basement lights

[nutts]

if any of you are like me, you have a number of tote boxes in the belly of your 5th wheel. searching in the dark to find stuff is not fun to say the least. I thought the lighting system down below could use some help. so I installed 12 volt rope lights, 2 strands .I tied them to the lights that were already in place and ran one of them off each switch. each rope light strand is 12 ft long. I anchored them to the ceiling of the cargo bay, running from side to side. this helps light up the entire area with the flick of one switch.

now I don't have to lie to my wife any more about knowing where everthing is. I can actually see and find what I am looking for.

hope this will help others,
jim

[OntMont]

That is an interesting idea. I did not know that you could get 12 volt rope lights. As an extension of your idea, do you think they would be cast enough light to be useful as lighting under the rig when backing up in the dark? A sort of supplement to back-up lights that I would also like to add.

[DHenry]

Great idea, thanks for the tip.

[sreigle]

Good idea, thanks. I also discovered the center of the basement is accessible from the laundry chute. Makes that area a good place for the occasionally accessed items without having to pull everything out of one side of the basement. I like the rope lights idea. thanks for posting.

[Montana_1235]

I like the idea of the rope lights they must put out ample light for the basement compartment.

On my unit the storage is broken up into three areas. The front hatch didn't have any lights so I installed an OEM fixture. Works better than nothing and was a breeze to install.

Bill

[ronstan]

As far as using them for backing up a friend of ours lays one out on drivers side of where he is wanting to place the trailer and it gives you a way of where to put the trailer. He calls them landing lights.

[Flastro]

All of these are great ideas, I like em , I need to do something simular, Thanks!

[8.1al]

Jim,
I have never seen 12v rope lights. Where did you get them?
Thanks

[nutts]

heres a link
http://www.christmaslightsetc.com/ca...CategoryID=131

or ask google: 12 volt rope lights,
theres a bunch of different companies that sell them.

[Treecounter]

All the rope lights I found were in 150' rolls. Just a tad more than I need. Any more suggestions? Treecounter

[nutts]

heres a couple. some times walmart has short strings of lights in the auto/stereo dept.


https://ssl.adhost.com/noveltylights...pid=262&step=4

http://www.residential-landscape-lig.../more_info.asp

[Fast968]

My husband and I purchased our first RV in April (2019 Keystone Montana High Country 5th wheel, HM381TH) and successfully survived our first test outing at a local campground.


The RV sat in storage for about 4-5 weeks before we used it the first time and the batteries were dead (I switched off the battery power but now have it on a trickle charger to be safe). Thought we checked that all the lights were off in the living areas. I did notice some of the basement lights are on when we open the storage doors. Anyone know if they are motion activated or do we need to manually turn them off - this could be our battery drainage issue. They have on/off switches - one side of the switch has one dot, center is off, other side has two dots but I don't notice the lights getting brighter so wondering if one dot is manual and the other dot is motion activated?



Thanks!



Clark & Linda, Murrells Inlet, SC

[Renegade1LI]

Originally Posted by Fast968

My husband and I purchased our first RV in April (2019 Keystone Montana High Country 5th wheel, HM381TH) and successfully survived our first test outing at a local campground.


The RV sat in storage for about 4-5 weeks before we used it the first time and the batteries were dead (I switched off the battery power but now have it on a trickle charger to be safe). Thought we checked that all the lights were off in the living areas. I did notice some of the basement lights are on when we open the storage doors. Anyone know if they are motion activated or do we need to manually turn them off - this could be our battery drainage issue. They have on/off switches - one side of the switch has one dot, center is off, other side has two dots but I don't notice the lights getting brighter so wondering if one dot is manual and the other dot is motion activated?



Thanks!



Clark & Linda, Murrells Inlet, SC

Yes they are motion or manual.

[BuilderBob]

Clark & Linda the can be ether manual or motion. But even if you turn of and take the key out for the battery cut you still have battery draw from your CO2 detector your power jacks and leveling sys ect.. The only way to total shout the battery off complete is to install a cut off switch on the nag side of the battery.