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Topic: EL Dash Light Power Supply (Read 845 times) previous topic - next topic

EL Dash Light Power Supply

So just after I got my coach the dash light power supply decided it was time to stop working..... after doing some research I found out the few 12 volt power supplies on the market were to say the least temperamental. Looking outside the RV box I found Ellimiglow in Portland. They build light shows for night clubs and build a 12 volt inverter that works well in our coaches as long as your problem is the power supply and the panels are not shorted. On my coach the far left panel was shorted, I isolated the panel wiring from the EL wiring and for just under a year now I have dash background lights...

Mega100 12v EL Panel Inverter


"97 40' U320 build 5035

The best things in life are not things.... It's fulltiming in a Foretravel.

Re: EL Dash Light Power Supply

Reply #1 –
I did a forum search and the only mention of a dash light power supply is this post. What is it? Don't the dash lights just go through a potentiometer dial on the dash?
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: EL Dash Light Power Supply

Reply #2 –
Quote from: craneman –
I did a forum search and the only mention of a dash light power supply is this post. What is it? Don't the dash lights just go through a potentiometer dial on the dash?

Try searching "dash panel lights."  Yes the dash lights do go through a potentiometer....  12 volt bulbs for the gauges and a Electro- Luminescent (EL) dash to back light the dash switches and the lines around the outside of the dash....  the EL panel is high voltage and requires a power supply.
"97 40' U320 build 5035

The best things in life are not things.... It's fulltiming in a Foretravel.

Re: EL Dash Light Power Supply

Reply #3 –
I did that search and learned never to drill in the dash panel. Thanks for your post, I would have ruined the panel by drilling and putting a switch in it. Will remember your post if I ever need the power supply.
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: EL Dash Light Power Supply

Reply #4 –
Quote from: craneman –
I did that search and learned never to drill in the dash panel

I am not sure that prohibition is absolute, but I have not yet tried it. I think the important thing is not to cut any of the "traces" on the electoluminescent panel. (Look at all of the holes Foretravel put into the three panels. Also, the switch panel near the left wall of the driver side may also be EL?)

I *want* to enlarge the monitor hole to mount a 7" LCD screen, but have not tried it yet.  :-\  I *think* the circuit usually runs along the outside of the panel. As long as you do not cut that or any design area, I *think* you can expand the already cut areas. I will let y'all know what I find out.

Unless someone here has already BTDT and is willing to share?

Trent


Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: EL Dash Light Power Supply

Reply #5 –
Quote from: TulsaTrent –
I am not sure that prohibition is absolute, but I have not yet tried it. I think the important thing is not to cut any of the "traces" on the electoluminescent panel. (Look at all of the holes Foretravel put into the three panels. Also, the switch panel near the left wall of the driver side may also be EL?)

I *want* to enlarge the monitor hole to mount a 7" LCD screen, but have not tried it yet.  :-\

I am not sure about cutting it...That's scary.... if it does not work you can't just go out to a big box store for a new panel.

Someplace I picked up you can't cut the panel, all the "holes" were precut per order. The display is a layer of painted-on dialectic, a phosphor, and finally a translucent conductive ink that connects the display to ground covering the whole board.
My gray hair does not remember when and where I pick up that info.. funny the things you remember and don't.

I mounted a new display overhead and used the old indash display for a curbside camera.

Cheers
Ted
"97 40' U320 build 5035

The best things in life are not things.... It's fulltiming in a Foretravel.

Re: EL Dash Light Power Supply

Reply #6 –
Quote
My gray hair does not remember when and where I pick up that info.. funny the things you remember and don't.
 Cheers
Ted
If your mind had stored that information under useless trivia, it would be immediately and easily accessible now! >:D  >:D
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: EL Dash Light Power Supply

Reply #7 –
Don't cut or drill anywhere on the EL panels.  You will short them out.
Regards,
Brett

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

Re: EL Dash Light Power Supply

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Ldillow –
Where is the PS located?

On our '97 it is hid in the mass of wiring right above the steering column. Just to see ours you have to lay down beside the drivers seat and look up over the bracket that holds the column to the dash structure,
.
Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."