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Old 03-04-2021, 03:36 PM   #1
hemiallen
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Track lighting for awnings?

This video is the only one I have seen that mentions and shows what she describes as a power track and I believe a light she mentions it comes with ( ?) that goes on the awning lower arm. No visual of what the light is, and I assume but can't find a factory light option sold anywhere nor mentioned. Scroll to the 3:01 time and she starts to talk and show what I am hoping is an optional light, probably to keep one from Bonking your head after sundown


Thanks for any information, it looks to me like some outlets for plugs or clear lenses ( 3) with maybe lights?

Allen
 
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Old 03-04-2021, 05:40 PM   #2
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Are you sure you have the correct YouTube link? The one you provided opens into a "Deep Cycle Battery Charging with your Alternator:" presentation


On Edit: Op changed the link to the correct video.
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Old 03-04-2021, 07:40 PM   #3
jericbarg
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My 3855BR came with 2 lights that go into the track on the awning. Never used them. They are powered all the time. They can be placed just about anywhere on the arm, twist onto the track and the light comes on. I can snap a pic this weekend.
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Old 03-04-2021, 07:51 PM   #4
432bartman
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My 3855BR came with 2 lights that go into the track on the awning. Never used them. They are powered all the time. They can be placed just about anywhere on the arm, twist onto the track and the light comes on. I can snap a pic this weekend.
Mine came with one and I have never used it either.....It seems like it's more of a spot light than anything else.
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Old 03-04-2021, 08:35 PM   #5
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Ok Thanks

Is it more for safety and a warning of the low arm? Sounds like something to not need more than they supply.

Thank you

Allen
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Old 03-04-2021, 08:47 PM   #6
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Who is the manufacturer of the track light head?
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Old 03-05-2021, 02:03 AM   #7
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Our unit also came with 2 of the lights that snap into the power channel on the awning. I never use them because the awning is so high, I need a ladder to reach it to put the lights in the track. I would have liked having the extra lights. Nice concept, but execution makes them less than useless. As I understand it, they also make a fan and bluetooth speaker that uses the power channel awning. Here's a marketing video that explains them.
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Old 03-05-2021, 05:25 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by RMcNeal View Post
Our unit also came with 2 of the lights that snap into the power channel on the awning. I never use them because the awning is so high, I need a ladder to reach it to put the lights in the track. I would have liked having the extra lights. ...
Same here. I'm assuming that these come with the awning, and Keystone just threw them in there. I wouldn't think that they paid for the option. Like RMcNeal stated, without a ladder, they are all but worthless, since they are so high in the air...
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Old 03-05-2021, 08:01 AM   #9
hemiallen
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Thank you for the video

Allen
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Old 03-05-2021, 11:56 PM   #10
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Gimmicks. Sure they put out a ton of light. But they are difficult to use, poorly designed and have to be taken down every time you move which weakens the mounting system. I have one that already is so sloppy in the power track that it won't stay powered at the slightest vibration.

Plus if you do turn them on, when it comes time to turn them off you have to be able to see the tiny button on the fixture in order to press it and hold it depressed for several seconds to deactivate it and staring into that blinding light will leave you seeing spots for several minutes. Back to the drawing board Keystone.

Cannot speak to the fans but they seem a damn sight more useful only in that they won't send you to the doctor. Do we really need air circulation outside from such tiny fans?
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Old 03-06-2021, 06:47 AM   #11
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Here's a photo of ours. We purchased 2 lights, since we have a front door and back door on both sides of the camper and had a second awning installed on the back and had the track power strip installed too.





Both of my awning power strips are turned on and off by a switch inside the camper, in the same cabinet with the power awnings, water pump switch, and so on. There is no button to push on the actual light.

Like others stated above, my awning is so tall, I need a ladder to reach the power strip to attach the light. This makes it awkward, especially if the wind picks up and the awning has to be retracted in a hurry.

As stated above, this light is more of a spot light. But what it is good for is at night, if backing into a campsite. I can attach it, turn it on and give nice light toward the side and rear of the camper. Because I have awning on both sides, I can attach them on both sides and use them for a very nice and bright back-up light when parking at the campsite after arriving in the dark. I think this is the best beneficial use I've found.

As stated above, one of mine has worn and it dosn't seat tight any more in the track. It's very fickle if not set exactly exactly right.

