Electrical/lighting question February 28, 2003, 04:57:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19372For the last several months, the fluorescent lights on my 2002 IB have seemed very dim when I have visited the coach at the storage area. I am connected to 120v outlet; the Charge Controller consistently reads 13.8; the coach is canopied, so there is no solar charging; none of the diodes on the Charge Controller is lighted; the incandescent lights seems to be as bright as they should be; when disconnected from 120v, the fluor. lights are still dim; the batteries have water in them; the read-out display indicates fully charged. I have not heard the converter "humming" lately, however, it is cold and I have not spent much time in the LD. When I had the LD out several weeks ago, the solar panel was working fine because the Charge Controller was up to 15v or so and kind of dancing around. The fluor. lights still seemed dim altho it was hard to tell because it was daylight.Any thoughts? I have a multimeter if I need to check anything.Chris Horst
Re: Electrical/lighting question Reply #1 – February 28, 2003, 05:42:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19373Chris, The only thing I can think of why, and you may already know this, is florescent bulbs don't work as good in the cold. You mentioned it was cold in your rig, so I would attribute it to that.Hope this helps,-Victor
Re: Electrical/lighting question Reply #2 – March 01, 2003, 12:02:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 19385The Quotefluor. lights still seemed dim altho it was hard to tell because it was daylight. As Victor said - flourescents don't work well when cold. They do heat themselves, so eventually should reach normal brightness. It will just take longer in cold weather.Experiment. Turn on one flourescent, then 5 minutes later - another one. Note the one turned on earlier is at least twice as bright as the one you just turned on.Steve
Re: Electrical/lighting question Reply #3 – March 01, 2003, 08:04:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 19387QuoteAs Victor said - flourescents don't work well when cold. They do heat themselves, so eventually should reach normal brightness. It will just take longer in cold weather.Experiment. Turn on one flourescent, then 5 minutes later - another one. Note the one turned on earlier is at least twice as bright as the one you just turned on.Steve Thanks, Steve and Victor, for your responses. I did not know fluorescent lights were cold sensitive. I will try your experiment, Steve. This most likely explains why the incandescent lights seemed to be OK.Chris Horst Denver
Re: Electrical/lighting question Reply #4 – March 01, 2003, 09:32:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 19391Chris, I have the same experience...ours is stored inside, connected to 110v, with extemely cold weather. My solar controller reads 13.9 constantly As already mentioned, the lights are not nearly as bright due to the cold.Tom
Re: Electrical/lighting question Reply #5 – March 01, 2003, 04:57:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19402QuoteThe fluor. lights still seemed dim altho it was hard to tell because it was daylight.As Victor said - flourescents don't work well when cold. They do heat themselves, so eventually should reach normal brightness. It will just take longer in cold weather.Experiment. Turn on one flourescent, then 5 minutes later - another one. Note the one turned on earlier is at least twice as bright as the one you just turned on.Steve Steve, you were right. Just tried it at the storage area, and cold weather is the problem. I learn something everytime I read this forum! Thanks again,Chris
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