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Old 10-07-2020, 02:10 PM   #1
jdarwin
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Under belly RGB LED placement

I'm looking at installing RGB LEDs under our 3931FB. I DL the Boogey Lights manual. It suggests putting the lights (a 16 foot strip) 12-18 inches from the sides of the RV. The photos in the manual show a single strand of lights going down the middle of the underside of the RV attached to the coroplast.

I'd like to know what others did. Is a single long strand running the length of the RV enough light or do I need to install strips running down both sides?

Also, did you add strips under the basement or to the underside of the front or back? I'd appreciate knowing what others did so I make sure I have enough brightness to keep the critters away. Thanks
 
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Old 10-09-2020, 02:20 PM   #2
dieselguy
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I just went to Menards and bought two 16-ft blue LED rope lights. I used adhesive wire tie pads to secure them every foot or so on the underside of each frame rail meeting in the middle of the front cross member. I then installed a switched receptacle just above the belly pan where the rope lights ended which was about right in front of the axles. Although it serves as a nifty looking night light, you'll find it does little to keep critters and bugs away. It might even attract bugs. Really bright night lights can be annoying to people camped next to you.
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Old 10-09-2020, 02:35 PM   #3
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I also doubt the value of these lights keeping mice, etc away. But I can guarantee that they will annoy some neighbors.
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Old 10-10-2020, 05:53 AM   #4
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Hi,

I have those and mounted them 3 years ago left and right on to the chloroplast.
They supply 3m tape on them which seems very durable.
I just put additional Gorilla Transparent Tape over them to secure and protect them.

Its great to see critters at night.
Especially while boon docking.
I also think as we do not see critters the light keeps it away.
If we are at a tight campground we also turn it of when going to sleep.

Love it

Mike
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Old 10-10-2020, 10:23 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dieselguy View Post
I just went to Menards and bought two 16-ft blue LED rope lights. I used adhesive wire tie pads to secure them every foot or so on the underside of each frame rail meeting in the middle of the front cross member. I then installed a switched receptacle just above the belly pan where the rope lights ended which was about right in front of the axles. Although it serves as a nifty looking night light, you'll find it does little to keep critters and bugs away. It might even attract bugs. Really bright night lights can be annoying to people camped next to you.
What did you wire them to?
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Old 10-10-2020, 08:10 PM   #6
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Like I mentioned in my above reply ... I loosened enough belly pan to install a switched 110VAC receptacle just above the pan tapping off the receptacle in the pass thru.. I then installed a lighted switch in the hallway going to the bedroom near the entry door. The rope lights just plug into the receptacle out of sight and out of weather.
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Old 10-11-2020, 04:49 AM   #7
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I also doubt the value of these lights keeping mice, etc away. But I can guarantee that they will annoy some neighbors.
thats the beauty with Boogey Lights as you can dimm them as well.
that way you can control how much it shines.
Most awning lights are much more annoying bright
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Old 10-11-2020, 10:21 AM   #8
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"thats the beauty with Boogey Lights as you can dimm them as well"

It's unfortunate that some RVers haven't read that far in the owners manual to come across that feature.
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Old 10-12-2020, 05:01 AM   #9
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"thats the beauty with Boogey Lights as you can dimm them as well"

It's unfortunate that some RVers haven't read that far in the owners manual to come across that feature.
I would agree on that.
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Old 10-12-2020, 08:41 AM   #10
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I bought cheap (about $30) single remote control RGB LED rope light (from Lowes) and used square wire stays with zip ties to secure it to the center of the Corplast. It gives almost the ideal glow from the center of the unit and most importantly the bulbs are not visible. As a stage lighting specialist (I own a disco setup and have worked stage lighting as a hobby for 40 years), I can tell you that the trick is to hide the glare of the bulbs themselves. The glare of a visible bulb is what make the lighting annoying. A warm glow will most likely not bother your fellow campers (or you for that matter). If you want brighter lights use two LED rope lights. But to be honest I don't think you will need them, one is plenty.


Yes Boogie Lights can dim but I don't think that feature is worth the additional cost. You can replace the rope light several times for the cost of Boogies.




One thing I did run into is the square tie downs are not holding well to the corplast. I do plan to use some strong glue to reattach the ones that fell down. I should also mention that since the lights are remote control, I was able to simply plug the lights into an existing plug in the front pass thru compartment. Installation was quick and easy. Only other thing is I did use some Great stuff to seal the slight gap I made where I passed the cord between the frame and corplast.
I can't say yes or no to what the lights do for mice and insects for certain but I have heard that they are supposed to deter field mice to some degree. I haven't had an issue with the lights attracting insects as far as I know but they are UNDER the camper so difficult to be sure. I know they did not attract insects in the desert when left on blue color when we were full time for a couple years on concrete pad.
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Old 10-12-2020, 08:47 AM   #11
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On a related topic. May I suggest that everyone put timers to turn off ANY visible bulbs at your campsite at 10pm. If you run visible rope lights around the perimeter of your campsites or hang the cute string lights on your awning, those are the ones that will be annoying to your fellow campers! If you can hide the bulbs somehow such that only the glow of the light is visible then lighting is much more appealing to the eye and less of an annoyance to the folks next door. At the very least using a cover such as a 5 gallon bucket that will glow as opposed to being direct view of the bulbs will make a big difference.


Same goes for motion lights!!! Please make sure that the light is not to distracting to the other campers. Nothing like having an extremely bright light pointed directly at your window click on at 2am thru your blinds!!!
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Old 10-12-2020, 11:58 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by mtlakejim View Post
On a related topic. May I suggest that everyone put timers to turn off ANY visible bulbs at your campsite at 10pm. If you run visible rope lights around the perimeter of your campsites or hang the cute string lights on your awning, those are the ones that will be annoying to your fellow campers! If you can hide the bulbs somehow such that only the glow of the light is visible then lighting is much more appealing to the eye and less of an annoyance to the folks next door. At the very least using a cover such as a 5 gallon bucket that will glow as opposed to being direct view of the bulbs will make a big difference.


Same goes for motion lights!!! Please make sure that the light is not to distracting to the other campers. Nothing like having an extremely bright light pointed directly at your window click on at 2am thru your blinds!!!
Couldn't agree more!!!

And don't burn trash in the campfire!!!!!

Lost count of the number of times the acrid smell of burning plastic has wafted though the windows forcing us to close up and run the AC in mild weather.
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