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Topic: Dash lights (Read 521 times) previous topic - next topic

Dash lights

Today is ask questions day. Coach cleanup is going great!! This is really looking good. Anyway I see there are fiber optic gash lights ,they are not bright enough at night . I see what looks like the controller under the dash an dI see a small wheel on it is this a adjustment for the brightness?
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Dash lights

Reply #1 –
Was this fiber optic system added by a previous owner? My 1991 U300 has ordinary incandescent bulbs controlled by turning the headlight switch.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Dash lights

Reply #2 –
Quote from: RRadio –
Was this fiber optic system added by a previous owner? My 1991 U300 has ordinary incandescent bulbs controlled by turning the headlight switch.
Maby i'm mistaken I'll look again.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Dash lights

Reply #3 –
When I bought my coach one of the first things I replaced was the headlight switch, because the dashboard lights didn't work and the switch was broken. I briefly thought about jury rigging it but the headlight switch isn't very expensive so I replaced it.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Dash lights

Reply #4 –
It's not fiber optic I saw the little reostat for the warning buzzer ,which I turned way down so it isnt so loud and thought it was some kind of fiber optic ,but it has bulbs in the gauges. The panel to the left where all the aux switches are is not very bright at night and i was hoping t see if I could make it brighter but i think ill just add a small led facing down to wash the face so I can see it at night better.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Dash lights

Reply #5 –
I had that same problem. I separated the wiring of the dome light underneath the dashboard from the wooden spotlight above the driver's seat so only the light under the dash comes on when I turn the instrument lights all the way up. The little wooden spotlight has its own built in pushbutton switch. I put a red LED bulb in it so it won't blind me at night if I drive with it turned on pointed at the switch panel. My coach had a pair of unused red and black 10 gauge wires in the overhead compartment above the driver's seat that I connected to the wooden spotlight and the motorized spotlight on the roof so they'll both run from the coach batteries instead of the cranking battery and they'll both run with the engine either off or on without turning on the ignition key. The unused red and black wires only have power when the ignition switch is off, so to get power from the coach batteries at all times you'll have to make a little jumper and connect the red wire to the other side of the unused relay on the far left edge under the dashboard, I think it's #53 if I remember correctly (?) If you look at your wiring diagram and still don't understand what I'm talking about you really shouldn't mess with this. The black wire is already grounded, or you can probably continue to use the existing ground for the wooden spotlight. It's nice to know the black wire is a good ground for troubleshooting though.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Dash lights

Reply #6 –
Quote from: RRadio –
I had that same problem. I separated the wiring of the dome light underneath the dashboard from the wooden spotlight above the driver's seat so only the light under the dash comes on when I turn the instrument lights all the way up. The little wooden spotlight has its own built in pushbutton switch. I put a red LED bulb in it so it won't blind me at night if I drive with it turned on pointed at the switch panel. My coach had a pair of unused red and black 10 gauge wires in the overhead compartment above the driver's seat that I connected to the wooden spotlight and the motorized spotlight on the roof so they'll both run from the coach batteries instead of the cranking battery and they'll both run with the engine either off or on without turning on the ignition key. The unused red and black wires only have power when the ignition switch is off, so to get power from the coach batteries at all times you'll have to make a little jumper and connect the red wire to the other side of the unused relay on the far left edge under the dashboard, I think it's #53 if I remember correctly (?) If you look at your wiring diagram and still don't understand what I'm talking about you really shouldn't mess with this. The black wire is already grounded, or you can probably continue to use the existing ground for the wooden spotlight. It's nice to know the black wire is a good ground for troubleshooting though.
Cool I understand! I have been wrenching for 40 plus years so no worrys there!!Just learning where everything was put. I'll have bunches of questions.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Dash lights

Reply #7 –
Other folks will read this who don't have 40 years of experience and I thought it worth mentioning that they really shouldn't mess with this wiring modification if they don't follow what I'm saying while looking at the wiring diagram... but it's actually a super easy, inexpensive, and useful modification if you do understand. I use that little wooden spotlight with the red LED bulb multiple times each night now. :)

I did a few other wiring modifications that are easy, inexpensive, and very useful but I didn't write about them because so few readers on here will follow what I'm saying, or want the kind of modifications I want. Most of my modifications involve moving circuits from the cranking battery to the coach batteries, installing red lights that won't ruin my night vision, and separating circuits that I want individual control over. My most recent modification was the closet lights, which are now red and each side of the closet lights up separately unless I open both doors together. It cost practically nothing because I used the spare red marker lights I've been carrying around with me anyway. I hit a lot of tree limbs in campgrounds so I carry spare marker lights, might as well use them until I need them right? :) In a rare expense of money that probably should have been used on diesel and campgrounds, I actually bought some really nice red LED markers from eBay and installed them on the crummy old bathroom vanity lights with a separate switch. The LED lights are clear until you turn them on, then they emit red light. The existing white incandescent ball shaped bulbs are still there and still work. I just wanted to be able to shave early in the morning without ruining my night vision. The LED lights are really nice looking, with chrome plate and everything, and they cost me $40 for twelve of them as I recall. I installed another one of my spare red marker lights on the toilet side of the vanity light so I can pee without ruining my night vision :) ... These were my most recent electrical modifications but I didn't bother to write about them. I'll be doing more later.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Dash lights

Reply #8 –
Cool ! I like the idea of the red pee light! Betsey would too I reckon. I have an Idea when I switch over from the flourescent bulbs to led to save battery energy,to install a dimmer and another at the fixture to control,a second row of brighter lights if I was to need more light. For now though it's the underhood stuff belts hoses, tires etc ands tart on buffing this baby up.Trimmed my leyland cypresses some today and got it through my fence into the backyard so my neighbours don' have t.o look at it everyday,and it's closer to my tool box and air compressor.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit
 

Re: Dash lights

Reply #9 –
I'm going to leave my fluorescent lights around the perimeter of the ceiling but add red LED lights inside, connected to the "Indirect Light" switches. I'm gonna get rid of the indirect lights, which I never use. I seldom use the perimeter fluorescent lights but I'm leaving them intact and working. I'll probably use the red LED lights quite a bit. The modification won't be visible at all. The lights will still look and function just like normal unless the "Indirect Light" switch is on. This is a low priority and I have no idea when I'll actually get around to doing the modification.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)