Patio light leak repaired

[Alphonse]

My patio light (2010 model AS) had condensate showing on the back side of the lens. I tried to reposition the factory gasket on a couple of occasions with no luck. Gave up and made a wider cork gasket that would not deflect from under the sealing surface of the lenses like the factroy foam gasket did.

I believe the wider gasket will work and keep the water out. You can see the cork in place under the lense here.

Hope this helps others move to a fix quicker.

[HiHoAgRV]

Thats a mighty fine fix!

[altamont]

My factory gasket melted. To get another one, I have to buy the lens, which comes with the gasket. If I am patient, can I make one of my own?

[Alphonse]

If the gasket melted, didn't the lens melt as well? I have seen many lens that have melted/deformed simply because the factory 12 volt incandescent bulb generates big amounts of heat. Btw, consider changing the bulb to a LED so it doesn't get hot.

If the lens is in good shape, yes you can make another gasket. I made the one in the photo posted above. You need a material that is quite pliable to seal this arrangement up. Cork is a pain to work with because it tends to tear and separate but I got it to work. Also be sure to make the outer diameter of the gasket to the maximum diameter of the recess where it sits in the light housing. The lens itself has a very small and ineffective sealing surface and to get it work properly you must make sure the gasket is beneath this small ridge on the lens itself. This is how these normally leak - the factory gaskets slips out from under this sealing surface and lets water in.

[altamont]

The lens didn't melt. The bulb burned out and when I changed it the gasket had melted. I ordered a new LED from LED4RV which comes with a new lens, LED attached to lens and a new gasket. All for $24.95. He said it is one of their top sellers. Go figure.

[MaxAB]

This is a fine fix! I did the same to mine... Good one!

[fltlevel510]

You can also take a small length of butyl tape and work into a snake by rolling in you hands. Place around the perimeter of the housing or on the lens. Press the lens in place and fasten. Works great, last a long time.

[Alphonse]

Originally Posted by altamont

The lens didn't melt. The bulb burned out and when I changed it the gasket had melted. I ordered a new LED from LED4RV which comes with a new lens, LED attached to lens and a new gasket. All for $24.95. He said it is one of their top sellers. Go figure.

Glad you found your solution. I have a friend who also went this route and it is a good one if you don't mind LEDs with a blue tint.

[MaxAB]

Originally Posted by Alphonse

Glad you found your solution. I have a friend who also went this route and it is a good one if you don't mind LEDs with a blue tint.

I've found that from LED4RVs one can order either the "white" LED (which seems to have a blue tint) or the "warm" LED (which seems to have more of a yellow tint).

Decided to use the warm LEDs inside and the white ones for exterior lighting.

Either way, they sure use a helluva lot less power than the original bulbs.

[Alphonse]

Originally Posted by MaxAB

I've found that from LED4RVs one can order either the "white" LED (which seems to have a blue tint) or the "warm" LED (which seems to have more of a yellow tint).

Decided to use the warm LEDs inside and the white ones for exterior lighting.

Either way, they sure use a helluva lot less power than the original bulbs.

Good news, I thought the patio light only came in the bright white (blue tint).

[mefly2]

Or a direct replacement LED "bulb" ...

[Alphonse]

Yeap
That's what I did
You can see it in the photos above. 300+ lumens of warm light. Warm meaning color - it doesn't get hot.

[MaxAB]

I also used the LEDS4RVs tail-light kit - much brighter and safer...

Alphonse brings up a great point - the interior LEDs don't give off heat like the originals bulbs do.