Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-11-2016, 06:20 PM   #1
Site Team
 
Mustang65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
That LED string you just purchased?

You just purchased a string of LED's for your TT. Now it is 9PM and the LED's BRIGHTLY light up the area under your awning and unfortunitally the entire side of your neighbors TT and they are 92 years old and go to bed when the sun goes down. I at least wait until 10:30PM. Well, I will just run out and get one of those LED string dimmers.

But wait, how was that 12' string of LED's designed? Was it a VERY inexpensive string made in China? Did I pay a little more for a quality string? Is there a design difference between the two types? Could be! There are two ways to make a LED string, (1)you just connect all the LED'together and adjust the supply voltage and current that it is connected to (the VERY inexpensive model)... or (2) you use a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)! The little more expensive model (uses logic to control the LED intensity) it adjusts the time the bulbs are on/off, the longer they are on the brighter..... the longer they are off the dimmer, but the current remains the same so the color should remain the same. I could go into more detail, but it really is not necessary.

So, which one did you purchase? Probably unknown. Then what type of dimmer do you get to properly dim your strings?

Yes there is a dimmer for either type. Will they both work... in most cases the answer is yes.. If you happen to have the VERY inexpensive China string (not PWM), the ANALOG solution will work fine, it will create a little more heat in the dimmer module and unfortunially it may also change the color of your string LED's (different current different color). The better PWM dimmer controllers will also work and they will not (in most cases) alter the color of your LED's as it does not modify the supply current (keeping the color the same), but re-adjusts the on/off time of the LED's. The PWM dimmers will of course cost more than the analog versions.

You may want to investigate the type of LED string you are purchasing then again maybe not. Probably a lot of unnecessary information....

Don
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73,Max Tow Pkg.
Our Solar Album https://www.jaycoowners.com/album.php?albumid=329
Mustang65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 06:31 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
hoppers4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
Nice to know really! I never gave it any thought but I do know that PWM is the way to go. The only way to go with a fan controller as the analog dimmer gets warm and uses more juice. No heat sink necessary with PWM.

Now about that dimmer for my 300 watt torchiere... I'll be getting that beast outta my house very soon as I'm installing some LED can lights in my living room that never had OH lighting.
__________________
Don
hoppers4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 07:08 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
ccso2213's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Sylacauga, AL
Posts: 209
So what kind are factory installed?
__________________
2016 Jayflight 29 bhds
2015 Ford F-350 SRW
ccso2213 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 07:36 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 1,448
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoppers4 View Post
Now about that dimmer for my 300 watt torchiere... I'll be getting that beast outta my house very soon as I'm installing some LED can lights in my living room that never had OH lighting.


Your 300 torchiere is still better than my 21 bulb chandelier where each bulb is 40 watts.
__________________
2013 Jayco JayFlight 26RKS
2013 Ford F150 Ecoboost FX4

2003 Coleman Bayside / 2011 Jayco Jayfeather X20E -- RIP
2012 Tacoma Sport DCSB / 2013 Tundra SR5 - RIP
Heady is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 07:44 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
hoppers4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heady View Post
Your 300 torchiere is still better than my 21 bulb chandelier where each bulb is 40 watts.
Whoa, now that's some serious wattage. Who needs a space heater when you can just turn on your chandelier!
__________________
Don
hoppers4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 07:52 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 91
In for which is best for a stock Jayco. Probably one of the first mods I do when I get it in the next few weeks.
__________________
TV: Honda Odyssey
HTT: Jayco 17XFD (on order)
jestoy7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 07:54 PM   #7
Site Team
 
Mustang65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heady View Post
Your 300 torchiere is still better than my 21 bulb chandelier where each bulb is 40 watts.
The space station was complaining about flying over your house last night, they said it was so bright they had to put on their sunglasses and the power grid was pumping out the power for you.
Don
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73,Max Tow Pkg.
Our Solar Album https://www.jaycoowners.com/album.php?albumid=329
Mustang65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 07:55 PM   #8
Site Team
 
Mustang65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
Quote:
Originally Posted by jestoy7 View Post
In for which is best for a stock Jayco. Probably one of the first mods I do when I get it in the next few weeks.
Just research the ones that have a PWM design. It should be on the package or mfr site.

Don
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73,Max Tow Pkg.
Our Solar Album https://www.jaycoowners.com/album.php?albumid=329
Mustang65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 08:09 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 91
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65 View Post
Just research the ones that have a PWM design. It should be on the package or mfr site.

Don
Thanks, looks like this one is:

http://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-Wir...949ZN4VVJM8B0V
__________________
TV: Honda Odyssey
HTT: Jayco 17XFD (on order)
jestoy7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 08:26 PM   #10
Site Team
 
Mustang65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
Quote:
Originally Posted by jestoy7 View Post
It looks like a PWM according to the specifications.
Don
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73,Max Tow Pkg.
Our Solar Album https://www.jaycoowners.com/album.php?albumid=329
Mustang65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 08:33 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: smithville, ont.
Posts: 2,677
I ordered the other kind of PWM without a remote and put it where I can manually contol the dimming. I know I will have to isolate the LED ground, it can't be that hard to find. All the 12v grounding points need to be accessible some how.

I know what will happen with that remote after the first outing if I got the remote controlled dimmer. It will be a one camping trip dimmer and I'll have cut my LED wires at the top of the awning for nothing.
__________________
2016 North Point 341RLTS
520watts of solar. Morningstar MPPT
4 6volt 235ah Surrette batteries
2017 F-350 Platinum CC SRW
klassic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 08:38 PM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 91
Quote:
Originally Posted by klassic View Post
I ordered the other kind of PWM without a remote and put it where I can manually contol the dimming. I know I will have to isolate the LED ground, it can't be that hard to find. All the 12v grounding points need to be accessible some how.

I know what will happen with that remote after the first outing if I got the remote controlled dimmer. It will be a one camping trip dimmer and I'll have cut my LED wires at the top of the awning for nothing.
Haha, true! I'm going to Velcro it by the switch so it stays there. (Sounds good in theory)
__________________
TV: Honda Odyssey
HTT: Jayco 17XFD (on order)
jestoy7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2016, 08:47 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: smithville, ont.
Posts: 2,677
Yep, sounds good in theory. I have two awnings, so that's 2 remotes and 2 times the odds of them disappearing at a 100% chance makes me 200% sure they will be gone. Lol.
__________________
2016 North Point 341RLTS
520watts of solar. Morningstar MPPT
4 6volt 235ah Surrette batteries
2017 F-350 Platinum CC SRW
klassic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2016, 07:22 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Seann45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,714
Don I ordered mine from Amazon. $7.00-$21.00 depending on if you get the 120 volt power adapter.. Mine is the 5M multi color style that DIM via the remote. I have had sets on my awning and just under it for several years now. OH and by the way they all operate on 12VDC so there is no need for the 120 V power puck.. I think there are pics of my setup in the mods section.
Seann
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days boondockinig in2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12

Seann45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.