Not stated above, if these are put into the track wrong, they don't work. It took some time to figure this out. The lights have to be in the track with the polarity right, or they don't work. Even though they can attach either direction, they work only in one direction, with the contacts of the light touching the power strip positive and negative side with the positive and negative contact of the light itself.

For the most part, we don't use them at all. After the novelty of a new "toy" wore off, I quit using them. Besides, in a campground, they are very annoying for your neighbor camper. And we don't hang out outside much after dark any more. So our outside lights go out when we come inside anyway.

If you purchase a new camper, it it comes with the awning power strip, it's worth it to try using the light. You just might like it. But after the novelty wears off, you'll probably just drag it along, simply because you have it.

I do not have the fan. I cannot see how the fan would do any good. First, it's too small. Second, it can be connected only in the power strip on one end. So, if you need air movement somewhere else, it won't happen with this set-up. Third, it is so high in the air attached to the arm of the awning, even if you sat directly under it, I don't think you feel any air movement. Getting a small fan you can move around, or clip onto your lawn chair is a much more versatile choice.

One more thing. This power track can be installed inside the camper too, and you can attach more than one light, creating and RV style "track lighting" set up. But I've never seen anyone actually do this, since RV interior lighting has gone LED and mood light strips everywhere.
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Old 03-06-2021, 06:48 AM   #12
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Gimmicks....

.... Back to the drawing board Keystone. ...
I don't disagree with anything that you said, but Keystone isn't to blame here. They get those straight from Dometic, the builder/creator of the awning. That's where the crappy design comes from.

I still contend that they come with the awning package that Keystone is buying, and they are just throwing them in the unit when it's complete. I don't think that Keystone would spring for any "extra" options like that, but I could be wrong...
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Old 03-06-2021, 08:44 AM   #13
hemiallen
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Thanks again for the images.

When we bought our 2006 Rockwood the salesman said the electric awening was a new item, and the manufacturer was pushing them and you couldn't get a manual awning option. But salesmen are sometimes wrong, other times just like car salesmen

Allen
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Old 03-07-2021, 09:00 PM   #14
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How you two doing, Has been awhile since I was down your way, (Quartzite,).
I will always remember the times I had at your place, making necklace having deep fryed Onion's All good here.
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Old 03-10-2021, 01:32 PM   #15
ACKLM8
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They have on/off switch so are not on all the time. Very bright LED lights.
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Old 03-10-2021, 01:48 PM   #16
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They have on/off switch so are not on all the time. Very bright LED lights.
...and that's true, but I would still need a ladder to turn the switches on and off. The arms for the awning are too high off the ground to reach...
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Old 03-10-2021, 03:28 PM   #17
Scootsk
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Can’t reach my awning track so the light is useless.
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Old 03-10-2021, 06:35 PM   #18
sappito
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Light Switch

I have a light switch on my control panel with all my other light switches that turns this powered awning feature on and off, it also offers fans, bluetooth speakers, and some other items.
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Old 03-20-2023, 10:49 AM   #19
Andy Smith
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switches?

Reviving this old thread, as it's the closest I can find to my question.

I have a powerchannel awning on my rig, and it came with two of the screw-in lights. I never bothered to play with them, but was going through old stuff and found them and decided to test. I plug them into the awning and hit the switch on the spotlight, and nothing. Is there a separate switch hidden somewhere to activate the awning powerchannel? I definitely don't see anything labelled like that. I don't really need them, but would love to use them if they work, or ditch them if not.
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Old 03-20-2023, 11:21 AM   #20
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Those power channel and the lights have a positive and a negative side. If the "appliance" is inserted into the slot the wrong way, they do not work. Turn the thing completely around 180 degrees and insert, or simply twist the entire thing in the channel 180 degrees. It will work then.

I used mine a few times on the front awning and the back awning, but found them to be a bigger pain than they were worth. As in the old statement posted above, they are more of a spot light. I have not used mine in the last 2 years at all. Why? Awning too tall to reach, they are almost always inserted backwards into the track and I have to re-do them, and they really are annoying to other campers. I use to use them at home a lot, parked in the drive way, as it shone a great light right at my house door where the trailer was parked. But even that got old. Moonlight in the country sheds more light in the surrounding area than any electronic light.
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