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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: len.barron on October 25, 2020, 11:35:51 am

Title: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: len.barron on October 25, 2020, 11:35:51 am
I had 4 of my reading lights non-functional, bulbs were good. Turns out it was failed switches. Turns out the original Judco switches are still available through digikey. I bought a pack of 10 (about $20 shipped) and all are back to working.
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/40-4526-00/545PB-ND/1277805?utm_medium=email&utm_source=oce&utm_campaign=3480_OCE20RT&utm_content=productdetail_US&utm_cid=663709&so=66353168&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWVdVelptSm1abVExWlRKaCIsInQiOiJQbW5DTVBUb3VDaWJXVnV4U3RzcDAzRDNCNFVCbTgzMHpEdmt1WFpIWDA0eG1oQmxHR2h6bWxQVUV0WWhRdXpLT2E5M3k5b2s0REZQcmhXQ21jZDVaT3JVSGtnRzJ5NXIzMkdPa21ZK0hQMnd2S2dGT0YyMVJBK2NTejRqZ1wvOXYifQ%3D%3D
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: nitehawk on October 25, 2020, 11:48:45 am
And for reading--the lights are still worth zip!!
Cosmetic and decorative yes. Functional as reading lights, NOT!!
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: len.barron on October 25, 2020, 11:59:02 am
I also ordered some LED replacement bulbs...we'll see how that goes...thankfully my Nook has backlighting!  ^.^d
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: Protech Racing on October 25, 2020, 12:24:28 pm
Source please? part# etc.  Your speedo is shipping mon.  BTW
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: nitehawk on October 25, 2020, 12:51:26 pm
I have tried all kinds of LED lights and haven't found any satisfactory/strong enough for reading. Will be watching for what you come up with. Even tried putting strips of LEDs in one of the lights but still not good enough.
I ended up with the spring clamp type mounting lights and put in the highest power 12V screw in bulbs I could find. Then wired them directly to the "house" battery. Works great and the DW can see what she is working on on the lift-up table.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: len.barron on October 25, 2020, 01:38:27 pm
Source please? part# etc.  Your speedo is shipping mon.  BTW
much appreciated...let me know what I owe you!
These are the LEDs I'm going to try out: Amazon.com: YITAMOTOR 20x T10 Wedge 5-SMD 5050 Warm White LED Light Bulbs... (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y1CFCMY/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1HUKFKSGZID4U)
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: Olde English on October 25, 2020, 02:10:03 pm
Much as I love our wooden egg cup lights, it's the placement of them that is the main problem. I've put LEDs in mine and the brightness is there it's just they're not positioned far enough away from the walls.
So I put LED strips in the fluorescent lights and received cudo's from herself, lots of crafts being done.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: nitehawk on October 25, 2020, 02:44:44 pm
100 lumens does virtually nothing for reading.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: oldguy on October 25, 2020, 04:20:05 pm
I've had great luck with LED lights. Every change I've done has been brighter light.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: len.barron on October 25, 2020, 04:47:22 pm
100 lumens does virtually nothing for reading.
it isn't my primary reading light, the Nook backlighting is plenty for that, I just like having a little "surround lighting" rather than just the glow of the Nook...when I was reading paperbacks I just bought a clipon and called it good..
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: nitehawk on October 25, 2020, 05:11:31 pm
We (the DW & me) like to have the valance lights on in the evening. Indirect and they are now LED strings since I converted them.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: Olde English on October 25, 2020, 06:36:46 pm
Nitehawk, that's the next thing on my lighting list, those tubes under the valance have to go. I would imagine the indirect light would feel cozy. Maybe an adjustable set up so I can change the colour?
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: kb0zke on October 25, 2020, 09:39:58 pm
Thanks, Len. I have one of those lights by the driver's seat. That area is always dark at night, and the light I have doesn't work at all. I'll order some of those switches and see if that solves the problem. Inanimate objects always seem to know how to hide, and they especially like dark spots.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: Olde English on October 25, 2020, 10:19:41 pm
This maybe useless information but the driver's map light requires the headlight switch to be on then turned all the way up to make the map light work.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: Protech Racing on October 25, 2020, 10:26:37 pm
Yes.  The headlight switch has to be in the "dome light on position", for the first overhead light to have power to the switch. Maybe the pass side also.
 OREDs are the best ..
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: Olde English on October 25, 2020, 10:45:46 pm
Passenger side is always live, or it is in mine.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: len.barron on October 26, 2020, 08:46:51 am
Passenger side is always live, or it is in mine.
I noticed that mine didn't have a ground, so I tapped into the passenger side and ran a ground to the existing ground point that the antenna had. They both work now.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: len.barron on November 02, 2020, 05:32:02 pm
much appreciated...let me know what I owe you!
These are the LEDs I'm going to try out: Amazon.com: YITAMOTOR 20x T10 Wedge 5-SMD 5050 Warm White LED Light Bulbs... (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y1CFCMY/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1HUKFKSGZID4U)
I installed these LEDs the other day, they put out just a bit more than the GE912's they replaced(at 1/10th the wattage) . They are polarity sensitive so you'll have to rotate them if they don't work the first attempt. We see how they last.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: nitehawk on November 02, 2020, 10:38:15 pm
And Len, they still are not reading quality illumination, right?  I found out 100 lumens are not enough.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Reading Lights
Post by: Protech Racing on November 03, 2020, 01:53:01 pm
Swapped in a few today . Not bright but cool.  200 Lumens looks like a good number for these little lights.  100 is just a teaser. IMHO