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09-27-2009, 10:05 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
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SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
The SMB supplied penthouse ceiling lights each have two 9 watt florescent light bulbs. I want to replace the on-off switch with a 2P2T on-off-on switch and rewire the bulbs so that I can turn one bulb on or both bulbs on. That would give me the choice of two wattage levels (ie: 9watt or 18watt) when dry camping and save some battery amps when lower light levels are adequate. Have anyone all ready done a similar modification to those lights??? Can the fixture electronics handle having one light tube turned off for extended periods??
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Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
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09-28-2009, 09:50 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
I don't think the fixture will allow that. It seems if one bulb burns out, the other won't light.
Try removing one bulb, and see if the other will light. If it does, then you could add a 2nd switch to select one bulb or both, in addition to the main switch for power. Or, a DP3T switch to do both functions.
I simply replaced the large fluorescent fixtures with the smaller incadescent fixtures (from SMB Indiana) with LED bulbs for 2 stage lighting with less power draw. My measurements showed the fluorescents drew more power than the incadescent fixtures did.
I've got a couple of spare fluorescent fixtures if you want to play with them.
Mike
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Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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09-28-2009, 10:12 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 1,841
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
I feel your pain, Len. The light towards the rear of the upper berth is blinding. I always want to duct tape a pair of underwear over it to tone it down.
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09-28-2009, 10:20 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
I've got a couple of spare fluorescent fixtures if you want to play with them.
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I do if he doesn't. PM me and we'll work something out.
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it was good to be back
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09-28-2009, 10:55 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
Thanks for the response,
I will remove one and see if the other stays on or not. That might stop that project right there.
Thanks for the offer of lights, but I will pass. Thanks again.
Up date
You are correct removing one of the light bulbs turns the other tube off. Dang
My old florescent lights had a three way switch. Off, 8 watts (one bulb) and 16 watts (two bulbs). Made it possible to save amps when needed.
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Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
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09-28-2009, 03:05 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 1,841
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
What's odd is that SMB installs a two way florescent fixture above the rear door for the lower berth, but only the overpowered blinder in the upper. ??
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09-28-2009, 04:47 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
The upper one is intended to light the entire interior when the PH bed is not in the way. We always use the PH bed, and it has never been an issue - nobody wants to read in bed!
Mike
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Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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09-29-2009, 01:39 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
If the florescent light could run on either one tube (9 watts) or two tubes (18 watts) when background lighting is desired and the full output is not house battery load could be reduced. Could save about 0.7 Ah per fixture. With limited house battery amps available that could add up. In other words being able to change power levels in light fixtures could be a desirable plus when dry camping.
I am in the process of adding a extra switch to each of me four double bulb halogen fixtures (3 out of 4 done to date). That will let me select using one of the fixtures lights or both. With a choice of 5w, 10w and 20w halogen bulbs I can optimize each light for the tasks it might be needed for. For example: rigging one of the fixtures with a 5w bulb and a 20w switched bulb. I can use the 5w output to chase shadows away if desired while we are elsewhere in the van. If I need to be working in the area near that light I can through the switch and have 25 watts of halogen lighting, which is normally very adequate for detail work.
For those who like to read in bed having an adjustment on the nearby light fixture could really be desirable. My wife likes to read in bed. I zonk out as soon as I hit the pillow and find no pleasure in holding a book up over my head. Specially with bifocals. For those who do not read in bed the light level is of course a non issue.
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Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
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09-29-2009, 04:00 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: santa rosa ca
Posts: 994
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
Quote:
Originally Posted by LenS
For those who like to read in bed having an adjustment on the nearby light fixture could really be desirable. My wife likes to read in bed. I zonk out as soon as I hit the pillow and find no pleasure in holding a book up over my head. Specially with bifocals. For those who do not read in bed the light level is of course a non issue.
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For reading upstairs at night, I just bought a small LED surface puck light and mounted it on the ceiling. Tapped into the fluorescent power, added a small toggle switch on the fluorescent housing and snaked the power over to the new LED. Works great.
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... Charlie
EV-2 build is now complete, (yeah right).
KZ6T
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09-29-2009, 05:11 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
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Re: SMB 18 Watt Ceiling Lights
Sounds like a great idea. Don't those pucks operate on three 1.5 volt AA or AAA batteries. That would add up to 4.5 volts and you are hooking it to 12-14 volts??? Maybe I am thinking of the wrong puck. Or maybe they are very voltage tolerant. How about a photo. Really does sound like a great idea.
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Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
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