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Topic: Newbie Questions (Read 578 times) previous topic - next topic

Newbie Questions

Everyone said when I joined that no question was too dumb! Well here we go.  We have a 99 U270 and are learning from ground up. We have been cleaning out coach and putting our "stuff" in. Along the way I have been trying out systems to make sure everything works. This weekend I connected water for first time and everything seemed to work with no leaks except for drinking water filter under sink. I can replace that. Turned on LP system and tried water heater. It would start and run a few minutes then shut off. LP tank is between 1/2 and 1/4 full. Checked burner area and everything looks clean and clear. Turned up thermostat but made no difference. I had generator running but forgot to flip electrical switch by bed to try that. I will check it next weekend. Tried refrig. and worked on AC but when I switched to gas it would not start and "check" light would come on. Last problem was some ceiling Thinlights were out and I can't figure out how to get into them. Also a vanity bulb in bathroom was out. I took it out to get replacement. It has a bayonet end and I think is 12v. This raises last dumb question. Are some bulbs 12v and some 110v? Can someone explain this to me in real basic terms?  Thanks for helping out a newbie.  Dick and Belinda.

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #1 –
I would try cleaning the fridge burner area first. Sometimes it may not light at first if it hasn't been run in a while. You can turn it off and try to get it to light maybe three times or so. My water heater will get a fault some times on the first try and I will have to turn it on and off but after that it works fine. I believe all the lights run on DC.

Mark
The selected media item is not currently available.
Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #2 –
Dick,

Propane problem could be air in line.  Propane is supplied to unit it works fine.  When it gets to the air it goes out.  Try lighting a few times to purge the air.  If that does not work it could be your regulator icing up.

Some bulbs are 120v How to find out is to turn off inverter, turn on the lights you want to test, then flip the main breaker on the 120v panel (or disconnect from the pedestal).  If they go out they are 120v.

If the Thinlites lights are the same as mine you just carefully pry the cover open along the long side. Crappy design.

Keith

Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #3 –
Quote from: deputydick –
Turned on LP system and tried water heater. It would start and run a few minutes then shut off. LP tank is between 1/2 and 1/4 full. Checked burner area and everything looks clean and clear. Turned up thermostat but made no difference.
...
 Tried refrig. and worked on AC but when I switched to gas it would not start and "check" light would come on.
You may want to ttry your stove burner.  Sometimes it is hard getting all the air out of the lines and getting the LP stuff to work again.  If you get a solid flame going there, try the HW and refer again and see if it is resolved.

Quote
Last problem was some ceiling Thinlights were out and I can't figure out how to get into them. Also a vanity bulb in bathroom was out. I took it out to get replacement. It has a bayonet end and I think is 12v. This raises last dumb question. Are some bulbs 12v and some 110v? Can someone explain this to me in real basic terms?  Thanks for helping out a newbie.  Dick and Belinda.
  In my 2002 U270, all lights are 12 volt.  Those round big vanity bulbs are 12 volt and shouldn't be too hard to find in RV stores.  The ceiling frames on my 2002 are merely velchroed to the ceiling.  As time goes on, you will learn that Foretravel LOVES velchro and puts it everywhere it possibly can!  Makes for a lot of puzzlement, but also things are cleaner without screw holes or wooden plugs.  HTH.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #4 –
There could be air in the propane lines. Get this out be lighting a stove burner and keeping it lit until the flame is stable.

All the bulbs except the range hood light built into my microwave are 12 volts.

With bayonet bulbs you need to look csarefully to see if the two pins are the same distance from the bottom or staggered, to see if they have one or two contacts on the bottom, and one or two filaments. Matching the bulb number makes it easy, but it can sometimes be tricky to get led lamps that work.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #5 –
Yall always come through with good advice. Thanks

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #6 –
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #7 –
Make sure the propane is turned on at the tank. PO or someone else may have shut it off for some reason.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #8 –
Check the 'safety sensor' panel.  It may have turned the propane off.
I've been through that one.........~JL~........ ^.^d
1994-GV-U225
5.9 Cummings
Build #4503
Near Springer Oklahoma

Re: Newbie Questions

Reply #9 –
I changed out my fluorescent tubes to led lights (thin lights).  I used the strip lights that you get in a roll.  You can buy the led tubes also.  Must remove the ballast though when wiring.  I like the led lights better.  The vanity lights are 12v.  You can buy the exact incandescent bulb or change them all out for led bulbs.  I don't remember which numbers apply to those bayonet fixtures.  You can buy the replacements from foretravel or get them at most any RV store (including online).  I changed mine out for led bulbs and so far am happy with same.  They don't look exactly like the original but fine with me.  I got my led strip roll from ebay and soldered the wires to the strips, and rewired my thin lites without the ballast.  I think I used 4 strips of lengths equal to the bulb lengths.  The lighting is fine (used warm white led's) Certainly can replace the fluorescent tubes.  I had some issues with mine and wanted to change to led's anyway.  Congratulations.
Best of Travels