tab 400 step light

gregtipton19_

Does anyone know how to disable the blue light on the step of the 2020 tab? I can't find a switch. 

jrhamel

On our 2019 there is no switch but if you look underneath were the step is you should see a wire from the step to the floor of the trailer. You should be able to disconnect. 

N7SHG_Ham

One mode I may look into is wiring the step light to only come on if the porch light is also on, shouldn't be too hard to do, just have to track down the wiring.

gregtipton19_

great ideas. Thanks!

falcon1970

If the porch light is on you probably don't need the step light.

@gregtipton19_ tipton
Why do you want to disable the light?  If it is because of the bright white that shines upwards, you could do what I (and a couple others) did.  Pop (gently) the silver cap off the fixture and run a strip of electrical tape across the top of the lens.  I used blue electrical tape and get a gentle blue light shining upwards.  If you want no light at all use black electrical tape.  The silver cap is press fitted and held on by friction. 

gregtipton19_

I like the light actually but I'm on shore power. If boon docking, I don't want that light on automatically and all the time to help drain battery. Thanks for comment. 

falcon1970

While I haven't actually measured the amperage of the step light I would think that a single LED would take a very long time to drain the battery.  When ever I leave the TAB and lock the door I habitually stow the step.  The turns the light off but I do it more as a visual check that the door is locked.  The main reason that I blocked the upward shining white light is that it was very bight at night in a campground.  The blue light shining down is more discrete.

gregtipton19_

I think you're right about the amp draw. It has to be pretty low. Thanks for the advice. 

falcon1970

@gregtipton19_
I just did a very unscientific experiment.  My Victron battery monitor showed absolutely no change in amperage or power draw when I deployed the step to turn the light on.

gregtipton19_

Nice. I'm thinking of getting that monitor too. Have you been happy with it?

falcon1970

@gregtipton19_
Very happy.  It gives a lot of info about the state of the battery and was (relatively) easy to install.  The bluetooth function is nice.  You can see more info with it than by just looking at the dial.  The Victron BMV-712 is the one to get even though it is more expensive than the BMV-700.

gregtipton19_

thanks so much!