TVAN simple kitchen LED light

[rksbjs]

I wanted something simple to light up the kitchen and provide some light when initially setting up at night.
We have some LED strip lights that we attach to the Annex roof poles for longer term stays but for a one night stand something simple was needed.
Found LED strip lights in 5m lengths with a simple switches on ebay and wired short strip (30LEDs) via a switch from the kitchen power socket.
The strip is attached to the inside of the kitchen door and provides enough light for setup, boil the billy or cook a meal.
The strips have self adhesive backing and cleaning with Prepsol where contact is made should see them stay in place.
Double sided tape was used to adhere cable and switch again Prepsol all before mounting.
Works well but the sink and cutlery drawer are shaded by stove wind break.
3 pics below.

[Kangyboy]

Hi Again Guys
Again nice job.
Question for you , how have you found it in regards attracting Bugs , and is the light itself a bit bright on your eyes. I do like the fact its there and ready to go No setting up.
We have something similar in a shelf arrangement but it requires set up and storing , plus we found we needed to add a dimmer. So may look into gluing in in place like you have.
Thanks for sharing it.
Regards Kelly.

[Troopy]

Hi
For an alternative, we needed more light over the stove and sink that would not cast shadows so we made up an angled strip that juts out from  the van at the D shaped ring located above the stove (we have the Mark 3).
We bought:
1/  76cm length of channel shaped perforated shelf support from the hardware shop.....the strip that is usually fixed to the wall
2/  a connector from the same range that we bent to 45 degrees
3/  An LED strip with magnetic backing from a motor accessories shop

We joined the C section with the connector...they slip into one another. The LED strip attaches itself to the inner part of the C section. It is now ready to hang above the cooking area.

Also, to give better reading light in the tent, we have attached a strip of LED lights to a square section aluminium tube that spans across the highest point of the tent...it just sits there and weighs very little. We just slip it under the bed covers when we are on the move.

We hope this helps.

[Harry Lissimore]

It is great to hear all the different ways that lights have been incorporated into Tvans so I thought I should say what we have done.  Nothing quite as elaborate as some but still it works for us...

We have a 2002 Tvan.

Firstly the kitchen - we purchased one of those little spotlights that have a switch on the base and the light (about the size of the inside lights)  can move to different anges and we anchor that using a Mitre 10 suction cup with a hook on it on the wall above the stove and the open hatch and plug it in the the merrit plug near the kitchen.  It delivers a beam focused on the stove and prep area and look very cordon bleu!  Gives good atmosphere.  We replaced the tungsten bulb with a brightlights LED (5 in the cluster) and its easy, simple and brilliant.

Under the awning - we bought a 30 LED strip encased in U shaped aluminium so its rigid, put some bits of metal sheeting around the middle without obstructing any of the leds, then put a rare earth magnet up in the hole where the hatch hinge is, so when we stop somewhere its a 2 second job to get the strip out and plonk it on the magnet and plug it in to the merrit plug near the hand water pump.  Its great in that you can change the angle of the strip easily to focus light anywhere.  You can even turn it completely 180 degrees up so you are reflecting off the awning canvas for mood lighting, and as I discovered a few weeks ago when we were out in the bush, if you project the light up and dont have the awning up you get the reflection from the trees above  - a great experience.

As for lights inside, all I have done is replaced the 4 halogen reading lights with the Brightlights LEDs (5 leds per bulb) and I find that is quite adequate for us.  Our inside 60L Engel has a $20 LED from BCF on the lid so when you open it, it comes on and lights up the fridge internals.

As I tell my wife, you can never have too many lights (or anderson plugs for that matter!) but I think I'm getting near the limit (on both) not that I ever use them all!

Harry

[wrose]

When we ordered out Tvan, we asked TT if they could fit a light above the kitchen.
I picked one out & they installed it in the factory.
The switch is just inside below the radio.
Its a Narva LED Caravan Awing Light, TT should make it a standard feature.
It puts out a nice even light, with only a little shadow over the sink from the stove wind shield.

[apsilon]

My kitchen lighting solution and those of a few other members are in this thread if anyone is interested:
http://www.tracktrailerforums.com/index.php?topic=36.msg63#msg63

[The Hueys]

We have one of these from Anaconda.

Recharges from the car and as it is not fixed to the van (just hook it on when needed) we can point it in different directions. Very bright, good coloured light.

[Frankrhona]

Some great ideas there. We fitted one similar to Rick & Barb's, but found it was a little glary. I was thinking of adding a shroud. Then I thought of recessing some lights into the Thetford Service door.
Does anyone know if you can remove or get into the inside skin of the service door to see if it is possible to recess lights and wiring into them?

[rksbjs]

Hi all again,

Having now used the lights on the kitchen hatch and they are glarey looking straight in but not bad from the side while cooking.

Also have purchased light shown above by Craig from Anacoda, on special last Friday for $29.99 normally $49.99.
Good value unit will have to see if the Mozie Repelling feature is any good though.

[ccol2621]

We found that once we put Conny's awning bracket on, we had a ready built holder for our kitchen lighting.

[Young Nomads]

A cheap roll up led strip light on a long cord and dimmer suits us. Just tucks away anywhere. I keep it directly away from the hotplate/ prep area, so bugs don't come over.

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/products/led-camping-lights/illuminator-max-led-strip-light.html

We have some clear yellow film which we can slip over our other tube lights, for light over our table as we eat.
You can buy led strip lights that have both yellow & white lights in them.

[three1four2]

A cheap roll up led strip light on a long cord and dimmer suits us. Just tucks away anywhere. I keep it directly away from the hotplate/ prep area, so bugs don't come over.

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/products/led-camping-lights/illuminator-max-led-strip-light.html

We have some clear yellow film which we can slip over our other tube lights, for light over our table as we eat.
You can buy led strip lights that have both yellow & white lights in them.

Yes, the orange/white strips work well.  I'm sure you can buy cheaper than Korr, but I've found it to be a good product
https://www.korrlighting.com.au/product-category/camping/led-light-strips-tapes/