377 awning led wiring for dimmer

[Iraq 69]

Hey all
I’ve read all the posts I can find for the dimmer installation on 377s for the awning LEDs but still have a question about where you guys have found your wiring? I’d like to have the dimmer in the basement as with the smaller in-line one, the remote will get lost after the first few times it is used. I have not started to look for the wiring yet but am hoping you all can get me looking in the right direction
Thanks in advance
Marc

[klassic]

Behind the bottom drawer of the dresser

[jasum]

[QUOTE=klassic;622319]Behind the bottom drawer of the dresser[/QUOT

Klassic the dimmer you used is no longer available..............

[klassic]

Lots of them.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/PWM-Dimmer-Co...MAAOSwgY9XfEEY

[Iraq 69]

Hey Klassic
I looked and found one each yellow and white wire along with a run of 110 romex. What colors am I looking for? Those were the only wires that run up the wall. There are lots of other wires that run along the floor under the dresser
Marc

[klassic]

Maybe 2018’s are different?
But the awning arm is on the wall in front of the dresser and the LED wires run down the arm and through the wall to the dresser drawer.
The I forget the colours (black and red?) but they are obvious because they are like about an 18 or 20ga wire then wire nutted to regular Jayco wiring.
I cut the awning LED wires there and spliced them to a 18ga 4 wire furnace thermostat wire, and ran that to the wall in the storage where I put the dimmer.

[Iraq 69]

Hey Klassic
Thanks. I obviously have the wrong wires since they are bigger than the 18 or 20 gauge for the LEDs
I will get back under there this afternoon. My front awning arm is much farther to the front than 2016 and some 2017 that I have seen. It actually comes down in front of the main pass through. I’ll start looking in the ceiling of the front storage compartments to see what is there and post what I find.
Thanks for the help
Marc

[klassic]

Oh. Well then.
If you can see the wire behind the awning arm and see where they went through the wall. The walls are prebuilt, so they can’t run inside. Unless they snuck it straight up and went into the roof before they dropped it on.
It’s a fun search.
You could easily find the wire at the switch..problem is you have to have the LED’s ground wire too.

[Iraq 69]

Ok
The saga continues.........after looking under the dresser and behind the access panel in the closet, I finally popped off the cover at the bottom of the awning frame and found the wires for the light strip. They go into the wall just before the closet but then never come out where they can be seen. They go down into the floor. I found the correct wire in the basement ceiling but do know know what color the ground is. I pulled the panel and found that the hot side is white/red but since we can’t see the wires after they go through the wall, the color for the ground remains a mystery.
I’ve decided to go with the dimmer that has the remote since the dimmer will fit into the space behind the cover on the awning mount. Bookemdano used that kind I think. I hope I don’t lose the remote! I have a tray for the basement tv remote that I can keep it in
I’ll post an update
Marc

[klassic]

Good try Iraq.
Sometimes it’s easy.
You could go beyond and try and creatively fish your own ground wire through the wall.

Like you, I would for sure lose the remote. That’s why I couldn’t go that way.

[Iraq 69]

The problem is that the awning mount is so far forward, you cannot get into that area, even from the front compartment to retrieve the wire! I have been up in there and tried to push a narrow board in there to move the insulation. The panel under the front fits so close to the floor there is no room. For $5 I’m am tapping out and hope not to lose the remote
I added a pic in the post before this to show how far forward the awning mount is.
Marc

[Bookemdanno]

I haven't lost the remote...yet. I put a piece of velcro on the back and put it on the wall in the outdoor kitchen area.

[jasum]

Originally Posted by Iraq 69

Ok

The saga continues.........after looking under the dresser and behind the access panel in the closet, I finally popped off the cover at the bottom of the awning frame and found the wires for the light strip. They go into the wall just before the closet but then never come out where they can be seen. They go down into the floor. I found the correct wire in the basement ceiling but do know know what color the ground is. I pulled the panel and found that the hot side is white/red but since we can’t see the wires after they go through the wall, the color for the ground remains a mystery.

I’ve decided to go with the dimmer that has the remote since the dimmer will fit into the space behind the cover on the awning mount. Bookemdano used that kind I think. I hope I don’t lose the remote! I have a tray for the basement tv remote that I can keep it in

I’ll post an update

Marc

Marc do you have the shelves in the closet that can give you access to the area where the wires might possibly be?


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[Iraq 69]

I like the Velcro idea, i think I’ll steal it!
The closet has an access panel near the floor under the washer hookup area. The only thing you can see from there is the drain and water valves for the washer. Looking to the rear of the camper, you can see where the wiring that is behind the dresser go down into the floor/frame area. None of them are from the LED lights. They disappear through the wall into a non accessible area

[Iraq 69]

Hey all
Finished the dimmer install. There is an in and out on the dimmer even though it is not marked
Soldered, heat shrink and silicone like the others have done
Works great. Just have to Velcro the remote so I don’t lose it!

[jasum]

Originally Posted by Iraq 69

Hey all

Finished the dimmer install. There is an in and out on the dimmer even though it is not marked

Soldered, heat shrink and silicone like the others have done

Works great. Just have to Velcro the remote so I don’t lose it!

Awesome job there Marc........looks good!

[bluie5]

That looks good. If it ever quits snowing here I’ll get a chance to start working on the 5er.

[jasum]

Marc how did you determine which way to connect your wires to your awning light?

Jack

[Iraq 69]

Hey jasum
Sorry for the delay. We have been out of the country and just got back yesterday.
I wired them up and the lights did not work. I turned the dimmer around( in on the out and out on the in) and it works fine. Since the leads are not marked for current flow, it is a guess and I guessed wrong!!!
Good luck,
Marc

[jasum]

Thanks Marc

I haven’t had time to attempt that yet.