Dim Lights

Cyclonic
Cyclonic Member Posts: 1,232
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
Seems like a dim subject, but this one has me a bit baffled, so maybe someone can enlighten me?

My 2012 T@B came installed with very standard RV 12v incandescent light fixtures.  Pancake lights.  They get so hot that they started to melt, so last summer I replaced two of them with LED versions of nearly the same fixture.





I replaced just the two that we use the most.  While very bright, they worked well.  I got two more later in the summer, but only recently got around to replacing them.  After putting the new ones in I have found that all of the lights are now very dim, and the older fixture still at the counter doesn't seem to work at all.

Fearing a short somewhere I have removed the new replacements, but I still have very dim lights.  I've checked the fuses, all good, and I am on shore power.  Ground looks good too.

Any ideas?

States the T@Bpole has camped, so far ;)
Nathan & Becky... 2013 Ford F150 FX4 TAB HLR... 2012 LG T@B T@Bpole.
Sterling, VA
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Comments

  • Dalehelman
    Dalehelman Member Posts: 2,414
    What is your battery reading?
    1. Hash  T@B Fun
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  • Cyclonic
    Cyclonic Member Posts: 1,232
    13.2v, full charge.  That was after pulling the plug to the shore power.  Lights have the same issue on or off shore power.

    States the T@Bpole has camped, so far ;)
    Nathan & Becky... 2013 Ford F150 FX4 TAB HLR... 2012 LG T@B T@Bpole.
    Sterling, VA
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  • Dalehelman
    Dalehelman Member Posts: 2,414
    What is the voltage at the light fixture.
    1. Hash  T@B Fun
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  • Cyclonic
    Cyclonic Member Posts: 1,232
    I'll run a test when I get home this evening, have to dig out my voltmeter :grin:

    States the T@Bpole has camped, so far ;)
    Nathan & Becky... 2013 Ford F150 FX4 TAB HLR... 2012 LG T@B T@Bpole.
    Sterling, VA
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  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    Can you post a link to the new lights?
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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  • Cyclonic
    Cyclonic Member Posts: 1,232
    Well, problem solved.

    Voltage at the lights read 9v.  I tracked to back to the converter, and found that while the fuse was not blown, it was weak, so power was not getting through.  Replaced the 10amp fuse and I was back in business.

    @Photomom , these are the lights I got, though I don't think I paid nearly that much.  These are very standard in a lot of RV's, but they haven't used them in T@Bs in years now.

    States the T@Bpole has camped, so far ;)
    Nathan & Becky... 2013 Ford F150 FX4 TAB HLR... 2012 LG T@B T@Bpole.
    Sterling, VA
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  • wizard1880
    wizard1880 Member Posts: 442
    Nice find!  Wow that would send even seasoned pros on a scavenger hunt.  I'll bet the fuse was heating up somewhat when the lights were on from that resistance :o
    T@@bulous
    2014 T@B CS Maxx
    TV: 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 V6 TDI (diesel)
    Martha Lake, WA
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  • Michigan_Mike
    Michigan_Mike Member Posts: 2,858
    edited May 2017


    Photomom said:


    Can you post a link to the new lights?


    Found them on EBay for a reasonable price.  

    Image result for flush mount RV LED light fixtures
    Mike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ
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  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,655
    @Cyclonic, ok, I'll bite...  How did you determine the fuse was weak? Measure the resistance? Trial and error? I know a bit about wiring, but I agree with wizard1880 that this would have been a head-scratcher!
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    If you didn't throw the fuse out already, would you please measure the resistance with an ohmmeter and let us know the reading? This is a new one to me.
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    After thinking about this, I think the most likely cause is corrosion on the fuse blades or on the fuse holder itself. This could increase the resistance of the fuse assembly and cause a voltage drop. If that's the case, when you put the new fuse in it would have rubbed away some of the corrosion and made better contact.

    You might inspect all of the fuses and fuse holders for signs of corrosion.
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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  • ericnliz
    ericnliz Member Posts: 4,437
    @Photomom, A little dab of dielectric grease works every time for ALL plug-in electric connections. Been using it for 40+ years, hasn't failed me yet! ;)
    2016 T@B MAX S-aka: WolfT@B
    TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
    Spokane, Wa.
    Eric aka: Lone Wolf  


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  • Cyclonic
    Cyclonic Member Posts: 1,232

    ScottG said:

    @Cyclonic, ok, I'll bite...  How did you determine the fuse was weak? Measure the resistance? Trial and error? I know a bit about wiring, but I agree with wizard1880 that this would have been a head-scratcher!


    Tossed it already, so I can't test it, but basically, when I removed the fuse this time I took a closer look at it.  Normally, when these things blow you know it, the circuit in the middle is very clearly broken.  This one it was not, but near the bottom of it it was considerably thinned out with a little bit of scorching.  So I am thinking it had started to blow, but not completely blown out, so some power was getting through.  All very odd, and I don't think I could make it happen again if I tried.

    States the T@Bpole has camped, so far ;)
    Nathan & Becky... 2013 Ford F150 FX4 TAB HLR... 2012 LG T@B T@Bpole.
    Sterling, VA
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  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    I've never seen it but there is a rare failure mode that can cause a fuse to behave like that. Good job troubleshooting this. 
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    BTW I always check suspect fuses with an ohmmeter unless they are clearly blown. 
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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