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07-18-2016, 09:42 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 299
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ceiling light
In my bedroom one of the ceiling lights quit but the other is still working, on the same circuit I assume. I pulled the lens and if I'm testing it right don't have any power to the ends where the florescent blubs attach. The switch wasn't turned off by mistake. Do you guys think I should pull the unit off the ceiling to check for power? Is there a ballast or something that goes bad? No continuity on the blubs but don't know if that's possible with florescent blubs.
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Glenn 2008 36TK3 #4571
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07-18-2016, 05:29 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 382
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There is a ballast for the fixture. No, you can not check continuity on fluorescent tubes because they use gas to conduct the voltage. The voltage at the ends, depending on the type of ballast, will not be 120v ac.
Bill
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07-18-2016, 05:47 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Canadian on the Road
Posts: 101
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Perfect time to convert to LED
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2012 F-350
2011 Escalade 37RE
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07-19-2016, 07:19 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 299
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Quote:
Originally Posted by porkchop
There is a ballast for the fixture. No, you can not check continuity on fluorescent tubes because they use gas to conduct the voltage. The voltage at the ends, depending on the type of ballast, will not be 120v ac.
Bill
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Where is the ballast? Probably on the back side?
Quote:
Originally Posted by netjam
Perfect time to convert to LED
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Yes, I agree! I've been trying to convince my wife that LED's are less dangerous to the human body then fluorescent light. I might be starting a debate here but..........
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Glenn 2008 36TK3 #4571
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07-19-2016, 09:25 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Canadian on the Road
Posts: 101
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In my 07 Suite the ballast was inside the fixture and not replaceable. Had many go and was constantly ordering new fixtures from DRV. Got tired of that and went to the LED 18" tubes. Easy to wire and removed them from the Suite when I sold it and installed in my Escalade where they are still working today.
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2012 F-350
2011 Escalade 37RE
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07-19-2016, 12:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 382
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ALL fluorescent lamps contain mercury and are not good for you or the environment. LED is a much better choice.
netjam=my wife thinks I'm cheap but I have never swapped lamps out. Nor stolen toilet paper from McD's.
Bill
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07-20-2016, 12:01 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Where we park it
Posts: 2,838
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Can't help with the 'danger' of light sources, but changing out my ceiling lights to LEDs was one of the best upgrades I have come across. Somewhat costly, but one LED tube easily outshines 2 fluorescent tubes. I actually only need one tube on one fixture in the bedroom and one tube in two fixtures in the living area.
If you do any dry-camping, you will be surprised at the extended battery life obtained with using LEDs. And the LED track lights over the sink don't heat the area any longer.
Joe
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2016 Tiffin 40 QBH
2015 38RSSA, traded
2005 TK3 #1869, 10 yrs of memories,
2017 F450 KR--one more Ford is it
2009 F450 4x4-died; 2010 F450-retired
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07-21-2016, 12:01 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 299
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Sounds good, LED's is it! Is it easy to 'wire' in?
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Glenn 2008 36TK3 #4571
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07-21-2016, 07:14 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Where we park it
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Yes, just follow the directions. If you get one done, the rest will be simple. If you are just replacing the other lights, it is an easy plug-in.
Joe
__________________
2016 Tiffin 40 QBH
2015 38RSSA, traded
2005 TK3 #1869, 10 yrs of memories,
2017 F450 KR--one more Ford is it
2009 F450 4x4-died; 2010 F450-retired
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07-21-2016, 09:26 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 299
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Glenn 2008 36TK3 #4571
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07-21-2016, 11:55 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Where we park it
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Glenn,
I am sure that will work well, but the price is a little high...
Check out Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Starlights-T8...rds=rv+led+T18
There are now several sources/mfgs of the T18 bulbs, just kind of watch for the color you need, either cool white (bluish/bright) or warm white (more like a regular incandescent bulb). I prefer the cool white, but it is a personal decision. Just watch out for buying at different sources and getting one of each for the same fixture/area--makes it look like the warm white ones are getting old...
Joe
__________________
2016 Tiffin 40 QBH
2015 38RSSA, traded
2005 TK3 #1869, 10 yrs of memories,
2017 F450 KR--one more Ford is it
2009 F450 4x4-died; 2010 F450-retired
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07-22-2016, 07:11 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 299
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I might be reading it wrong Joe but it looks like the Amazon ones are $40 a piece and the Ebay ones are $69 for four of them???
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Glenn 2008 36TK3 #4571
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07-22-2016, 09:34 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Canadian on the Road
Posts: 101
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Not the same brand I used but same type of thing. Been very happy with mine.
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2012 F-350
2011 Escalade 37RE
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07-22-2016, 05:22 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 382
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You can change the entire fixture for less to a good LED than what these wannabe fluorescent converts are.
Bill
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07-22-2016, 10:59 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 299
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Bill, I guess I'm a little slow and didn't follow what you said. I thought the newer LED's just replaced the fluorescent tubes with just a wire or two to hook up using the same fixture? Have a link?
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Glenn 2008 36TK3 #4571
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07-23-2016, 07:45 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 382
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Don't have a link but they are sold in most rv stores. Cheaper,easier and better than trying to convert an old fixture. You can find designs to perfectly match most existing fixtures so that there is no unsightly lines on your ceiling.
Bill
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07-23-2016, 01:23 PM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Where we park it
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Glenn,
Guess I misread the eBay ad--thought it was 1 tube only, not pack of 4. Probably worth trying.
Joe
__________________
2016 Tiffin 40 QBH
2015 38RSSA, traded
2005 TK3 #1869, 10 yrs of memories,
2017 F450 KR--one more Ford is it
2009 F450 4x4-died; 2010 F450-retired
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07-23-2016, 01:35 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Where we park it
Posts: 2,838
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A quick check of CW online shows 3 fixtures--which may/may not be the right size, measure first--but for $110-$140/per fixture.
I got a starlites double-tube fixture for the bathroom in an RV shop in Orem, UT, for about $100, with a dimmable feature, when the old fixture itself went bad.
The use of LEDs is probably a personal decision, and may not be for everyone--too many chances to get wrong bulb/wrong color--but for me, I won't go back to fluorescents.
Joe
__________________
2016 Tiffin 40 QBH
2015 38RSSA, traded
2005 TK3 #1869, 10 yrs of memories,
2017 F450 KR--one more Ford is it
2009 F450 4x4-died; 2010 F450-retired
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07-25-2016, 09:15 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 1
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any standard bulbs in a mobile suites
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07-25-2016, 09:30 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 299
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no, all 12v except the overhead 120v lights. Not one old fashion light bulb.
Edit: lights are mostly all halogens.
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Glenn 2008 36TK3 #4571
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