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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: oldmattb on October 31, 2022, 01:49:35 pm

Title: Porch Light stuff
Post by: oldmattb on October 31, 2022, 01:49:35 pm
Our porch light and handle do not turn off automatically.  The relay and controller are right where I expected them to be - in the semi-cylindrical drink holder next to the passenger seat.

How do I get to them?  I see no screws that hold the wood cylinder on.  It is very firm to the wall.  The top is just as firm, and I see and feel no screws, except maybe one that holds the cylinder to the magazine rack.  The hole in the top is way too small for my hand to get in there (and come back out!)

There must be a better way than smacking the mess to wood chips with a hammer and replacing it.
Title: Re: Porch Light stuff
Post by: oldguy on October 31, 2022, 02:16:52 pm
The cylindrical drink holder and the magazine rack comes off together and I think you need to
take the cover slide switch off and there might be a screw there.
Title: Re: Porch Light stuff
Post by: oldmattb on October 31, 2022, 02:32:33 pm
The cylindrical drink holder and the magazine rack comes off together and I think you need to
take the cover slide switch off and there might be a screw there.
Got it!  That screw behind the switch is sneaky!  The hole was filled in with a spider web, and dust that beautifully matched the wood frame.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Porch Light stuff
Post by: Pamela & Mike on October 31, 2022, 05:09:56 pm
There may also be a screw that is down on the floor. You can take a flashlight and look down through the hole where the switches were mounted. You will need a long extension to reach it IF you have one.

Mike
Title: Re: Porch Light stuff
Post by: oldmattb on October 31, 2022, 05:20:05 pm
There may also be a screw that is down on the floor. You can take a flashlight and look down through the hole where the switches were mounted. You will need a long extension to reach it IF you have one.

Mike
There was a screw that went horizontally through a metal bracket underneath the base of the drink holder.

For the record, the controller box is bad.  I thought about replacing it with one of the $10 touch switch modules from Amazon.  I could see us reopening the door to reach out and turn the light off again and again.  I didn't think about spending $120 for a replacement module - it just seems too much money for what it does.  I might try to snag a used or markdown later. 

I unplugged the relay, and now the dash switch functions as a normal on-off.
Title: Re: Porch Light stuff
Post by: dsd on October 31, 2022, 07:11:36 pm
 Cheap touch light controller and a programmable timer to automatically shut it off
DC 6-12V On/OFF Touch Switch for LED Light Source Lamp - - Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/6-12V-Touch-Switch-Light-Source/dp/B00O0PDF94/ref=sr_1_20?crid=3CYWVW2SG6AZU&keywords=12v+touch+switch&qid=1667257778&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjI0IiwicXNhIjoiNS4wOCIsInFzcCI6IjQuMjkifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=12v+touch+%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-20)
Amazon.com: 1pc DC 12V/24V Adjustable Cycle Times Switch Module Delay On/Off... (https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Switch-Module-Optional-0-120mins/dp/B07DGPTGQC/ref=sr_1_9?crid=E977MHY945DT&keywords=12v+timer+relay&qid=1667257825&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjM1IiwicXNhIjoiNS4xMiIsInFzcCI6IjQuODIifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=12v+timer%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-9)
Or something similar
Scott