Mains powered lights for awning

[tuffty]

I've been looking for lighting solutions for the awning. The awning light on the van (Coachman Amara 570/6) is bright enough to be able to see by, but the wife and I will be sitting out there when the kids are asleep and it would be nice to be able to read etc. There are many battery powered lanterns available, but as we have a power socket in a locker on the outside of the van I thought I might as well save batteries and buy something I can plug in. There appear to be very few options here though - plenty of fairly dim lights, but nothing which can hang from the roof and light up the awning properly. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking of just buying an inspection lamp with a 100W bulb in ....

 

[otherclive]

Unless you want to heat up the awing why not a LED 10 watt or 9 watt bayonet cap?

5 for less than £10 at screw fix. Useful if you are off grid with an invertor.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-gls-led-lamps-white-bc-9w-5-pack/2330j

 

[Woodentop]

Unless the fitting is IP67 i.e. waterproof, I wouldn't have a mains powered lamp in the awning.

LED awning lights are readily available - Isabella even do a stick specifically designed to attach to the support poles. You can make up a cable with a car socket on it and a fuse in line and connect it to you battery, dropping the socket outside the box via the cable entry when you want to use it.

 

[KeefySher]

For donkeys years we've used a clip on light like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clip-Holder-Mains-Plastic-White/dp/B005O0R644/ref=lp_248564031_1_12?s=lighting&ie=UTF8&qid=1486146308&sr=1-12
in awnings of various types, roll out fiamma, drive away Kyham, and the current Bradcot Aspire air. On the MH had a mains/12v socket fitted in the step footwell, external socket on the caravan.

Use in conjunction with a 9W low energy bulb that the power companies give to OAP's. Like these:
http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/energy-saver-%28cfl%29-stick-bc-9w-bulb-342884

Still on first bulb in year 11.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I have used a IP rated work light that used a 2D fluorescent tube. masses of light and I was able hook it over the central roof pole near the caravan wall, and the light spread was fine for a party of 6 in the awning.

google or ebay

"38w 2D Task Lantern - 240V Work Light,"

 

[woodsieboy]

We use the led strip lights available at most caravan dealers, can be used either off mains or 12v, in the big awning it clips to a roof pole, in our air awning it fixes to loops in the roof with run ups, gives good light throughout the awning with no heat.

 

[Thingy]

I had the same thoughts as the OP and was very disappointed with those in the camp shops so:

Chose a shade off Ebay. In our case one that looks like an old mill light with cage on it. Cost about a tenner. Added a fancy shaped LED and just wired it to a plug. Isabella sell proper cable clips that attach to the awning roof poles and if you leave a little slack you can raise and lower it over the table.

Chose a shade with cage because it protects the LED in transit.

 

[Anseo]

Chose a shade off Ebay. In our case one that looks like an old mill light with cage on it. Cost about a tenner. Added a fancy shaped LED and just wired it to a plug.
Chose a shade with cage because it protects the LED in transit.

Any chance of a link to ebay or a piccy of of your lamp and the fancy shaped LED Thingy.

Thanks

 

[Gagakev]

I use one of These
Beauty of it is you can take it any where, when in the awning I leave it plugged in and charging on 12v.
Un plug it at night when we retire to bed.

They have them on special in Aldi at least once a year and at £19.99 good value, but downside is you will have to wait for them to come in.

 

[Thingy]

For anseo

Ebay item 231919357126

that is the shade I used, but as I said, i got mine for £10.00, these are a little more.

Bulb similar to this

Ebay Item 141931544955

For some reason I cant manage to get the URL in, keeps giving me a grey box.

 

[Anseo]

Thank you Thingy.

 

[RayS]

Make your own. Buy led flexible strip from Toolstation etc or Ebay, 12 volt, fasten it to suitable thin wooden batten wire to a plug which fits car sock but your caravan will probably have one for the TV. Attach to the roof beams of the awning with cable ties. You can then put in as much or as little as you want, no worries about safety, and no at all expensive. You can get either cold white or warm light strips to choice.

 

[Sparky214]

Hi Anseo,
Go onto you tube and put in 'meet the trudgians' . Dan Trudgeon has done a great tutorial on making your own using LED strip and acrylic tubing. Have made 2 myself, you will need to be able to solder though. Hope this helps