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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Dan Stansel on April 17, 2011, 09:39:58 pm

Title: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Dan Stansel on April 17, 2011, 09:39:58 pm
How do I get into the yellow light over the door.  Bulbs must be burned out?? No screws showing but maybe some sort of button at both ends but no access yet on
02 295 40 ft. Help appreciated.  Dan STansel U270 36 99 for sale
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: George Stoltz on April 17, 2011, 09:51:24 pm
Dan,

The buttons at each end are vinyl plugs that need to be pried out.  I use a small knife.  A dental pick would be even better.  If you lose one as I did, you can find them at large hardware and big box stores.

More info:

I should have mentioned that the plugs cover small screws.  They are very short and only require a few turns to remove.  And like the plugs, they are also easy to lose.
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Dan Stansel on April 17, 2011, 09:55:09 pm
Thanks George I can do that.  It sures helps to have help  DAN
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Horace B. Cupp on April 18, 2011, 09:00:40 am
Dan. On my 99, U320 and on my present coach, the yellow lens on the light over the door simply "pops" out by pressing on the top of the lens. There is NO NEED to unscrew the end brackets. It is a pressure fit.
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Dan Stansel on April 18, 2011, 09:14:06 am
Horace:  This 02 295 may do the same I am going to look at it this morning.  Thanks DAN
Stansel U270 36 99 for sale
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: George Stoltz on April 18, 2011, 09:28:56 am
Dan. On my 99, U320 and on my present coach, the yellow lens on the light over the door simply "pops" out by pressing on the top of the lens. There is NO NEED to unscrew the end brackets. It is a pressure fit.

That is a great piece of information!!!!  Never too old to learn something new.
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Brad on April 18, 2011, 09:58:51 am
Dan,
If the bulbs do not fix the problem, then most likely the ballast is burned out.  I just fixed mine by replacing the bulbs with LED's light tubes which should be the last time I have to work on this fixture.  I attached a few photos to show the work and the burned ballast.  I used 12 inch waterproof LED light tubes from superbrightleds. LT series 7inch & 12inch SMD LED Light Tubes Specifications (http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FSMD_LED_tube.htm)

Hope it's just the bulbs,
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: George Hatfield on April 18, 2011, 10:25:44 am
Brad.... these LEDs look like the perfect solution for the outside light.  Have you used them inside to replace the fluorescent bulbs?
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Brad on April 18, 2011, 10:35:43 am
George,
I replaced my puck lights with LED's, but not the fluorescent strips.  My to do list is getting pretty long, so I will probably wait until they burn out or my honey do list is complete.

Thanks, 
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: George Stoltz on April 18, 2011, 10:42:32 am
Aarrgghhhhh!  Just last week I bought something else that is going to require that I muck around to get them to fit.  Your solution is PERFECT.  I might return those and buy these.
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: J. D. Stevens on April 18, 2011, 11:08:36 am
On our porch light, the lens comes out with a bit of pressure at the top or bottom edge.

I fixed a failed fixture by replacing the bulbs and treating the switch on the fixture with WD-40. I removed the rubber boot from the switch, soaked it with WD-40 and exercised it. After the lamp started working properly, I replaced the rubber boot and put the yellow cover back on. It is a "snap" fit into the metal housing. The repair has lasted for a year so far.

One could also move a couple of wires and bypass the switch altogether. I see no purpose for the switch since the light is controlled primarily by the switch inside the door, and the "magic" touch switch on the assist handle.
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: George Stoltz on April 18, 2011, 11:51:47 am
Dan,

How does the brightness of the new LED lights  compare with the old fluorescent tubes?
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Brad on April 18, 2011, 01:09:50 pm
Quote
Dan,

How does the brightness of the new LED lights  compare with the old fluorescent tubes?
George,
I think your question is to me and I found the light to be a little brighter than the fluorescent tubes.  It has less lumens, but it looks to be a little brighter to me.  Maybe my old light was just weak.  in any case it works just fine for me.

Dan,
i did not mean to hijack your post...sorry.

 
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Barry Beam on April 18, 2011, 03:41:32 pm
Brad.... these LEDs look like the perfect solution for the outside light.  Have you used them inside to replace the fluorescent bulbs?

I like that idea for the outside light also.
Clean look.

George,
I replaced my inside fluorescent bulbs with LED .
You install them just like the bulbs.
You just remove the ballast from the circuit.
Replacing Your Light Bulbs with LED lighting (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/replacing_light_bulbs_with_led_lighting.html)
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Dan Stansel on April 18, 2011, 04:28:00 pm
I like the look of the LEDs but I got the bulbs and installed and the light now works.
The yellow lens just poped out as you indicated.  Tks all  DAn u295 02 and a 99 36 U270 for sale
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Tom Lang on April 18, 2011, 06:36:59 pm
Although the yellow lens pops out, be careful in putting it back.  I lost one somewhere on the road that i thought was re-installed correctly.  Sliding it out and back in is safer, and puts less stress on the plastic lens.
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Barry & Cindy on April 18, 2011, 10:07:36 pm
We are in the process of changing our over door lamp to LED. We removed original lamp and plan to install United Pacific 38871 with 39 white LED pointing down.
United Pacific Industries | Viewing - 39 LED Auxiliary Strip Light (16" L x 2" W (http://www.unitedpacificind.com/view.asp?id=Mjc0)

United Pacific has a lot of LED lamps, but we only found this one for over door.
We have other United Pacific LED lights for license plate and turn.
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: George Stoltz on April 19, 2011, 03:27:00 pm
Dan,
If the bulbs do not fix the problem, then most likely the ballast is burned out.  I just fixed mine by replacing the bulbs with LED's light tubes which should be the last time I have to work on this fixture.  I attached a few photos to show the work and the burned ballast.  I used 12 inch waterproof LED light tubes from superbrightleds. LT series 7inch & 12inch SMD LED Light Tubes Specifications (http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FSMD_LED_tube.htm)

Hope it's just the bulbs,

Brad,

Did you buy yellow or clear LEDs?  From your photos they look yellow.  And, the product is not currently available with a clear or white LED.
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Brad on April 19, 2011, 03:31:40 pm
Quote
Brad,

Did you buy yellow or clear LEDs?  From your photos they look yellow.  And, the product is not currently available with a clear or white LED.

George,
I ordered the cool white because I wanted as much light as possible.  I thought the yellow led under a yellow cover would be too dark. 

Thanks,
Title: Re: Outside yellow light over door
Post by: Tom Lang on April 19, 2011, 06:50:19 pm
The specs indicate the cool white is much brighter than the yellow.  Even though the yellow lens should reduce the white light somewhat, I like the brighter starting point.

I am currently using a pair of rectangular led panels (all I could find at the time more than a year ago), and more than enough light gets past the lens.  I think it is brighter than the original lights were.