LED Rope Lights (?)

[Chaz]

Does anybody have any info or suggestions on LED rope lights? (Personally, I like them. I like the way the whole place is lit up.)
I was talking with Jerry L. yesterday about using them and have decided on using 24volt ropes. (most effecient in my 4108) There are a few companies on the net that sell them, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where to get them or what kind to get? There are also 3/8" and 1/2". It seems the 1/2" use more watts per foot. OH, and by the way, I seen some definite difference in watts per foot and price per foot out there. (not sure if they are relative or not)
I'm also going to use other 24volt LED lights for task lighting in specific places. Any suggestions on where to find/get them is greatly appreciated!!
 
  Getting illuminated,
    Chaz

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Chaz,

I would go with a commercial brand if you are installing them in a place that would make it hard to replace later.

The cheepies don't last that long. 3/8" is all you need in a bus. Have you checked out the "flexible Neon tubes?"

Here is where I buy my 12 and 24v lighting and only because they have quality products.
http://www.sailorsams.com/lights_incnav.htm?source=Overture

Good Luck
Nick-

[WEC4104]

For those folks not familiar with rope lighting, I want to stress that not all rope lighting is LED.  Some of the cheaper stuff is incandescent, and I have had poor reliability from that style.   I tried it a few years ago, and ended up replacing it because one-by-one I had sections of it fail.  In the middle of a 6 foot piece, I'd have a foot and a half that would not light up.  I ended up ripping it out.

Personally, I do not care for the "string of lights" look on the inside of a coach. Rope lights and lots of mirrors scream Prevost gaudiness to me. I think they are fine on the outside as awning lights, but I just don't care for the look inside.  They are wonderful however inside if they are used for indirect lighting.  I had ropes hidden behind my window shade valences, and they gave a great soft lighting.  Perfect for giving passengers enough light to find their way around in the dark while we were rolling, without any glare to the driver.

When the rope lights failed, I build replacements using some small aluminum channels and individual LEDs spaced every four inches.  Zero failures with that.   

[jjrbus]

I used 3/8 24V in my bus. Nick is right on quality. I enjoy searching and finding the best deals to save a few Yen. However in hindsight if purchasing electrical items from the Eplace or some such source how do we know we are not buying something that was recalled and suppose to be destroyed? The connectors for the lights I purchased were of very poor quality. I ended up stripping the wires and soldering the power supply to them. Fortunately I always leave a little xtra wire and these were accessible. Then there is also the issue of series and parallel, remember the Xmas lights when one went out they all went out?
I used them between the double roof on my 5C, Prevost could never do anything that tacky!!!
                                                                                                   HTH Jim

[TomC]

My theory is-do you use rope lights at your house?  I personally think the rope lights and all the gaudiness of packing your insides with as much stuff as you can creates a feeling of tension.  I just like a simple understated interior, that is very functional with muted tones with very large windows that gives the feeling of being relaxed and in touch with the beauty from outside.  Good Luck, TomC

[Jeremy]

I was looking at some led light fittings at Ikea some time ago which gave me an idea for the bus which I may or may not use in due course; essentially the Ikea fittings I saw were pieces of perspex (or other type of thick, clear plastic) wth a hole drilled into one edge and a led inserted. The other edges were given a 'matt' finish as though the plastic had been rubbed with sandpaper. The light from the point source (ie, the small led) was diffused through the plastic, and the whole of the 'matt' side was lit up in one continuous strip. My thought was that I could use lengths of plastic in this way, with multiple leds as required, to provide continuous lines of light built into the edges of furniture, along the ceiling or floor etc as required. It would be a bit like neon tubes, but much thinner, and it could be shaped into curves around the corners of furniture etc as necessary.

It's a bit Las Vegas so I'll probably won't use the idea, but the cleverness of diffusing the light of a led by shining it into the edge of a piece of plastic appealed to me

Jeremy

[Sean]

I'm also going to use other 24volt LED lights for task lighting in specific places. Any suggestions on where to find/get them is greatly appreciated!!

I think you'll find that 24-volt LED fixtures are rare.  When you do find them, they will generally be considerably more expensive than 12-volt models.

What we did with our LED fixtures was to install 12-volt models in series pairs.  That opened up a huge market of 12-volt models to us that are just not available in 24-volt.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[Chaz]

Nick,
  I'll keep the brand name thing in mind. I'm just not sure if there are specific "brand names" for led ropes or if I would look for GE, Westinghouse, etc. This is one of two places I found: http://trinorthlighting.com/Store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=7    Don't know if they are any good or not.
  They will all be easily accessible as indirect lighting. But I will have to come up with some interesting type channels or mounts.

