Awning Lights - Ideas

NSMITH · 10-11-2002, 09:47 AM

Please share your ideas on awning lighting systems. Looking for something for 31' Excella.

Thanks,
Neal in Indiana

davidz71 · 10-11-2002, 10:41 AM

Camping World has a lighting system for awnings that does not hang down like lanterns. From looking at their catalog, it looks similiar to lights inside a small tube that you might see on running boards of vehicles, lighting inside gun safes, etc. I do not know how much light it puts out but it appears interesting. Anyone have this system?

BobbyW · 10-11-2002, 10:47 AM

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/s...=SRCH&tcode=37

davidz71 · 10-11-2002, 11:25 AM

That's the one Bobby. It looks conservative, neat and doesn't hang down to hit you in the head when you walk by. It seems to me that it wouldn't bother the folks on the next site by casting additional light their way.

NSMITH · 10-11-2002, 11:27 AM

Bobby:
This is exactly what I'm after. However, this attaches via the groove in the awning roller. My Zip-Dee doesn't have a groove like that ('84 Excella). I've seen at Home Depot the light tape that's about 3/8" in diameter and then you can buy an adhesive strip to pop the light tape into. Do you think it would cause a problem to just leave this in place and roll up the awning?

NSMITH · 10-11-2002, 11:32 AM

Craig - do you know if there's a groove to use on the Zip-Dee's? I don't see one.
Neal

davidz71 · 10-11-2002, 11:55 AM

Neal,
I don't see one on my ZipDee.

RoadKingMoe · 10-11-2002, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davidz71
Neal,
I don't see one on my ZipDee.

Me neither... and I looked 'cause I like these awning lights. I have clear rope lighting running above the valances and overhead cabinet in the front of my trailer. The living room has to serve double duty as my bar. Gonna wire in an in-line dimmer to tone it down a bit. HD carries an 18' length with 2' extensions.

NSMITH · 10-11-2002, 12:37 PM

I was in a freak ice storm last spring and had a wicked ice coating on my awning - it was 13 degrees the next a.m. and couldn't get the ice off. Chipped on it for awhile and them just rolled the thing up (after using hair dryer to thaw the ice out of the supports). When I traveled south it thawed. I unrolled it that night to dry and it turned out fine - no ill effects.

Seems to me the awing could roll up a light strip if it can roll up with some ice on it. Does anyone do this?

davidz71 · 10-13-2002, 04:15 PM

nsmith,
I was thinking that you could possibly have a strip of velcro sewn into your awning and another strip of velcro glued to the light strip.

zamboni · 12-29-2002, 06:27 PM

Most stores that carry holiday lighting now carry rope lights which can be used indoor/outdoor. You can buy them in various colors...i've seen red, white, blue, green, amber, multi-color. I have two sets (one for each side awning) on our MH. they do the trick without being too bright as someone mentioned earlier and are different from the "traditional" awning lights...just like our A/S.

AND THERE A/S BLUE!

NSMITH · 12-30-2002, 06:04 AM

Z:
How do you attach the ropelight to your awnings?
Neal

smily · 12-30-2002, 09:18 AM

I use Binder clips from the office supply store.

They are the ones that are spring loaded and the finger clips fold back. They are inexpensive and work well. The only drawback is that they are not rust proof and they will rust in due time.

Smily

12-30-2002, 10:09 AM

I bought a string of normal size christmas bulbs. I took all them AOL disk< I got in the mail, unscrewed the bulbs and put the shiny side of the disk behind the bulb. The hole is just big anough.
It puts out some nice reflection