Want Quality motion light for front of my Casita

[gregd]

I like to see what you all have done as far as changing out the terrible front outside light to a Led motion sensing light.I have a Casita LD. Ive only seen the Star brand. Anyone?

[campfrugal]

Greg,
I too am still looking for a 12 Volt one.
I found a small battery powered one from HARBOR FREIGHT that I hang on a screw (while parked). It was $9.99 internet. This unit
is better than nothing.....so I'm still looking for a GOOD 12V one.
Doc
the boonDOCer

[gregd]

Thanks I hadn't see that one Ill check it out.Im looking for a 12volt led with retina burning capability.LOL if you find one please post info thanks gregd

[Larry C Hanson]

Here is a quality 12V DC motion sensor... From backwoodssolar.com
12 VOLT DC MOTION SENSING LIGHT SWITCH 12 VOLT DC MOTION SENSING LIGHT SWITCH with TIMER
10 year warranty


RAB motion and heat sensing switch is 12 volt DC powered so it can work full time even if your inverter is off or in standby mode. Turns lights on at approach, and holds for adjustable time, 5 seconds to 12 minutes after motion stops. Sensitivity distance is adjustable, up to about 50 feet out, farther in colder weather with a test LED showing pick-up area.. Connect directly to any 12 volt light, or use a 12 volt relay to switch a 120 volt light. Set for night only operation, or use as security alarm, by setting for day/night operation. Switches 8 amp DC. 7 milliamps idling; 44 milliamps when activated.

L-RAB: $98

[GeorgeR]

I was considering this light but $100 at intro was too steep. Current price of $70 is more tempting. The good think about these lights is that the hole pattern is the same as in the common RV outdoor light.

Smart Light® Video - Star Lights, Inc.

Smart Light 1000 - Motion Lighting 12 Volt - Star Lights, Inc.

George.

[Spanke]

Originally Posted by GeorgeR

I was considering this light but $100 at intro was too steep. Current price of $70 is more tempting. The good think about these lights is that the hole pattern is the same as in the common RV outdoor light.

Smart Light® Video - Star Lights, Inc.

Smart Light 1000 - Motion Lighting 12 Volt - Star Lights, Inc.

George.

Found it on EBay $50.95 + 7.90 Shipping: STAR LIGHTS-SMART LIGHT-12 VOLT RV MOTION LIGHT-NEW | eBay

Pretty Cool!

Spanke

[Don Dunsmore]

Originally Posted by Spanke

Found it on EBay $50.95 + 7.90 Shipping: STAR LIGHTS-SMART LIGHT-12 VOLT RV MOTION LIGHT-NEW | eBay

Pretty Cool!

Spanke

Found it here at Tweety's for $52.80....not showing the LED bulb though.

Star Lights Inc. Motion Sensing Porch Light - Motion Activated Lights

[Fran L]

PPLmotorhomes.com also has it.
Cost is $60.05 after shipping ($52.06 + $7.99)...about the same total as the ebay listing. Specifically includes the 200 LED ultra bright rotating bulb.

Motion Activated Security Light - 12v for RV - PPL Motor Homes

Just ordered one for our Scamp 19.

Fran

[campfrugal]

Donna always says "A picture is worth a thousand words".
So here is a pic of what we are talking about.

Doc the boonDOCer @ Campfrugal

[Don Dunsmore]

Originally Posted by campfrugal

Donna always says "A picture is worth a thousand words".
So here is a pic of what we are talking about.

Doc the boonDOCer @ Campfrugal
Attachment 42441

I'm curious......do these lights have an on/off switch on the unit itself or do you need an on/off switch inside the trailer as some units have. On my Bigfoot, the porch light I would be replacing has the switch on it and I don't have an interior switch. I ask this because as you can see below in a copy of the function instructions, you need an on/off switch to set certain modes.

"To enter the motion detection mode, the light switch is turned on, then off, then on again within 15 seconds. This action tells the microprocessor to start working. If the light is turned off for more then 15 seconds, it reverts to the normal light function mode."

