Conquering Darkness

Photos by author

A fun exercise to illuminate the holding tank termination pipe/valve area with an inexpensive LED daytime running light provided unexpected results.

Searching for some type of inconspicuous lighting fixture that could be mounted on the skirt above the holding tank termination pipe/valve turned up a real unexpected find: daytime running lights. While perusing Amazon, we discovered small LED lights that are marketed as—are you ready? — YUK 10x 12SMD 12W Eagle Eye DRL LED Rock Lights for Jeep ATV Off Road Truck Under Trail Rig Lights White (https://amzn.to/3FCb9PY). You’ve got to love overseas manufacturers for their descriptive names for products.

And, they were really inexpensive. Anytime you can buy 10 lights for $13, you’re taking a flyer whether the product is any good — and when you read the reviews, you’ll wonder. But these lights are actually pretty nice, and so far they are still working. But who cares? Even if the light only lasts for one season, you have nine more waiting in the wings.

Once the location for the light was pinpointed, its shaft diameter was measured with a drill size guide. We simply drilled the appropriate size hole using bits in stages to make sure the opening was consistent and smooth. These lights have a threaded aluminum alloy shaft and a steel retaining nut. The wiring pigtail is first routed from the outside, the retaining nut slides over the wire and the light fixture is tightened in place. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. When done, the light fixture is barely noticeable as it’s flush mounted against the lip of the metal skirt that terminates beyond the sidewall.

Picking up a 12-volt DC power source and installing some type of on/off switch takes the most time. We found a new lighted rocker switch in our box of spare parts that fit the bill perfectly. There are hundreds of similar switches on the market, and Amazon probably sells most of them. If you’re more touchy-feely, you can visit a local automotive parts or hardware store; just make sure the switch is not momentary and is rated at 12-volts DC.

The rear wall in the molded plastic box in the storage compartment — located in the utility area — made a perfect place to install the switch. An appropriate size hole was drilled through the plastic and a round file used to make final cuts to accommodate a notch in the switch body. Since the switch terminals were destined to reside outside and be subject to moisture and dirt, they were covered with silicone sealer.

Picking up power in the fifth wheel we “enlightened” was easy, since at the time the solar system was installed, we routed a 12-volt DC, 12-gauge wire cable (and fuse) from the lithium battery bank to give us the option of connecting portable accessories outside. It should be fairly routine to find power in the utility compartment from a light fixture or switch; just make sure to incorporate an inline fuse rated for the light. Wire size is dependent on the length of the run, but 16-gauge automotive wire should do the trick. In this case, the light is rated for 15 watts. Once the light is wired to the switch, you’re done.

Don’t expect these lights to be available at all times; it’s the nature of the beast when buying online parts. One day we checked Amazon and the lights were not available; a week later they were. So, we looked for an alternative and found the Eagle Eye LED Chip Car Fog White Light DRL Bulb 9W 18mm 5730 Reverse Backup Parking Signal 10 Pcs 6000K lights (https://amzn.to/3nCC7Rm).

We soon found ourselves asking why we didn’t do this years ago. No more fumbling in the dark — and an unexpected benefit is the ability to illuminate the inside of the clear bayonet fitting while dumping the holding tanks during the day.