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Topic: Got to love how well made and sealed a LD is! (Read 7 times) previous topic - next topic
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Got to love how well made and sealed a LD is!
Yahoo Message Number: 111899
I recently bought one of those Smart Lights that has a motion detector and energy saving LED bulb.  I figured an easy job, get out the step ladder, unscrew the five screws holding it on, put a little caulk on the threads and heads of the screws, run a bead of caulk around the new fixture, JOB DONE! Wrong! LD must have used a half tube of caulk on and under the OEM fixture.  Only way to get it off was to work a thin blade under it, pry a little, work the blade a little more, etc. A hour later, I finally won the battle.  That light could have been under water for years and never sprung a leak!
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Got to love how well made and sealed a LD is!
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111900
Hah!  We had the Factory install their latest bullet-proof Armstrong-powered step in our 1997 RB.

I weigh about 250 and it doesn't budge or grunt when I step hard on it. I think it could be used to jack up one side of the LD

best, paul ___ 'Thriving not Surviving' See our websites at www. LazyDazers.com    www. Bike70th.net
www. SMARTERyellowpages.com & www. ReformUSCongress.org
Re: Got to love how well made and sealed a LD is!
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111986
Just a short update on this project. For those that are willing to tackle the removal of the LD OEM light fixture, the Smart Light and LED bulb is really a nice addition.  The web site, http://www.starlightsinc.com/shop/pc/home.asp shows the light and the bulbs available.  The light is really bright at night and the motion detector sets off the light if anyone walks with
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Smart LIghts and LEDs
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111987
Larry, do the Smart Lights come with LED bulbs, or must they be purchased separately? I ask because the photos on that website seem to show incandescent bulbs inside the Smart Light 1000 and 2000 fixtures, and the product descriptions don't mention LEDs.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Smart Lights and LEDs
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111988
While we're on the subject, it may be worth mentioning a different approach that I took: I bought a $10 solar-powered LED "fence light" that works nicely as an entry light:

http://tinyurl.com/nhe5np>

or

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Landscape-Lighting/Hampton-Bay/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zbky3Zp4/R-100574917/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053>
 Now, I'm pretty sure this is not as bright as Larry's Smart Light--it certainly isn't as bright as the stock entry light. But when mounted a couple of feet below the standard entry light, it provides plenty of light for finding your coach in the dark, and for finding the keyhole. It comes on automatically at dusk and glows amber all night long--no need to remember to switch it on. And it has two advantages: it's completely self-powered, using no 12V power at all (and hence, no rewiring is needed)... and at ten bucks, it's very inexpensive.
 In fact, I have three of these solar-powered fence lights on my coach: one by the entry door; one on the street side of the coach, so that I can find it in the dark if I'm coming from that direction; and one just below the skylight in the shower. That last one charges through the skylight all day, and its soft amber glow provides a perfect bathroom night light all night. Again, it's completely automatic and self-powered, so I don't have to remember to switch it on or off, and it'll never drain my house batteries.
 If you want something that will really light up the area around your steps, a $100 Smart Light like Larry's is a better bet. But if you can get by with a softer light, the $10 solar fence light is worth considering. Heck, at that price you could mount several! :-)
 Speaking of mounting, I put the lights on the exterior with 3M Dual Lock tape. They've stayed put through 6,000+ miles in all kinds of weather, and show no signs of loosening. That Dual Lock is good stuff! You can find it at Radio Shack and at Target, among other places.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Smart LIghts and LEDs
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111989
Andy, the light come standard with the incandescent bulbs, unfortunately.  I bought the 300 lumens rotating bulb. The bulb is rated to last 60,000 hours, so I will be taking it with me on my next LD, whenever that is. The fixture and the bulb is a tad expensive, but it is a quality item and does work very well and puts out bright white light at night.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Smart Lights and LEDs
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111994
I was interested in this light because we can't see who is knocking on the door at night with the OEM light.
 It occurred to me that changing the existing amber lens to clear might resolve that issue and it did. So for us that was s simpler solution and only cost about $3.00.

I also like the motion detector idea as well. However, having never found one at home that didn't get triggered by all sorts of other stuff I wonder how well this one works.

Jim C
Re: Smart Lights and LEDs
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111996
Jim,
 The amber lens is there so you don't attract as many flying insects.  So, you get to see more of those as well! :-)

Alex Rutchka, SE #4 '05 MB
Re: Smart Lights and LEDs
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111998
Jim, both the sensitivity of the sensors as well as the distance factors from which it will be tripped, are adjustable.
 As for brightness, it is very bright!  Much brighter than the OEM light.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Smart LIghts and LEDs
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112002
Larry,

Do you know if the replacement LED bulbs will work in the standard fixtures?   I can't find info on the page where it says they will.

Thank you,

Helen
Re: Smart Lights and LEDs
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112003
Helen, they are are direct replacement.  If I am not mistaken, the normal outside fixture light bulb is an 1156 or 1152, and the bulbs that Smart Light sells for their fixture has the same bayonet base.  I have bought other LED bulbs, and the Revolution 300 bulb that I bought from these folks seems superior
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Smart Lights and LEDs
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112013
You are exactly right Alex. So when I turn the light on to see who is there I just leave it on if I don't want to talk to them until the bugs drive them away.

Jim
 
Re: Smart Lights and LEDs
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 112014
Hey Larry,
 Every sensor light I installed at home was also adjustable and everyone of them would be triggered seemingly by invisible sources. Some were better than others but still weren't perfect.
 Don't get me wrong, were it not for the cost and the fact the clear lens does what I want I would have tried one of these.

Jim