Strip Connectors For 3528 Single Color LED Strip BY ZITRADES https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B98ZUBG/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ysxtub0S3T4MA

Bought this wire to run power.
20m 66ft 20awg Extension Cable Wire Cord for Led Strips Single Colour 3528 5050 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009VCZ4V8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Hrxtub0KDBVT5

Fuse block:

Awning lighting:

Tent lighting:

Annex lighting. Still need to do the finishing touches on securing the wiring.

Please share any of your solutions to lighting!

Perfect I was just thinking through this idea yesterday for our Life Time Tent trailer. Just mounted a tounge box and was looking at a small AMG 12v 20amph 12lb battery to mount in the box to power some lights. Add a simple solar charger etc. How do you like the little manual inline switches. Seemed like a great cheap option. Looking at a key fob remote switch idea for exterior lights.

 

[ColoDisco]

Switches work amazing. Only trouble is mounting them. Zip ties work on the tent, had to get creative with screws on the annex and the awning it just hangs out. Thinking of some strong double sided tape. We moved the tent over to my 98 disco for our last trip. Some issues with the 95 needed to be sorted and could not get it done in time. Will probably be going back to that truck. That's why there is a different truck in this pic.
Grand Canyon campground. 3/22/2015

 

[ColoDisco]

It is actually a 20" light. Here is the link to what I am planning on installing.
http://www.amazon.com/LEDENET-2800K-3000K-Supper-Bright-30LEDs/dp/B00N0L574U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1428634122&sr=8-4&keywords=Ledenet+warm+white+aquarium

 

[calicamper]

I see what you mean by mountable. Good idea. I was thinking about something like that mounted up under the rear step/tailgate of the trailer to light the step down area which always is damn dark. Hmmm thanks for the ideas!! Cobbling together a plan and list of parts.

For our tent I'm probably going to hand sew the LED to the inside seam with small loops every few inches. Then sort out a power plug plan given the tent gets slipped out of the trailer for dump runs and occasional hauling duties.