TAB 400 Step Light

falcon1970

On the 2019 TAB400 (and maybe earlier models, I don't know) there is a very nice blue LED light that activates when the entry door step is deployed.  It shines downward and gives just enough light to see the step but not enough to illuminate the entire campground.  However, There is also a very bright white light that shines upward at the same time.  It is not bright enough to illuminate the keyhole, but it is bright enough to annoy people parked next to you.  Is that supposed to be that way?  I thought my light fixture might be a bit loose but it appears to be firmly fixed in place.  Has anyone else noticed this?

TNOutback

I’ve noticed the exact same thing; don’t like the white light escaping from the top of the little fixture.  I’m on the hunt for some blue duct tape to fix that, at least temporarily.

falcon1970

@TNOutback
I tried that while on the road.  All I had was yellow electrical tape and that greatly decreased the glare.  I'll try with blue electrical tape now that I'm home again but I have doubts that tape will withstand road travel for very long.  I guess those Italians had some purpose in mind for having a white light shining up at you.  I don't think it is working.  I'm going to see if the light fixture can be removed enough to get to the back of the unit.  Some tape on the inside might last.

TNOutback

Looking closely at the light fixture and where it is mounted, that trim piece the fixture is mounted in has a slight curve in it, but the fixture itself has a flat mounting surface, hence the gap at the top that lets out some light.  There really is not a way to fix it since it’s a bit of a round peg in a square hole kind of thing.  I think I am going to get some enamel model paint and a small brush and paint the top of the fixture to block the light.

falcon1970

The chrome colored decorative cover on the outside of the fixture can be (gently!) pried off.  It is held in place by the four small indentations around the edge.  When that is off, you can see the clear lED case (or cover) has a strip of blue colored material along the bottom edge but not the top edge.  The chrome colored cover has a slot on the bottom which allows blue tinted light to shine on the step and a slit along the top which allow white light to shine upwards.  I put a piece of blue electrical tape on the upper side of the LED case under the chrome cover.  Maybe that will shine greatly diminished blue light upwards or it may block the upward light entirely--either way is fine.

RCB

I got fed up with the light so unplugged it at the switch under the step on the left side. 

greggill

Is it upside down? My blue light is up and the white light shines down on the step. Kind of helpful actually.

falcon1970

Well that would be interesting.  I just assumed the blue was to illuminate the step and should shine down.  We probably need someone to query nuCamp regarding what they intended.

jgram2

T@B, you’re it @falcon1970 🤭

falcon1970

OK, @jgram2, I've asked nuCamp.  We'll see if I get a reply since I am not one of the "specials."  I'll let y'all know what I find out.

greggill

Ok my deepest apologies. I had a brain fart and the blue light is down.

falcon1970

@greggill
No sweat.  There are lots of things I remember distinctly that apparently never happened.

TNOutback

Mine looks just like yours, @greggill. I’m going to try to find a paint either close to the color of the chrome trim or the panel to block out that white light.

gspdx

I am thinking about adding a switch inside so i can turn it off when I want and still leave the step deployed.  It's a nice feature but not completely thought out in my opinion.  

N7SHG_Ham

@gspdx I have thought of changing the power lead from wherever it comes now to the porch light circuit, step only lights if porch light is on and pulled out, that works for most instances except pulling the step out in the dark before entering trailer to turn on porch light. The way it is now, the step is on full time anytime the step is deployed.

gspdx

N7SHG_Ham said:

@gspdx I have thought of changing the power lead from wherever it comes now to the porch light circuit, step only lights if porch light is on and pulled out, that works for most instances except pulling the step out in the dark before entering trailer to turn on porch light. The way it is now, the step is on full time anytime the step is deployed.

That would work.  Good idea.

TNOutback

I took the chrome cover off of the light and applied a strip of electrical tape to the top half of the lens, then put the cover back on.  No more white light shining up!