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10-14-2016, 09:38 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2016 30' Classic
Lorton
, Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 689
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Rope light fetish?
I've noticed more and more people putting bright LED rope lights around the perimeter of their entire RV on the ground. Talk about unsightly and they leave it on all night causing tons of light pollution.
What am I missing here? What is the point of this? Is this some kind of fad? Do people think lighting up their RV like a Christmas tree is pleasing to others?
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10-14-2016, 09:41 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Kansas City
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,962
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In my opinion you pretty much summed it up well. They see it, they gotta have it.
And I must say, last week we were next to someone with a whole lot of outside decor, lights and such.
They sure did oh and ah when I put that simple fuse in and turned on the running lights.
Less is more sometimes.
__________________
Piggy Bank
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10-15-2016, 12:17 AM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member
2016 19' International
McKinney
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
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Rope lights provide lighting without the bugs. Not a big deal in some areas but a huge deal in others. However, it's rude to leave them on all night and unnecessary.
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10-15-2016, 05:24 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Kansas City
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,962
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Curious about the no bugs statement.
Is this only if they are on the ground because flying insects are not on the ground, or if hanging are they also somehow not attracting flying insects?
__________________
Piggy Bank
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10-15-2016, 01:31 PM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 194
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piggy Bank
Curious about the no bugs statement.
Is this only if they are on the ground because flying insects are not on the ground, or if hanging are they also somehow not attracting flying insects?
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LEDS put out a bluish colored light. Bugs don't seen to be attracted to it. I've notice the same thing with the LED bulbs that I have on my back porch.
John
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10-16-2016, 01:50 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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It's probably the lack of infrared and heat with LEDs over incandescent.
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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10-16-2016, 06:32 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2008 27' Safari FB SE
Pfafftown
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 918
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zybane
I've noticed more and more people putting bright LED rope lights around the perimeter of their entire RV on the ground. Talk about unsightly and they leave it on all night causing tons of light pollution.
What am I missing here? What is the point of this? Is this some kind of fad? Do people think lighting up their RV like a Christmas tree is pleasing to others?
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When camping in the southwestern deserts (Arizona and California) last winter I was told by other campers the LED rope lights keep rodents away from the trailer and tow vehicle during the night. Mice and other small animals will crawl up into vehicles and chew on the electric wires. In many vehicles the insulation on electric wires is soy based and is therefore edible and attractive. The cost of replacing the electric system on a tow vehicle with chewed wiring is thousands of dollars.
Also, in the southwest many rodents are infected with the hantavirus. Lighting under the trailer is purported to keep rodents away from the underside of the trailer at night where they might crawl into the trailer.
My east coast camping friends seem to all use rope lighting for decoration.
__________________
Chuck
Airstream - 2008 Safari 27FB SE (Sweet Pea)
TV - 2022 Ford F350 King Ranch, 6.7 Diesel, 4X4 (Big Red)
WBCCI 3823 - Unit 12 | AIR 48265
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10-16-2016, 07:25 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Berlin
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,784
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Interesting thread. I am not a fan of the lights however if it was proven that they keep bugs and rodensts away I would definitely use them.
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10-16-2016, 07:38 AM
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#9
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Lost in America
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,151
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trnpk Crsr
LEDS put out a bluish colored light. Bugs don't seen to be attracted to it. I've notice the same thing with the LED bulbs that I have on my back porch. John
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Well they are certainly attracted to the LED lights inside the trailer and the LED porch light on the outside.
__________________
This is the strangest life I've ever known - J. Morrison
2015 Airstream International Serenity 27FB
2017 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel
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10-16-2016, 09:13 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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What the heck, let's be grouchy today. We hang flamingo lights on the awning - that must drive you crazy.
John
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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10-16-2016, 10:42 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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I had AS install the LED strip (all white) under the awning that is now standard. I have a colored LED strip on the belt line and that goes on with my clearance lights. I do this for a couple hours at night (if in the mood) with a fire or just hanging out at the trailer. It all goes off around 10:00.
