Overhead lights

[mayco]

Ok, i feel pretty stupid here but i dont want to break something. How do you get the lenses out of the overhead lights to clean or change out bulbs? I started to sqeeze them a bit thinking that they may compress enough to get them out but i didnt go further because i was afraid to break the lense.

While im at it here, is there a way to remove the screen frame in the sliding windows to wash the WHOLE window or to replace the screen material?

Thanks as always for your patience folks!

[mayco]

I wasnt specific, the long rectangular lights that are part of the overhead cabinets are the ones im interested in.

[idroba]

As I recall, on my '83, 310 you did just squeeze the cover for removal, but it has been a while since I owned it. They also get brittle, so be careful.

I don't remember enough about the window screens to help there.

[dadstoy]

I just went through my overhead lights to clean the lenses as well. The kitchen overhead light was dim in the high setting. I thought it might be the switch but it wasn't. I replaced the switch anyway. The dim high setting was due to the ground wire was disconnected on the fixture itself. The current must have been finding some path to ground in order to somewhat power the bulbs.

I pulled each bulb and cleaned them as well. I have to replace one low watt bulb.

I too was worried about breaking the lenses during removal and reinstall. I found that squeezing one side in the middle of the fixture and gently pulling out that side as I worked toward an end worked the best for me. The ends are difficult to squeeze and remove but with care I got the job done. On reinstall I worked in one end then slipped in one long side as much as possible. Then I began to squeeze in the other long side working from one end to the other. The toughest part is getting that last end in.

[mayco]

Thanks folks, it looked that way to me too so i will proceed. Ive slowly learned with the 310 that its just a beast of its own and not to assume ANYTHING when approaching it. Ive done a few bone head things that caused me more work and expense because i thought it was pretty straight ahead and in just didnt turn out that way. It seems that airstream had their own way of doing things and its better to ask up front than break a lens in the process. Thanks again for your patience. The good news is im far enough along with the rig that im now able to concentrate on some fun aesthetic things and a deep cleaning.

I really need to get some pictures posted. I know how you are......it doesnt exist without the pics!!!!! Hahahaha

[ASTailgate]

Thanks Mayco for this post as I was wondering the same thing. I'm going to replace all my lights with LED soon. I'll post pics. Pls do the same if you get to it before I do. Judy.

[mayco]

Sure will judy.

[tevake]

^^ good info on the light lens, thanks Dad.

And now, about those screens, what a puzzle .
It would be great to be able to get them out for cleaning without having to do serious disassembly.
Any secrets to getting them out?

Cheers Richard

[ArtFJ1]

Hi Folks,

I've been replacing the old bulbs with strip LED lights. The finished product looks like the first pic below. I used some old picture frame rails to mount the LED strips in. See pic #2 below.

[ASTailgate]

Where did you get the led strips?

[ArtFJ1]

I got mine on ebay

Warm White Waterproof 5050 SMD 300LED 5M 60LED M Light Strip Flexible 12V | eBay

The strip comes on a 5-meter spool. You can cut it every 3 inches, so I cut it into seven 27" pieces and then soldered a wire pair to one end of each new piece. I put two 27" strips in each light fixture, so I needed two LED spools to do my six ceiling lights

My fixtures are controlled by a switch that has a "high" and "low" position. I wanted the "high" setting to light both strips, and the "low" to light only one LED strip. So I connected the "+" wire on one LED strip to a wire going to the old bright bulbs, and I connected the "+" wire from the other LED strip to a wire to the old dim bulbs. Then I put a cheap 3-amp Radio Shack diode going from one of the "high" wires to one of the "low" wires. It worked great.

Now if I could only find some touch-up paint to for the light fixtures ...

[mayco]

Nice job on those led s.

[shepherd57]

Mayco

They look great

How is the brightness compared to the old bulbs better, worse, the same, Can you have both strips on at the same time. Could you do a diagram for the electrically challenged.

[ArtFJ1]

Here is a schematic. Yes, both strips are lit when the switch is in the HI position. They LEDs seem to be brighter than the original bulbs, I'll try to measure later

[ASTailgate]

May I you can always just buy LED bulbs and not have to rewire.

[ASTailgate]

Darn spell ck. Mayco not may

[mayco]

Yup, and since mine dont have the high low function thats what ill eventually do. I was just interested in the proper way to remove the lenses so i can clean and service the lights. Nice to see alternatives though and artfj1 is obviously a pretty talented electrician, wish i had better electrical skills. I can wire a home but its still magic to me, how electricity works that is?

[shepherd57]

ArtFJ1

Sorry for the name mix up in my post. I just put it down to an old brain that faded. Thanks for the schematic

[mayco]

No worries, so did you do the switch over to LED bulbs? If you did do you like the results enough to recommend spending the money to do it? Its my understanding that they pull less amps and are much cooler than conventional bulbs. Do they also last a great deal longer?