The lighted step

[chin_k]

I think most, if not all, of the Chinook, has a lighted nosing on the rear step. I am going to replace the carpet in the future, but for now, I just want to replace the lamps inside the metal trim of the nosing. Anyone know how to get to the little lamps? I see the switch is accessible from the exterior closet, but I have not take it completely apart to see where the wires actually goes.

If any of you had any hint for me to remove the trim piece and/or access the lamps, let me know.

[caconcourse]

Hi Ching,

You can remove the trim piece when you remove the carpet from the back of the rear step. There are screws in the front face of the trim. (unless my memory fails me and the screws are in the top portion.) The wires run under the carpet across the small section of floor to the left of the step (near the tire locker wall). The light strip fits in a groove in the face of the trim piece. I think it is covered by a piece of plastic that you might be able to pry out from one side.

I saved the trim piece and lights when I replaced the carpet with vinyl planks, and I stripped the brown paint and left it bare aluminum because I used some aluminum trim around the step.

[chin_k]

Clay, I do see the wire from the switch goes under the carpet, when I removed the side panels from the rear closet. I am going to see if I can pry the clear plastic piece off, and replace the lamp that way. I am not going to replace the carpet yet, and I don't think I can access the screws on the top and remove the nosing trim.

Thank you for the hint. As always, you are very helpful.

[caconcourse]

Hi Ching,

Here is more details about the step light strip. By a bad coincidence, my step lights shorted out sometime before our last trip, and I had to dismantle the step flooring to fix it. The light strip is in a (looks like 1/4") square channel. The lights are strung inside a square plastic tube with a seal on the right side which bonds the light strip to the plastic tube. You can pull the whole tube out from the right side if you get a hook inside the plastic tube and pry it out gently.

I am not sure what would be a better replacement, but a 1/4" light rope would probably fit in the channel, but would not be flush unless you put the new lights in a square plastic tube like the old ones. I really like the look of the original lights myself. I guess I like the golden light tones and the fact they are not over-bright. Not going to use much power for me, since we only use the porch light for short excursions outside the RV at night.

My short was cause by me, when I put the aluminum molding along side the left of the lights, I didn't cut enough clearance for the wires, and the aluminum edge sliced the wire insulation, and the two wires shorted together.

Here are some pics of the light tub removed from the channel, and an end view of the nose trim showing the square channel the lights slip into.

Also the nose trim had screws on the top (that I am not using under my vinyl floor), and I have two screws in the front holding it on. I am not sure if the front screws were original or if I drilled holes so I could mount it from the front instead of the top.

[chin_k]

My intent is to pry the clear cover out, see how the lamps are connected to the power, and replace it with LED lights. I replaced the lamps in the cloth closet (a few of them were burnt out), with warm LED light string, but not happy with the outcome. The trace on the flexible PCB is not robust enough, and three of the LED lamps are not lighting up anymore. I have since reorder a different type of rope light, and will see if it will work better. If I get something that work with the step, I will post the update here, but I may not get to it until the 4th, since I need to find a good way to mount the toilet paper holder first.

[VTSweetpea]

If you haven't already committed to placing LEDs in the step metal trim piece, here's an alternative. When we replaced the flooring in our 2000 Concourse, I rerouted the power supply for the old step lights over to the bottom of the closet. I installed an LED fixture from a marine supply store so that it illuminates the steps. The fixture I'm talking about is the small chrome unit just above the opening I cut into the closet wall to provide better access to the "trough" area inside the closet. Just something to consider.

[chin_k]

That is a great idea, but I have several feet of LED string light that I would like to use them first, before getting more accessory.

I like the added access to the trough area. Right now, I have to pull everything out of the closet if I need to get the items on the bottom of the trough.

[Blue~Go]

I made an access opening there too. It's my shoe nook so I don't have to trip over them all the time

[bolerama]

Ah-ha! Now we know what that wire is for. Our carpet had been replaced once, and when we removed the current carpet, we found the wire. Thanks so much! And I love the cutaway for shoes. So many great ideas here.
Lisa

[chin_k]

Here is what I end up doing. The result is kind of too bright (see attachment below), so I ended up getting rid of two of the lamps segments (not shown).

Before apply heat and pull into the square tubing

during day time.

at night. Too bright

The bulbs are pointing 45 degree down onto the steps. If I ever do this again, I would do a little bit differently.
1, use smaller, dimmer LED
2, use narrower LED so that it is easier to slide into the square tubing.
3, use single LED instead of 3 per segment.
4, not use the red shrink tub so that it will not show up too well.