Does anyone know how to remove the plastic cover of the entrance light that's above the door on the outside of the coach? I need to replace the bulb.
It helps if you identify the year and model of your coach when asking this kind of question.
From your "name" we might assume a '98 model?
If the cover is yellow and plastic and kind of rectangular then carefully pry from the bottom with a small screwdriver and its should pop out. It should then snap back in.
It's a 98 U320. Yes it's a yellow plastic cover.
Using both hands squeeze the cover and it should pop out
Or............in one of the black plastic end caps is a phillips screw. Remove this screw, pop the end cap off and it slides out.
I wonder how brittle those covers become over the last 20 years. It doesn't kill me that the light doesn't work but it sure would if I break it trying to remove it.
Maybe it's the ballast not the bulb?
The whole thing is old so may be better to just replace it with an LED fixture.
Good point. I was going to try bulb first. It worked when I purchased it a year ago. Is it major to replace it with LED?
We couldn't go without a front light. After replacing the bulb twice over 3 years we decided to switch it to LED. it's brighter and draws much less power.
It is usually just a bad connection. I'm assuming your light is florescent with 2 bulbs. Every one I've fixed have been the prongs the bulbs plug into. I replaced mine with LED/motion detector and glad I did.
Take your time getting the cover off, it will come off. Pry up from the bottom as I recall. These fixtures need both tubes to be working for either to work. We switched ours to a warm white (3000° K) LED strips. Much easier on your eyes and your neighbors than the daylight or cool white (6000°K) at night. This is a good place for soldered wire connections to the strips.
on my 95 the light comes on when you grab the handle. It shuts off after 30 seconds. You can also manually turn it on or off.
Yes. Mine came on with the grab handle too and shut off after 30 seconds
If I switch to an LED strip, will I have access to the ballast once the plastic cover is removed to access the bulbs?
That's good to know, sounds like a fairly easy fix. I really don't like keeping the light on at night while outside because it is so bright... almost like a spotlight on our neighbors... wish the fixture focused the light down rather than lighting up the whole area.
I think I took the fixure off to get rid of all the flourescent bits. All you need for the LED strip is the + 12v and ground wire. One strip the about the length of the fixture is probably enough. Probably not too hard to add a dimmer. There are internet connected Alexa enabled switch/dimmers that you can control from you phone or by talking to your Echo device. Pretty neat.
The yellow cover bleaches out and becomes brittle with time. FT Parts has replacements.
I got tired of replacing my florescent bulbs in my door porch light and found this LED replacement...
LED162AP - Thin Lite Inc. (http://thinlite.com/product/led162ap/)
It was an easy one for one replacement. I've had no problems since (over two years now); nice and bright. There also is a white version if you want to replace the engine compartment light.
Wow. That looks just like what's up there now. Thank you all. That may be the way to go.
To remove the lens on that style light, no tools. Just pry a little on the yellow lens with your fingers and it will pop out of the groove.
Ron,
where did you purchase the LED light? I want one. Thanks
Be careful. I'm purdy sure there is a screw on the end cap possibly covered with a cap. I've been wrong before, though. If you're going to throw it away, however, it's moot. Pry away.
Just found a good one on ebay. Thanks, Twig. I wanted to buy one at the Big Tent at Q, but thought it was too expensive. I am changing out my fluorescents to LED, and this is on the list. I will be careful.
Here is the inside scoop of the light over the door. Two short LED strips in mine after removing the flourescent guts. I put a loop of wire between the two strips so if they were too bright (they are) I could just clip a wire to the second strip and have only one. I did not use waterproof strips here, they are well enough protected and I have found the the waterproof strips can overheat if you leave them on for a long time.
The yellow lens comes off from the top. Once you get it started from one end it will flex a bit and pop out. The hook edge goes down, the flanged edge up.
Ron's LED replacement is $104 at Amazon!
Amazon.com: Thin-Lite OEM-LED162AP Weather Proof LED Ramp & Entry Light -... (https://www.amazon.com/Thin-Lite-OEM-LED162AP-Weather-Proof-Entry/dp/B00EHM2988)
$76 on eBay
Thin-Lite 162 A P 12 or 24 volt d.c. LED outdoor light made in U.S.A. rv... (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Thin-Lite-162-A-P-12-or-24-volt-d-c-LED-outdoor-light-made-in-U-S-A-rv-solar-/361514727395)
Just fixed the light. Lens popped right out from the bottom. It was the bulbs but the grand plan is to convert to LED as a winter project. Thank you to all you kind folks for your help and advice.
Chris
You can just change the bulb out to a led bulb.
^.^d
It's much easier to remove the screw and slide the lens cover off. Towards the rear, my patio awning interferes with it sliding it forward