Steplights

[dlewand53]

We have 321rsts and it had a switch that lit a blue light under the trailer. Really didn't help much with anything. So I put a led strip light under each step. Wired it into a motion detector and connected it to the switch that was for the blue light. Now when we come back to trailer late at night it lights things up. Sorry it is sideways

[Topperace]

Excellent, I have been thinking of doing the same, but no separate switch for just the blue light...our blue light for the steps is tied in with the awning light...still might do the same thing...thinking on it.

[mrmom]

I had the same problem, switch controlled both the awing light and the step light. Solution was to change out the switch panel by the door. I replaced the 2 switch panel with a 3 switch panel and just moved the step light onto it's own switch. Super easy to do.

[TaftCoach]

I put my awning lights on a remote with dimmer. I can turn off the awning and actually use the step lights.

[kirkelli]

Great Idea.. Just added that to my project list. Thanks

[travelingjw]

Great idea. My light for the steps is connected to the amber light on the other side of the trailer. Have not idea what they were thinking. I like the idea of lights under the steps though not sure how I could pull it off. I might just pull out the switch and see if both lights are connected at the switch.

[kirkelli]

Originally Posted by dlewand53

Wired it into a motion detector and connected it to the switch that was for the blue light. Now when we come back to trailer late at night it lights things up. Sorry it is sideways

Just curious,, Where did you place the motion switch?

[dlewand53]

Originally Posted by kirkelli

Just curious,, Where did you place the motion switch?

I placed the motion switch at the top of the steps. It is about 2 inches from the side of the step on the hinge side of the door. I will see if I can add a picture of it to this post.

[dlewand53]

Here's a picture of where I placed the motion detector. It's several inches from the side of the steps on the hinge side of the door. Sorry about the picture being turned sideways.

[kirkelli]

Originally Posted by dlewand53

Here's a picture of where I placed the motion detector. It's several inches from the side of the steps on the hinge side of the door. Sorry about the picture being turned sideways.

found the motion switch and light strips on Ebay all for less then $50..
Got it all ordered. Thanks for sharing your idea.. This is great.

[Zs387RDFS]

Great mod - I did the same on my Northpoint, but used blue LEDs wired into an always hot 12V circuit so they are always on.

They are much dimmer than your white lights, but just bright enough (glow) to clearly see each step nicely in the dark. I made sure they were not so bright as to be irritating to any neighbors.

[AKRUEBBE]

Originally Posted by dlewand53

Here's a picture of where I placed the motion detector. It's several inches from the side of the steps on the hinge side of the door. Sorry about the picture being turned sideways.

When you fold up the step and close the door, where is the wire for the light? Does it hang out of the door?!

[kirkelli]

Originally Posted by AKRUEBBE

When you fold up the step and close the door, where is the wire for the light? Does it hang out of the door?!

I'm not sure what the OP did but i'll be installing a chassis flush quick connect right below the door. When i fold up the step, i'll just pull the cord and lay it inside.

[BLTravels]

Originally Posted by dlewand53

We have 321rsts and it had a switch that lit a blue light under the trailer. Really didn't help much with anything. So I put a led strip light under each step. Wired it into a motion detector and connected it to the switch that was for the blue light. Now when we come back to trailer late at night it lights things up. Sorry it is sideways

All I have is that blue light under the stair and have been thinking of ways to get some kind of external light or more light outside the door. Did you actually connect the wiring to the "switch" as stated or directly to wiring coming to the blue light? I don't see myself opening up walls, ceiling or trying to fish wire from the control panel switch to the exterior wall.

[dlewand53]

The motion detector is wired up to the wiring on the outside of the RV. It is connected to the switch that used to turn on the blue light underneath the trailer. When I go to put the steps up I just unplug the motion detector from the power source. I got a male plug to plug into the motion detector. So the steps can fold into the trailer with no wiring connected to the lights. The wiring that's on the outside connected to the blue light is then stored underneath the skirt of the trailer. Then the power is turned off using the switch outside. Here is a picture of the connection I put on to connect the motion detector to the power. Hope this explains it. Sorry about the picture being turned on this one too.

[BLTravels]

Thanks, that outside switch would make things simpler as my blue light switch is in the control panel inside. I have trying find ways to add an exterior light above the door with out drilling and fishing wires. Your system might do the trick.