Sorry WEC, I like Prevosts too. They may get a little "over the top" at times, but they have allot of good innovative ideas also. And as lighting, I REEEEALLY like when a place is filled with a soft indirect light. (sorta like my radiant hydronic heat in my house) It has a very calming cozy feel. And you are right about passengers benefiting without a glare to the driver. Big plus.

Your right about too much stuff, Tom. Trust me, that isn't my bus. It's going to be as open and uncluttered as I can. And I am exposing all the windows in the kitchen , salon and bedroom. I think indirect lighting will add to the less cluttered feel. Fixtures that are "in your face" or stand out and give a bright light are, to me, more obtrusive.

The "warm lights" are the ones I like Jeremy. I think they may be something like what you speak of. But I think they achieve that with the bulb - but I'm not sure. I know they have the "bright lites" which appear more "blue" and are a little more harsh. They would be OK as long as they are truly indirect and not in your face.

I did find some 24v fixtures Sean, but your idea is very cool!! I may have to investigate that. It certainly would make things a little less complicated if it's what I think you are saying. Those fixtures would be for task lighting such as under cabinet or reading lights.

Thanx for all the help, guys. But besides sailor sams, do you have any other ideas as a good source?? I'll check out sailor sams today.

  Enlightening the WORLD!!! 
     Chaz

[Lin]

We currently have several fluorescent lights in line behind some valences.  I do not like the bright white and would prefer the 2700 kelvin on the compact fluorescent bulbs (same as incandescent).  I was thinking that something like led rope lights would be a replacement if we could find the right tint.  The lights would still be behind the valences.

[luvrbus]

Chaz,for the rope lighting here's one www.platinumlightinginc.com 

and for the fiber optic try  www.fiberopticproducts.com you may like the fiber optic best

[JackConrad]

They will all be easily accessible as indirect lighting. But I will have to come up with some interesting type channels or mounts.

Chaz,
   When we installed our rope lighting, I purchased a clear plastic U channel to mount the rope in. The plastic U came in 6' lengths. The rope simple snaps into the channel. I still have some of the channel in my shop, however, we are on the road until the end of May. I think I purchased it from Outwater Plastics.
   All of our rope lighting is indirect (you never see the actual rope, only the light from it). We have it under the cabinet and vanity toe kicks for night lights, recessed into the bullnose on our steps and inside the openings on our cabinets and closets.
   When we purchased our rope lighting about 7 years ago, the LED was much more expensive than the incandescent, so we went with the incandescent.  We have replaced 3 section in 7 years. If we have to replace anymore, we will probably look into the LED version.  W like the soft indirect "feel" of our rope lighting. As FastFred says "Do It Your Way".  Works for us, YMMV.  Jack

[Kristinsgrandpa]

  Everytime I step into a conversion full of rope lights I get excited, then when I work my way back to the bedroom and there are no hookers, I'm dissappointed and leave.

Ed

[Chaz]

Nick and LUVR,
  Wow, Sailor Sam and Platinum are maybe a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittle bit on the "proud side". My assumtion is they probably have the "name brand" stuff you spoke of. But they are a bit proud of it. Sailor Sam does have some pretty cool other LED lighting and fixtures tho. I'll definitely be checking them out. They have some other pretty cool stuff too. Thanx.
As far as Fiberoptics goes, I looked at them.............. but I quit "smoking rope"  (no pun intended)  back in the early '80's. LOLOLOL I just want a nice warm white glow for light. (and preferable not have to "float a loan".)

Thanx Jack, I'll check out the plactic "U" channel. I was thinking of routering out some trim or maybe form some aluminum. But this may save me a bit of time and effort.

Hey Ed ol' buddy................ easy on the Viagra!!  LOLOLOLOLOL  The lack of blood to your brain at your age will kill more cells that a good hunk of rope!!  lolol

   Shine on me,
       Chaz

[Barn Owl]

Some of the most tasteful use of rope lighting I have seen has been in Jack's bus. The key is that it is only used for indirect lighting. The article in BCM on the stairs he installed shows how he did the stair lighting. The only problem with the photos in the magazine is that they don't do his work justice.

[coachconverter]

I get mine from 1000bulbs.com, great service so far...

Todd