Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture? (Read 1315 times) previous topic - next topic

How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

The lamp on the back of our sofa flickers way too often.  It is almost like something is wrong with the inside of the bayonet base into which the bulbs are inserted.

My fear is that there is no way to take this lamp apart without removing the sofa.  Does anyone have any suggestions for fixing the problem of flickering bulbs?  There is no way I want to remove the sofa.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #1 –
Hi George,
Presuming the problem is a loose bulb...shut off the power to the lamp, remove the shade then carefully use a small, hooked instrument to bend the tab(s) in the bulb socket upward to about 30 degrees. That should tighten the bulb to stop the flickering. :)

Quote
The lamp on the back of our sofa flickers way too often. It is almost like something is wrong with the inside of the bayonet base into which the bulbs are inserted.
My fear is that there is now way to take this lamp apart without removing the sofa. Does anyone have any suggestions for fixing the problem of flickering bulbs? There is no way I want to remove the sofa.
George & Sandy Stoltz with Trixie, the PBGV.
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #2 –
Thank you, Jim. I will do as you suggest tomorrow morning. Fingers are crossed.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #3 –
George,

A more permanent solution is to buy small rubber O-rings.  When the light switch is off, carefully fit an O-ring below the the contacts in each lamp.  It will keep the contacts from deforming.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #4 –
I have done 2400 miles in a day.
But it was in a C130 doing 290 knots TAS
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #5 –
oops, wrong post !!
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #6 –
I have had the same problem, believe it or not it was actually the light bulb contacts were  worn.  New light bulb solved the problem.

Joe
Joe Gauntt
Maple Valley, Wa

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #7 –
George, you can definitely take this fixture apart without removing the couch.
Remove the shade, then remove the tube that the shade mounts on by turning the tube which is threaded into a bracket hidden by the round brass base plate. You will now see the wiring.

I had three like yours with two contacts on the bottom of each bulb. These two contact bulbs do not maintain electric contact very well.
 
I took them apart, cut off the crimped wire connectors, and drilled out the rivets.
I then took the bulb holder apart and bent the contacts to use a single contact bulb and case ground. I now use LED single contact bulbs, 0.130 amps which do not flicker.


 
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: amos.harrison –
George,

A more permanent solution is to buy small rubber O-rings.  When the light switch is off, carefully fit an O-ring below the the contacts in each lamp.  It will keep the contacts from deforming.

Thank you. This solved my problem.  I could not get all of the O-ring under the two contacts, so I cut 1/4 inch sections of O-ring and placed each segment under a contact.  The downward pressure of the properly seated bulb keeps the O-ring segment in place.  The flicker is gone.  I am very grateful to learn of this trick.  A long-standing and very annoying condition is gone.  I am continually amazed at how much knowledge is available on FF for the asking.  Without FF, I am sure many of us would spend needless hours and hundreds of dollars for repairs that can easily be done by ourselves.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #9 –
George,
That's terrific that you were able to fix the flicker...Huh?  That rhymes... ;D
 
Just kidding, I was going to suggest the non-electric approach to fixing the problem...candles... ::)
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH
 

Re: How can I fix this 12 volt light fixture?

Reply #10 –
What do you think of these ? One day I was bored and scuffed and painted the brass to up date them . They look like they are oil rubbed bronze .                                Art & Teri
Art
1997 Prevost 40'
 The selected media item is not currently available.