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Old 10-14-2016, 09:38 PM   #1
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Thumbs down 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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Old 10-14-2016, 09:41 PM   #2
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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.
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Old 10-15-2016, 12:17 AM   #3
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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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Old 10-15-2016, 05:24 AM   #4
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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?
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Old 10-15-2016, 01:31 PM   #5
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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?
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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Old 10-16-2016, 01:50 AM   #6
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It's probably the lack of infrared and heat with LEDs over incandescent.


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Old 10-16-2016, 06:32 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zybane View Post
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?
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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Old 10-16-2016, 07:25 AM   #8
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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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Old 10-16-2016, 07:38 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trnpk Crsr View Post
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
Well they are certainly attracted to the LED lights inside the trailer and the LED porch light on the outside.
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Old 10-16-2016, 09:13 AM   #10
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What the heck, let's be grouchy today. We hang flamingo lights on the awning - that must drive you crazy.

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Old 10-16-2016, 10:42 AM   #11
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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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Old 10-16-2016, 03:35 PM   #12
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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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Old 10-17-2016, 06:13 AM   #13
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Quote:
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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.
Sounds like an olds wives tale. Anecdotal tales are rarely worth paying attention to.

Quote:
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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
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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Old 10-17-2016, 06:37 AM   #14
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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.
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Old 10-17-2016, 07:06 AM   #15
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Sounds like an olds wives tale. Anecdotal tales are rarely worth paying attention.

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.


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Old 10-17-2016, 07:09 AM   #16
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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.
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Old 10-17-2016, 08:59 AM   #17
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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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Old 10-17-2016, 09:59 AM   #18
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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.
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Old 10-17-2016, 10:12 AM   #19
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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.

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Old 10-17-2016, 10:21 AM   #20
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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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