OK, so after much deliberation, I decided I really wanted the smoother look that the recessed LED lights offer.
A quick search on AmazonSmile, a couple of clicks here and there, then as if by magic, two days and $43.00 later a pack of five of the things I posted above arrived on my doorstep.
They're very nicely made, slimmer than a vegan thin crust pizza, and when energized, they give off an even light across the whole lens, with no apparent hot spots. (I tested them using a 9v smoke alarm battery)
I'm initially replacing the three center-line OEM non-dimmable LED POS clusters that were fitted to my ceiling. There's a photo of one of them above too.
Job one was to identify and remove the fuse that protects the ceiling lights in the distribution panel. I turned all the lights on, then sequentially removed and replaced the 12volt fuses until the ceiling lights went out, cool, that was easy.
Two are located very close to roof trusses, the third just hangs in the 1/8" luan ceiling material. This is one time when I wish they hadn't bothered to try and find a truss as cutting a 5 1/2" hole in the ceiling, intentionally missing the trusses, but covering as much of the original fixing holes proved to be a test of nerves.
Once I plunged the first hole there was no turning back, my wife couldn't watch, she took the dog for a walk. Is it possible she's over exercising our dog I wonder..?
Once the holes were cut the electrical installation is as simple as matching up the black and white wires to those left dangling where the old units were. In mine the positive is white with a yellow stripe, while the ground
is solid white.
I used automotive double ended crimp connectors throughout as I always have some on hand for small electrical jobs. Then wrapped the connector with some electrical tape just to make sure.
Once connected, I re-installed the fuse and tested the operation. Excellent, they all came on, Whoa, they're bright....or was it because I'd been working in the subdued light inside my coach?
The units secure into the ceiling holes with rather agressively sprung tabs. They're the type you fold up, insert through the hole then try and get your finger out before they clamp the flange tight against the ceiling and pinch the tip of your finger. The good thing is they look incredibly flush almost watertight I'd say.
To control the new lights I purchased an inline RF LED remote dimmer, capable of handling a maximum of 10amps. (Each of the lights is rated at 9w, so the current draw is 0.75amps per light unit, well within the dimmers capability) The RF receiver is about 3" long, 1 inch wide and 3/4" deep. It's perfect to stuff in the wall cavity at the location of the existing factory on/off switch which will be left in situ but disconnected.
The receiver has four terminals, two on each end. 12v + and - in at one end, and 12v + and - out to LED lights at the other. Couldn't be simpler.
The handset is futuristic looking, sleek, smooth and nicely proportioned to slip perfectly down between the back and seat cushion of the recliners if you're not careful (don't ask me how I know this) It came with a little self adhesive magnetic plate so you can pick an appropriate location to park it for future reference. Either that of bring someone with you who has thin wrists to rummage around in the various crevices in your rig.
The end results are; I now have a sleek looking ceiling, devoid of pig ugly yellowing cheap plastic POS bulbous light fittings, plus remote ambient lighting that can be dimmed, flicker free from off to solar flare in a matter of seconds, and no longer from just the rear entry door switch but from anywhere in the coach.
If only I could find the bloody remote.