Sorry if my fellow campers don't like it. I find it festive 😀
If a neighbor ever came over and said it was bothering them, I'd be glad to shut if off.
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10-16-2016, 03:35 PM
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#12
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1 Rivet Member
2016 19' International
McKinney
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 14
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Rope Lights
I don't know if the bugs are out there around the rope lights on the ground because I'm not out there. Soft light up from the ground. We don't hang them, so light pollution is only a problem in our camp.
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10-17-2016, 06:13 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2016 30' Classic
Lorton
, Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 689
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Florida 55
When camping in the southwestern deserts (Arizona and California) last winter I was told by other campers the LED rope lights keep rodents away from the trailer and tow vehicle during the night. Mice and other small animals will crawl up into vehicles and chew on the electric wires. In many vehicles the insulation on electric wires is soy based and is therefore edible and attractive. The cost of replacing the electric system on a tow vehicle with chewed wiring is thousands of dollars.
Also, in the southwest many rodents are infected with the hantavirus. Lighting under the trailer is purported to keep rodents away from the underside of the trailer at night where they might crawl into the trailer.
My east coast camping friends seem to all use rope lighting for decoration.
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Sounds like an olds wives tale. Anecdotal tales are rarely worth paying attention to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John&Vicki
What the heck, let's be grouchy today. We hang flamingo lights on the awning - that must drive you crazy.
John
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But do you leave it on all night, and if you do, why? Yes, a pink light shining at my trailer all night would be annoying. Some RV parks I've been in look like the circus is in town.
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10-17-2016, 06:37 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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I like the exterior lights, I have a couple of strings. They are turned off at bed time. But like all things there are people that go overboard with it. Common curtesy is no longer very common.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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10-17-2016, 07:06 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2014 23' Flying Cloud
Fair Oaks
, California
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 717
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zybane
Sounds like an olds wives tale. Anecdotal tales are rarely worth paying attention.
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Here in the west, having wiring and/or hoses eaten by rodents while people are backpacking with their cars left parked for a week or more in remote lots happens often enough to be a concern. Most people just leave their cars anyway and hope for the best. Haven't heard that lights help, and not sure that it is something that only happens at night anyway. Would be difficult to rig timers/batteries to run the lights under a vehicle during extended absences. My best plan is to use my wife's old car rather than my new truck. Would be less hassle to replace chewed wires and/or the car if stolen, and she doesn't seem to mind.
Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
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10-17-2016, 07:09 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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I have been told while camping in bear country, any lighting will "discourage" bears from coming around your rig. Don't know if it's true.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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10-17-2016, 08:59 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1982 31' Airstream 310
champaign
, Illinois
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,071
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We pulled into a campground a few weeks ago well after dark. It literally looked like a carnival was in town. It really struck me pulling in and seeing all the lights. I personally dont care for it but to each his/her own. Not quite sure why folks want to bring the lights of the city out into the woods.
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10-17-2016, 09:59 AM
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#18
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Lost in America
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,151
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So many who live in the city are used to having street lights, security lights, and porch lights on all night that they have become afraid of the dark.
And no, lights do not discourage bears if they can smell food or garbage.
__________________
This is the strangest life I've ever known - J. Morrison
2015 Airstream International Serenity 27FB
2017 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel
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10-17-2016, 10:12 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
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Rope lights are common in the COE campgrounds around Table Rock Lake where we mostly camp but not abusive. I have not interest in owning those lights. We are thinking of getting some solar powered LED strings for hanging on our awning. However, I always pull my awning in after sunset so maybe its not worth it. Luckily rope lights are not common in the national park campgrounds due to most being dry camping. We used to have large bowl awning lights but we sold the string in a garage sale because they took up too much space to store and we rarely used them.
Kelvin
__________________
2008 Classic 25fb "Silver Mistress"
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins. Crew Cab, 4x4, Silver
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10-17-2016, 10:21 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2015 28' International
Ofallon
, Missouri
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 657
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I hang them because I LIKE them. And they're nice when you sit outside. A little light without being too much. Maybe Ithose who like lights should complain about the light from all the campfires which are much brighter.
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