center vents with lights all around

[wannaroam]

We have three vents running down the center of our unit and they have lights as well. When you take the inside cover off bulbs are the whole way around the perimeter.

Was this a standard for our '78 Excella, and are replacements available for them?

[easyride]

That is what I have on my Overlander,new covers are available on Ebay,don`t put in 1156 bulbs,they will burn cover,RV stores have bulbs with lower wattage.A lot of people are replacing with LED lights.Dave

[Silver Threads]

We had the same ones in our 72. You can get the covers at www.outofdoorsmart.com. He is the one that has them on ebay also.

[overlander63]

I see Inland Rv has them as well, depending on which coast you are closer to.

[wannaroam]

I was thinking of replacing the whole unit, not just the covers (which I have). Two of these have scorch marks right where the switches are, and they don't seem to work.

[Lumatic]

It will be harder to find and more expensive to replace the whole unit. The switches are still available from the above sources If you replace the switches, wires and lenses you will basicly have a new unit.

[wannaroam]

Ok, thanks everyone.

[lynn]

These lights where called Bird Bath Lights. They were used from the seventies up through the late 90"s. Most of the components are still available through an Airstream Dealer.

[wannaroam]

We checked them out well yesterday and they are still working; lights and fans.

But when we went to turn one of the lights off the switch was so hot it actually burnt my husbands fingers. The wiring looks to be ok; would this be due to a bad switch? Or could it be a more serious problem?

[Lumatic]

I would suspect a bad switch.

If you are buying new plastic shop around. In addition to AS they are available at Inland RV, Vintage Trailer Supply and Ebay. Inland RV has the switches.

[Silvertwinkie]

Wow, not to take too far off topic, but that out of doors mart website is impressive. Even have actual sheet metal and pricing on it. That place has everything!

[wannaroam]

Woo-hoo!
We installed the converter today and everything is working. I have an appointment for inspection on Friday, and God willing we can try it out this weekend.

A big thank you to everyone who helped us!!

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

It will be harder to find and more expensive to replace the whole unit. The switches are still available from the above sources If you replace the switches, wires and lenses you will basicly have a new unit.

I took the automotive style bulbs out of mine and installed a couple of compact 12v fluorescents instead. I also wired the switch so it turns on one or both. IIRC the switch has 3 on positions, I plan to use the third for a small LED to be used as a night light. I now have the low draw and clean light of the fluorescent and the look of a vintage. I plan to do a similar rebuild of the bathroom fixtures.

Aaron

[juel]

Was it difficult to switch to flourescent and do you have pictures of what you have done. I would like to change mine out in the Sovereign and also would like to do something with those lights in the center bath. They really aren't bright enough and when they're on you can see the wiring through the lens.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by juel

Was it difficult to switch to flourescent and do you have pictures of what you have done. I would like to change mine out in the Sovereign and also would like to do something with those lights in the center bath. They really aren't bright enough and when they're on you can see the wiring through the lens.

It was pretty easy, the hard part was tearing into the $35 Thinline fixtures Then it was just a matter of taking the interior parts of them and sticking them in the fixtures. No pictures at the moment, I broke my digital camera a couple of weeks ago and haven't decided on the replacement.

I took the whole assembly off the trailer to work on them. Drilled/ground the rivets off of the old sockets and pop riveted the bits and pieces of the fluorescents on to the old plate.

After looking at the link I gave...I probably should have purchased some of these and saved a few bucks, you will still have to take them apart to get the ballasts to sit off to the side so they fit properly.

Aaron