Reading lamps September 03, 2016, 10:18:34 am The reading lamps in the rear of my 2002 26.5' mid bath quit working. I checked the fuses and replaced the bulbs but they still wont work. I'm guessing it must be a ground problem. Anyone have this problem and know where these lights are grounded?
Re: Reading lamps Reply #1 – September 03, 2016, 12:13:56 pm Just to clarify, which lights are you talking about? In my 2003, there's a fluorescent fixtures over each couch, but nothing else. Perhaps your 2002 has a different arrangement...?More important, did your lights all stop working at the same time?
Re: Reading lamps Reply #2 – September 03, 2016, 12:29:44 pm There are two brass halogen flexible reading lamps in the very back by the speakers. And yes they stopped working at the same time.
Re: Reading lamps Reply #3 – September 03, 2016, 01:02:33 pm Hi Duro. I don't think your coach came with those lights, it's likely someone added those. They are probably connected into the wiring for the florescent lights on the side cabinets. In a mostly wood motorhome, wires for both the hot lead and the necessary ground lead are run together to each light fixture. Red for +12vdc, black for 0vdc (ground). Some manufacturers use white for the ground, red for +12. If both fixtures quit at the same time, it is likely a wiring issue. I assume all other 12v. lighting is still working correctly, and you said youchecked the fuses in the 12v. distribution panel. Were there any problems with these lights before now? Flickering or dimness? Whoever put in these reading lights may have included a fuse inside the floor of the compartment for these lights. The next step would be to unscrew a fixture to look at the wiring condition inside the cabinet floor. Inside the cabinet, the false floor should have lots of tiny brass screws holding the bottom down. The speaker wires and maybe 12v wiring should run through there. A good place to start. Hope this helped. RonB 1 Likes
Re: Reading lamps Reply #4 – September 03, 2016, 02:03:17 pm My 07 MB has halogin reading lamps in the described area, but they are not on flexible stalks just two little devils that look like silver hockey pucks. I am a little suspicious of the wiring in the stalk. I never had much luck with lamps that had pivot points with thin wires running through them. That said it seems strange that both would fail if the stalks were the issue. I suspect the ground. I think you get at the wiring through the bottom of storage area just above the lamps and speakers. A pic of the location for others without a mid bath. Sorry about the off topic dogs. This picture shows the location of the silver lamps in my MB. I believe Duro's lamps are in the same location, just a different model of lamp. 4 Likes
Re: Reading lamps Reply #5 – September 03, 2016, 02:12:34 pm Just shows me that dogs enjoy the view from the large mid-bath windows as well! 1 Likes
Re: Reading lamps Reply #6 – September 03, 2016, 03:00:53 pm Thanks Ron No we didn't notice any flickering or dimming. But if they are aftermarket I could see a connection coming loose. We have only had the rig for a few months. They worked when we bought it. After a 350 mile trip they don't. Something must have rattled loose. I guess I'll start tracking wires and see how these were hooked up.
Re: Reading lamps Reply #7 – September 03, 2016, 03:04:18 pm Quote from: John DaCrema - September 03, 2016, 02:03:17 pmA pic of the location for others without a mid bath. Sorry about the off topic dogs. This picture shows the location of the silver lamps in my MB. I believe Duro's lamps are in the same location, just a different model of lamp.Yep that's where mine are. I
Re: Reading lamps Reply #8 – September 05, 2016, 05:42:06 pm Well problem solved. After checking with a test light and finding no power going to the lights. And rechecked all the fuses. I started tracing the power and ground wires. And when I get to the end what do I find. A cigarette lighter type plug by the tv cabinet. I must have unplugged it when I changed the tv out thinking it was part of the satellite system. Plugged it in and lights work fine. So my lights are aftermarket and installed by someone who loves duct tape as all connections were duct taped together. Sure not how I would have done it. LOL can't believe that the lights were just unplugged. 1 Likes
Re: Reading lamps Reply #9 – September 05, 2016, 06:01:21 pm Duro said, "LOL can't believe that the lights were just unplugged." LOL, indeed--my previous gremlins in the backup lights were an unlabeled switch under the driver's side bunk...so much to learn, so little time. Glad you found yours, too.Lynne 1 Likes