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Topic: Check your searchlight/spotlight (Read 663 times) previous topic - next topic

Check your searchlight/spotlight

Hey all,

Just wanted throw a warning out there to check your searchlight.  This Jabsco product unfortunately has an incomplete design with regards to water resistance and it lets water in through the top and bottom halves.  It then flows through the gaping open wire penetration between the light and the base portion.  However, the base of the search light is designed to be sealed to the roof.  This means that the base fills with water until it comes in through the cable penetration.  This does require a very strong blowing storm with a lot of rain.    In our case not enough sealant was used (and poorly applied) here and the water was able to come through to the interior.  Fortunately we happened to have our cover panel open for tv wiring and saw it.  No softness or discoloration at all so we caught it very early.  But I'd definitely check it out if you're up there!

Re: Check your searchlight/spotlight

Reply #1 –
Funny! I was just talking with the PO of our coach about why he removed the spotlite. Yup, leaking! I had the same problem with the Airstream and solved it with plumbers putty gooped around the base. Looked like a child did it, but problem solved. Speaking of spotlites, Foretravel ( in our coach) wired the fog lites to the headlights, making driving in fog dicey. After numerous trips with the Airstream through Sacramento, CA in heavy fog, I found the fog lites along with the spotlite for checking ahead worked best without the headlites. If you're going to be in fogland, don't ditch the spot, but think about re-wiring the fog lites to run with just the markers. The spot is handy for unknown campgrounds, as well. I've also used it to calm down drunken kids when we camp-hosted!  :giggle:  :giggle:  :giggle:
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Check your searchlight/spotlight

Reply #2 –
I've had my ridiculous gobbed gooped sealant jobs made fun of before, but *never* has one leaked :-P  I sat there for about 15 minutes trying to figure out how I could use eternabond to fix it and came up with nothing.  I *really* love that stuff.

Re: Check your searchlight/spotlight

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Mark D –
Hey all,

Just wanted throw a warning out there to check your searchlight.  This Jabsco product unfortunately has an incomplete design with regards to water resistance and it lets water in through the top and bottom halves.  It then flows through the gaping open wire penetration between the light and the base portion.  However, the base of the search light is designed to be sealed to the roof.  This means that the base fills with water until it comes in through the cable penetration.  This does require a very strong blowing storm with a lot of rain.    In our case not enough sealant was used (and poorly applied) here and the water was able to come through to the interior.  Fortunately we happened to have our cover panel open for tv wiring and saw it.  No softness or discoloration at all so we caught it very early.  But I'd definitely check it out if you're up there!
Mark,
Was it difficult to take the searchlight apart?
I have yet to get to the roof (and will have to either get an agile person or work on it while Mary is away) but I have to take care of the leak one way or another..

thanks
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Check your searchlight/spotlight

Reply #4 –
Quote from: TheBrays –
Was it difficult to take the searchlight apart?
I have yet to get to the roof (and will have to either get an agile person or work on it while Mary is away) but I have to take care of the leak one way or another..
No reason to take the searchlight apart, check my earlier post and have someone goop a sealer around the mounting flange. That is a damn good lite, leave it on!  ^.^d  As I recall, that's a GE bulb, available from most boat outlets.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Check your searchlight/spotlight

Reply #5 –
Mike if you read closely, the water comes in from the top part and flows down the wiring to the bottom part.  The sealant on this part was FINE on mine and instead held the water in the base like a bowl!  You really need to disassemble the top part and put sealant on the hole where the wiring goes from the top part to the bottom part or it'll leak again for sure.

Re: Check your searchlight/spotlight

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Mark D –
Mike if you read closely, the water comes in from the top part and flows down the wiring to the bottom part.  The sealant on this part was FINE on mine and instead held the water in the base like a bowl!  You really need to disassemble the top part and put sealant on the hole where the wiring goes from the top part to the bottom part or it'll leak again for sure.
Was that on a ITT spot or the FT version? My ITT might have been caulked as you describe, but I have heard horror stories with the FT spots.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Check your searchlight/spotlight

Reply #7 –
Mine is a jabsco.  Maybe 135L.  Something like that.
 

Re: Check your searchlight/spotlight

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Mark D –
Mine is a jabsco.  Maybe 135L.  Something like that.

You have a Jabsco, if ours was to leak, it would have been after this thaw, never did.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'