Replacing Awning Fabric with LED Awning Lights

[thompwil]

Question about the LED awning lights.

I’m going to replace our A&E awning fabric and was hoping that I can re-use the LED lights that are attached to the bottom of the awning channel on the coach body. Looking at them it appears the strip is not attached to the fabric but inserted into the awning channel somehow.

Has anyone replaced their fabric with this kind of light strip, and was the light strip re-usable?

Thanks Much
Bill T.

 

[wahoonc]

I have never seen LED lighting in the canvas portion of an awning. They are usually either stuck to the side of the unit directly below the awning rail or inserted in the roller tube slot. Do you have a picture of it?

Aaron

 

[thompwil]

I'll grab a picture later this afternoon. It's not connected to the awning fabric, it's hanging below the awning track and looks to be inserted into the track somehow.

Only reason I'm asking is the folks who sell the replacement fabric "suggested" I could not re-use them. Of course they also sell LED light kits that can be installed later, and the guy wasn't very confident in his answers so there's that.

I believe they may be reusable but was wondering if anyone had already done it. Like most of my projects I'm going to have to order up the fabric and dive in. Replacing the fabric doesn't look too hard to accomplish.

Thanks Much

 

[klook]

You may have the track that goes into a second bead on the fabric itself and if so, yes you can reuse it. The led's just slide into a shallow groove in the track. Like this....

https://imgs.search.brave.com/z5YYDkpbKZp5nkAX2U3vvYiV5eXmEMujitFjBDFolKA/rs:fit:500:0:0:0/g:ce/aHR0cHM6Ly9wcmV2/aWV3LnJlZGQuaXQv/cnYtYXduaW5nLXdp/dGgtc2V3bi1pbi1s/ZWQtY2hhbm5lbC12/MC10amp0b3hvOHEw/bGYxLmpwZz93aWR0/aD02NDAmY3JvcD1z/bWFydCZhdXRvPXdl/YnAmcz01ZDk0OGZl/MTliMjJjZTU4Nzc4/NDNhN2IxMTY3MDc0/MTJkMWE5ZWI1

 

[thompwil]

I believe that's it, I took a closer look yesterday afternoon and the awning bead slides into the track then they both slide into the rail. Mine looks like it's starting to break, you can see the small section still inside the rail that broke off.

I called ShadePro again yesterday and they said their polycord is too big to reuse the original light strip holder. I'm going to give it a try anyway and see for myself. If it doesn't work there's always the $22.00 light strip on eTrailer

Thanks Much

 

[Atl John2]

I just had my awning replaced and had the same led lifetime under the awning. My Rv tech had to remove the led strip with old awning reinstalled the led strip after new awning. The strip was very fragile and he had to be very careful reinstalling it. Note he cute wires for the led strip to get off and reinstalled and added plug connection. Hope this helps

 

[thompwil]

I just had my awning replaced and had the same led lifetime under the awning. My Rv tech had to remove the led strip with old awning reinstalled the led strip after new awning. The strip was very fragile and he had to be very careful reinstalling it. Note he cute wires for the led strip to get off and reinstalled and added plug connection. Hope this helps

Thanks for the info, I was hoping to be able to re-use it.

Did you replace with original Dometic fabric or aftermarket? I have one ordered from ShadePro. Only reason I ask is I've called Dometic and asked about the poly-cord used in their awnings with that LED strip. They claim they used a smaller cord to accommodate the LED strip. Either way I'm going to give it a good try to re-use it.

Thanks again for the info.
BT

 

[Atl John2]

Question about the LED awning lights.

I’m going to replace our A&E awning fabric and was hoping that I can re-use the LED lights that are attached to the bottom of the awning channel on the coach body. Looking at them it appears the strip is not attached to the fabric but inserted into the awning channel somehow.

Has anyone replaced their fabric with this kind of light strip, and was the light strip re-usable?

Thanks Much
Bill T.

 

[Atl John2]

I ordered mine awning from Rec Pro. Very happy with the material with 5 year warranty. I watched my tech remove the old awning and led strip was sliding with the awning. He tried to install the new awning without removing the led strip but very tight so that is why he removed the strip. He reinstalled the strip which went on pretty easy. But was very fragile due to the age. Hope this helps

 

[thompwil]

I ordered mine awning from Rec Pro. Very happy with the material with 5 year warranty. I watched my tech remove the old awning and led strip was sliding with the awning. He tried to install the new awning without removing the led strip but very tight so that is why he removed the strip. He reinstalled the strip which went on pretty easy. But was very fragile due to the age. Hope this helps

Thank you, Yes this will help for sure !

Thanks again,
BT