[Fran L]

I've just sent an email to the StarLights people (who manufacture this light) to ask that question. I guess if it requires an interior or 'house' switch for the on/off control then I'll have to return the one I ordered....bummer.
Will post the answer I get.
Fran

[SherryNPaul]

I saw one at the Tampa RV Supershow. It was $52. It was in the main pavillion. Wish I'd seen this post before we went. Looked like a nice lite.

[Don Dunsmore]

Originally Posted by Fran L

I've just sent an email to the StarLights people (who manufacture this light) to ask that question. I guess if it requires an interior or 'house' switch for the on/off control then I'll have to return the one I ordered....bummer.
Will post the answer I get.
Fran

Fran....even if it requires an interior switch, I don't see it as too hard to run a wire or two straight through the trailer wall and add the switch on the inside. I'm no electrician, so hopefully someone with some knowledge here will jump in.

And if it's the white fixture with LED bulb you ordered and decide you don't want, let me know...we'll work something out. Don

[Fran L]

Good point. I'll keep you posted as to what I hear back!
Fran

[Fran L]

OK, here is the answer from the manufacturer on the Smart Light 1000 12v RV Motion Light:

The Smart Light is designed to be switched between operating modes via a switch on the inside of the RV/trailer. You will not be able to control the Smart Light or switch between operating modes without an inline switch. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,


Anthony Shaw
Office Manager
Starlights, Inc.
(805) 685-8500, ext. 100
Anthony.Shaw@starlightsinc.com

So it looks like we'll have to see if we can put an inline switch inside the trailer going to the outside light. It sounds do-able....

Fran

[Don Dunsmore]

Originally Posted by Fran L

OK, here is the answer from the manufacturer on the Smart Light 1000 12v RV Motion Light:

So it looks like we'll have to see if we can put an inline switch inside the trailer going to the outside light. It sounds do-able....

Fran

Let us know if you do this mod. Would be interested in the switch you use and the wiring set up.

[cpaharley2008]

I do not think it requires an interior on/off switch, just an on/off switch, exterior or interior, as long as the circuit is broken then the mode is set. That is what an in line switch does. Technically you could do it touching and removing a wire from the unit to you battery, same result. I'm going to order one.

[Fran L]

We just finished installing the Starlights, Inc Smart Light 1000 motion
activated LED porch light on our 2005 Scamp 19D, replacing the original factory
light. It seems to work great!

The mounting holes match up exactly to those on the factory light so that was
easy. However, this new light is meant to be controlled by an on/off switch
inside the RV. That's how it turns on the motion detection function in addition
to a standard on/off function. Since the Scamp doesn't have that, we had to wire
in an inline on/off switch. So that required getting to the Scamp wiring, not
just removing the old light and wiring up the new one the same way.

The new light also has leds to indicate low battery. There is a 3rd wire
(yellow) on the fixture which we did not use. The manual says that it can be
used to trigger another accessory when you add in the Revolution 2000 FB Fused
Relay box. You can just ignore that yellow wire - it is taped to, but not
spliced to, one of the other two wires (pos & neg)

We are really novices at doing anything like this - the only mods we'd made was
to mount a mirror on the bathroom door so we had to feel our way along with this
project. We made some mistakes along the way, but nothing serious and the
mistakes just identified an easier way that we could have done it. We took
photos and documented the process. We edited the photos so that the 'easier'
way is documented, not our mistakes! I'm sure there could still be
improvements.
Some of the work is a little messy but it's not too bad and it does the trick
for now. Might clean up the wiring inside the cabinet later on.

We're sure many of you could do this in your sleep, but we couldn't and we
figured maybe others might like to see the process in gory detail.

So we posted the photos in an album titled Motion Activated Porch Light:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scampers/photos/album/1314407400/pic/list

You have to be a memberof the Scamp yahoo group to view them. I tried loading them onto this website but I couldn't control the order of the photos and it was really cumbersome, so I just posted a few photos of the light fixture (front and back) and the box.
This link should get you there:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/m...12-albums.html

We hope it is helpful to other novices out there!
Fran & Dave