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Topic: Porch light does not work (Read 1644 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #25 –
FOT has two sizes foe the handles, depending on the modle coach you have I believe.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #26 –
Quote from: Bob and Julie –
A wire tracing tool is good to have. Added one to my tool kit recently and its paid for itself already.
A good LED rechargeable light.
A good wire crimper, wire stripper and cutter.
A solder iron. Heat gun. A good voltage meter.
There is a tool list post that would be good to review.

Thank you.  I have several of these, but will look at adding a soldering iron and wire tracer.
40ft 1997 U320

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #27 –
Quote from: rbark –
FOT has two sizes foe the handles, depending on the modle coach you have I believe.

And the ones in 2003-ish that have the doorbell button in the base of the handle were essentially a one-time buy from, I think, a Spanish supplier.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #28 –
And it seems that no matter which clear assist handle you get, you will most likely have to "tweek" the ends to make it fit.
We bought a new clear handle when we were at FOT, just for our coach, and I still had to alter the ends to fit.
Bought another handle for a Newmar (oops, SOB) and also had to alter the ends to make it fit. Seems the material, when it is extruded or molded hot, will distort a bit as it cools.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #29 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
And it seems that no matter which clear assist handle you get, you will most likely have to "tweek" the ends to make it fit.
We bought a new clear handle when we were at FOT, just for our coach, and I still had to alter the ends to fit.
Bought another handle for a Newmar (oops, SOB) and also had to alter the ends to make it fit. Seems the material, when it is extruded or molded hot, will distort a bit as it cools.
Yes, it distorts some as it heated and bent.  I know because.....the long story:

I stopped at the plastic shop on the way home yesterday.  Showed him the old handle I had glued back together and asked if he could fabricate a replacement.  He said yes, but it would not have all of the cracks in it.  I was not sure if he thought they were a decorative element or was kidding, so I replied that I hope not because I suspect that is why it broke.

Super nice guy. Said it would be $75.  I was hoping for the $35 range.  Online they can be purchased for $16 plus $10 shipping.  I asked if he sold the rod.  He sold me a foot for $7.50.  Got home, traced the outline of the old handle on a scrap piece of 1x4 and cut out the outline to make a mold.  Heated the bar to about 275F in our "easy bake" (the toaster oven) for about 30 minutes.  It naturally curved quite a bit from heating it up.  Took it out, put it against the mold and let it cool.  I still have to trim the ends to fit.  Will post a picture of the final result....assuming it all works out.  Otherwise, I will order one.  Of course, it will not have the cool engraved logo, but neither did the original. 
40ft 1997 U320

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #30 –
Installed the handle today.  Very happy with the results with one exception.  I had to use a heat gun to heat the bottom up to bend it a bit more to make the bracket fit snug against the coach.  I think I rushed it a bit with the heat gun too hot and it caused some bubbles and blisters at that area.  Otherwise, very happy with the results for $7.50 of materials and a little time.
40ft 1997 U320

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #31 –
For the rest of you who might have handle failures, I got mine (inscribed by special order) from these folks. Quick service, lotsa options. Getting the bottom ground wire and the gaskets in IS a bearcat!  Brite Bar Handles Archives - Fleming Sales OEM | Elkhart, IN
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: Porch light does not work

Reply #32 –
I just had my handle replaced at FT.  I found that the length and angle cuts on both ends are critical.  Mine was not firm when fabricated by an expert until he shimmed one flat with a small piece of Formica.
Regards,
Brett

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

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #33 –
Quote from: amos.harrison –
I just had my handle replaced at FT.  I found that the length and angle cuts on both ends are critical.  Mine was not firm when fabricated by an expert until he shimmed one flat with a small piece of Formica.
I had to do lots of tweaking too.  I used a sander, file and an electric heat gun to make it fit.
40ft 1997 U320

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #34 –
Here are the two ends of the handle I ordered from Fleming......fit right in!  ^.^d
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: Porch light does not work

Reply #35 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
DayD,

If it is a bad ballast you can just remove the ballast and install some type of 12VDC LED light strip in the OEM fixture.


Mike


Finally got around to testing the porch light.  Definitely have power to the fixture and tried new lamps, so assuming the ballast or other component is bad.  I will check for availability of a similar fixture, but I like Mike's suggestion of installing LED strip lights.  Has anyone done this? 

When we remodeled our kitchen a few years ago, we put in LED under cabinet lights and had to install a "driver", which I assume is just a 120 to 12 volt transformer but not really sure.  For the coach, can I just wire in 12 volt LED strips inside the existing fixture?  If so, how many strips should I use to get the proper brightness?
40ft 1997 U320

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #36 –
I put in 2 strips and it is brighter than factory.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #38 –
I used two strips as well.
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
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Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #39 –
I'm not Craneman but yes just direct wire to 12 volts. I used amber colored LED's.
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #40 –
I used white, the lens still makes it look original.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #41 –
You can just direct wire the LED's to the coach's wire system. Just make sure to keep the positive and negative correct or else you will burn out the strip immediately. (Don't ask how I know from changing the ceiling lights to LED.}

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318
 

Re: Porch light does not work

Reply #42 –

Received the LED strips today and was excited to get the light working.  Added the connectors to the strips and tested.  Nice and bright!  Removed all of the old components from the fixture like the ballast and tombstones and installed two strips.    Tested and they did not work.  :( 

Turns out the on/off push button switch on the bottom of the fixture is bad.  I had previously confirmed power to the fixture and had changed the lamps.  When it did not work, I assumed it was the ballast.  I never tested for power before/after that switch so the ballast is probably still good and just had to replace the switch.  Too late for that.  At least will now have LED instead of florescent lamps.   

Ordered this switch as a replacement.

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40ft 1997 U320