Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: floridarandy on August 31, 2018, 08:42:17 pm

Title: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: floridarandy on August 31, 2018, 08:42:17 pm
Right front burns out. Search of Forum and Beamalarm shows H9406 Halogen like this:

Amazon.com: Wagner Lighting H9406 Sealed Beam - Box of 1: Automotive (https://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Lighting-H9406-Sealed-Beam/dp/B000CR1RVW)

Threads here on possible LED replacements didn't indicate a clear alternative. I like the idea of being able to use LED at night when setting up camp.  Would never consider with Halogn. 

Would like to buy and replace all four.

Thanks
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: jhardman on August 31, 2018, 08:59:04 pm
Randy,

Contact Steve at M4, see if he has any options. Actually, I'd be interested too!

M4@m4resale.com

Good luck! Let us know what you find LED wise.

Best,
JWH
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on August 31, 2018, 09:09:46 pm
Here is what I used.
Source for Round Style LED Docking Lights for our '95 u320? (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=30303.msg261702#msg261702)
I wanted warm white, just seems easier on the eyes and your neighbors too.  They are way more light than the OEM bulbs. I saved the old bulbs for my tractor. 

They are not too hard to put in, a snug fit in the rubber boot. Well, the drivers side rear is hard, very limited access to the nuts and bolts that hold it in place.

Rance wired the two rear docking lights to come on when in reverse.  Works well, all you need is a bunch of big diodes.

Rectangular ones might be harder.  4"x6"?

Amazon.com: LED Rectangular Headlight Projector 4x6 inch 4pcs CREE Sealed... (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B079BM8MFM/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B079BM8MFM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=4b9303cf-595a-449a-b0d6-15d3b199056d&pf_rd_r=GVFA3TP31J2V2JW5BWJ4&pd_rd_wg=9kWLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=slZr1&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=6027a859-ad84-11e8-861c-cd06ea1130b1)
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: Old phart phred on August 31, 2018, 09:14:01 pm
Yes post what you find, one of mine just burned out. I haven't used them much yet except to back into the barn. LEDs would be great since I might forget to turn them off for a while.
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: John44 on August 31, 2018, 09:18:37 pm
Anyone have a source for the white 320 plastic mounting piece that the light mounts in,don't forget the 270 and 295 have
rectangular holes for the flat lights,would be nice to have the 320 style that angles to the rear.
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on August 31, 2018, 09:22:16 pm
Ours are still working great. The nice thing about the shallow design is that it will let me run a air intake tube in front of the radiator and then make a 90 degree turn up without hitting the old docking bulb.

Roger, good idea about using them for backup lights. I keep forgetting that.

Pierce
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: jhardman on August 31, 2018, 09:24:21 pm
Anyone have a source for the white 320 plastic mounting piece that the light mounts in,don't forget the 270 and 295 have
rectangular holes for the flat lights,would be nice to have the 320 style that angles to the rear.

Hey David, thanks for the call the other day. With school starting I've been very busy! I'll keep the house in mind, but I work real estate in North Texas, but I will spread the word if the opportunity arises :)

My '96 U295 #4879 has round angled docking lights....think maybe it's just the 270 that doesn't?
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: Old phart phred on August 31, 2018, 09:28:23 pm
Here is what I used.
Source for Round Style LED Docking Lights for our '95 u320? (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=30303.msg261702#msg261702)
IWorks well, all you need is a bunch of big diodes.
Kinda lost me there, what's the purpose of the big diodes?
Do you switch to smaller fuses when converting to LEDs to prevent fires in the tiny LED wiring if something should fail?
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on August 31, 2018, 09:35:22 pm
How about these for a Wagner H9406 replacement in LED? LED Headlights - Sealed Beam Replacement LED Headlamps (https://www.grote.com/family/led-sealed-beam-headlights/)

Pierce
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on August 31, 2018, 09:38:52 pm
In my coach the docking lights are right and left.  So turning on both rear docking lights on and not the front ones takes some diodes.  They are like check valves for electricity.  If you turn on the right lights you don't want the left lights to come on because you connected the two rear lights together to come on with the reverse lights.  Diodes add a lot of options in 12 volt wiring.

Fuses are the same size.  The existing wiring (in my coach) connected to the LED bulbs directly. 

Pierce's suggestion looks good.
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: Old phart phred on August 31, 2018, 10:29:12 pm
Duh I didn't think about the left right issues. Mine came equipped with some adjustable auxillary backup lights.

Second question was concerning LEDs conversions. coach wiring is plenty robust and protected by an appropriate fuse. The trouble is the supplied pigtails on most LED lights is tiny and may catch fire in a concealed locations without blowing the oem fuse during a malfunction. My exterior clearance lights may be a prime example.
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: Barry & Cindy on August 31, 2018, 11:49:27 pm
Docking LED Lights

Our coach came with rectangular surface mount docking lights. We changed them out with expensive LED that are very bright and fit exactly in the space and mounting of the original.

Grote 63610, Trilliant Mini flush Mount 10R-03.

original were 4 amp 50 watts, new LED are 1.5 amps 18 watts

Rance at Xtreme when converting rear lamps, used two diodes so that dock light also turn on backup lights, and when backing up, rear docking also turn on.

We added single pole switches to turn on all four docking lights. One switch is in bedroom on lamp base and the other switch is at front door. If someone comes to door at night, we can instantly turn on outside lights and look thru door window. And if we hear something strange (outside that is) at night when in bed, can flip on all four docking lights.

Barry & Cindy
Title: Re: Docking Light Replacement
Post by: floridarandy on September 01, 2018, 08:21:49 pm
JRW

Reply to my email to Steve at M

"We do not sell a single beam that size at this time.".