connecting string lights to existing 12v fixture

kleevanb

New Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2021
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5
Location
Iowa
2022 Reflection 303RLS
I have a string of 12vLED lights I want to install on the inside of the pantry trim, to illuminate all the shelves.

I'm not very good at electrical. I'd like to tie it into the existing 12v fixture on the ceiling, which has a motion-on setting. How can I figure out which wire connection to use so the string lights motion-on along with the ceiling fixture?

Thanks.
 

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2022 Reflection 303RLS
I have a string of 12vLED lights I want to install on the inside of the pantry trim, to illuminate all the shelves.

I'm not very good at electrical. I'd like to tie it into the existing 12v fixture on the ceiling, which has a motion-on setting. How can I figure out which wire connection to use so the string lights motion-on along with the ceiling fixture?

Thanks.
Tasks such as this really require the use of an AC/DC voltmeter and the knowledge of how to use one. You can get by with a cheap one for under $20. With a meter you can find out which wire pair is the incoming +-12VDC wire pair. However, finding an exposed 12V contact which comes on with the light motion detector is probably not going to happen. So why not wire to a free slot on your interior fuse panel using an inline switch (again basic experience required)? Finally, go to an RV shop and pay them to do it.
 
2022 Reflection 303RLS
I have a string of 12vLED lights I want to install on the inside of the pantry trim, to illuminate all the shelves.

I'm not very good at electrical. I'd like to tie it into the existing 12v fixture on the ceiling, which has a motion-on setting. How can I figure out which wire connection to use so the string lights motion-on along with the ceiling fixture?

Thanks.
I would not recommend this if you were talking about 120v power, in this case these are 12v lights and hard to get into too much trouble. Your best bet is to take the fixture off, three screws you see. There are two wire nuts connecting the fixture to the 12v RV power. Tap into them directly, note if you reverse polarity your lights won’t work just switch polarity and you should be good to go. Before you start make sure the light is off and while LED lights draw little power you don’t want to hang too many on an electric 12v line without calculating the amp draw. Worst case you add the string and you blow a fuse. Remove the string or shorten it and replace the fuse.
 
I think you are going to have find the 12v output of the device that senses when the door opens and use that as the 12v source for your strip lights. That most likely means some testing is in order on the circuit board in that light fixture.
 
2022 Reflection 303RLS
I have a string of 12vLED lights I want to install on the inside of the pantry trim, to illuminate all the shelves.

I'm not very good at electrical. I'd like to tie it into the existing 12v fixture on the ceiling, which has a motion-on setting. How can I figure out which wire connection to use so the string lights motion-on along with the ceiling fixture?

Thanks.
As mentioned, you can't get into too much trouble with 12V. What I did was use LED strip lighting with a connector kit. I stripped the ends of one end of the connector and simply touched the bare wires to the white and black wires that are soldered on the board of the light that you have pictured. Once I figured out the orientation, I drilled a small hole through the side of the existing light for access, fed my connector wires through the hole, then soldered them to the existing solder. Since I suck at soldering, it doesn't look pretty, but at least now when I open my pantry I have lights that run down both sides of the pantry. I have the same setup in my closet and also in my basement.
 
I put rechargeable motion sensing lights on my pantry. They have a metal strip that they attach to with magnets. Double side tape holds the metal strips to the bottom of each shelf. When I open the door they all go on. No need for wires. Got them on Amazon. Can post link if interested. Don’t have it on my phone.
 

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