Replacement Reading Lights

DougH
DougH Member Posts: 1,110
edited March 2021 in Modifications & Upgrades
The plastic toggle switches for the back reading lights eventually started going out.  So I picked up what I think a couple other folks on the forum have gone with...

Thalassa Blue Night Light / Dimmable Warm White Light / USB Port  $50 for the pair.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JNLCFQL

A bit pricier than many 12V lamps on Amazon, but these were the closest to original base size so I figured no new screw holes or mounting plates. That turned out to be correct.

[1] Unscrewed two Roberson head screws holding old reading light, [2] clipped wires right at lamp connection, [3] slipped included new mounting plate over wires, [4] soldered white camper wire to black wire of new lamp, and black camper wire to red wire of new lamp, [5] screwed plate in with existing holes and new provided phillips screws, [6] put lamps at an angle with USB port facing down and towards center of bench, [7] tightened down the set screw to keep lamps attached to mounting plate. Ten minutes total installation time, and two more handy USB ports. Only 1.4W and they remember the mode and dimming level. Press once for blue night light, a second time for white light, and hold finger on touch sensitive area to gradually or dim the bulb.


2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

Comments

  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,587
    For the solder-inept among us I suppose some simple wiring connectors fit behind the fixture?  How much extra wire is back there?
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • Tabaz
    Tabaz Member Posts: 2,420
    Thanks for this Doug.  Really dislike the "Prison Yard" brightness of the stock lamps.  Spent hours looking for a replacement without success.  Will be placing my order momentarily.
    2016 Outback 320
    2024 Ford F150 Supercrew short bed.
  • DougH
    DougH Member Posts: 1,110
    @pthomas745 Half a foot or so, and yup wiring connectors will fit fine.

    @Tabaz Someone here suggested quarter or half CTO correction gel.  I put one layer of...

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08814S8KM

    ...on the old reading light to get rid of the starkness of the old lights, until the switches stopped working.
    2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
    Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

  • Tabaz
    Tabaz Member Posts: 2,420
    Kind of you to help the rest of us save some money with a simple CTO correction gel mod. 
    2016 Outback 320
    2024 Ford F150 Supercrew short bed.
  • DougH
    DougH Member Posts: 1,110
    edited March 2021
    @Tabaz   Post was from @VictoriaP on the gel:

    https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/156084#Comment_156084

    Think they went even warmer. I couldn't find a cheap kit that had a smaller square area of both 1/4 up to full so you could adjust the warmth to suit. It's probably out there somewhere.
    2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
    Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

  • Tabaz
    Tabaz Member Posts: 2,420
    Thanks again Doug - already ordered your lights before my second post. Life is short enough without having to deal with correction gel.
    2016 Outback 320
    2024 Ford F150 Supercrew short bed.
  • Tabaz
    Tabaz Member Posts: 2,420
    edited March 2021
    Great round table if I may add.
    2016 Outback 320
    2024 Ford F150 Supercrew short bed.
  • ontheroad
    ontheroad Member Posts: 489
    The one thing I miss about the T@g...the lighting...loved being able to change from white to the blue...
    Former 2017 T@G Max XL
    2021 T@B Boondock CS-S
    2018 Nissan Pathfinder
    Ontario, Canada
  • DougH
    DougH Member Posts: 1,110
    I know blue attracts less bugs... but all the latest studies show blue spectrum interferes with sleep.  So half of today's phones shift to a much warmer spectrum an hour before bed to help nod off quicker.  Always seemed odd to see so many RVs offering blue night lights. But then it's hard to sleep with a couple dozen bugs swirling about too.

    https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-blue-light
    2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
    Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

  • 4ncar
    4ncar Member Posts: 1,072
    I replaced my stock “retina burners” within the 1st months of ownership of my 320.  I had noticed the blue lights in the 400, back in those days, and ordered a pair from Elsie(when you could buy direct.). The blue DEFIANTLY doesn’t attract bugs and makes for a nice glow(and miserly on the battery). My SO only uses the white light to read by, otherwise we use the blue. 
    TV- '16 Chevy Colorado LT Crew Cab-DuraMax
    2018 320S Outback
  • Tampakayaker
    Tampakayaker Member Posts: 558
    DougH said:
    @pthomas745 Half a foot or so, and yup wiring connectors will fit fine.

    @Tabaz Someone here suggested quarter or half CTO correction gel.  I put one layer of...

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08814S8KM

    ...on the old reading light to get rid of the starkness of the old lights, until the switches stopped working.
    They look great
    2006 RAM 1500 4 door, 2016 T@B 320 MAX S 
    Tampa FL
  • rh5555
    rh5555 Member Posts: 536
    Has anyone measured the current draw of these lights when they are "off"?  Having an available USB and touch-sensing is going to draw some trickle current, maybe insignificant, maybe not...
    Roger and Sue Hill | 2020 T@B400 Boondock (Cryst@bel) | 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 - P400 | San Juan Island, WA
  • Dudlee
    Dudlee Member Posts: 24
    I'm experimenting with red,yellow, and white, electrical tape over the LED's.  I have a white and yellow layer over one and its perfect for reading,  I put 2 red layers over the other one and like the way it looks.
    -

  • DougH
    DougH Member Posts: 1,110
    @Dudlee Looks like you're also contemplating changing the speakers.  We went with a pair of Polks. Did you find something even nicer sounding that fit?
    2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
    Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

  • Dudlee
    Dudlee Member Posts: 24
    @DougH I pulled the speaker to access the lamp wiring.

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