LED Interior Light has Dimmed

[Last Train]

Without any preceding symptoms, the under cabinet LED fixture in our galley has suddenly dimmed. Seems to be maybe 2/3 of its original full intensity. I dropped the fixture down from under the cabinet and checked incoming voltage. (I also made sure that the factory made crimps into the wiring harness were secure.)

I'm showing 13.29V at the fixture's contacts when switched on. Interestingly, an identical LED fixture on the other side of our TT measures 13.51V, and it is functioning normally. Both of these readings are when connected to shore power.

So there is a discrepancy between the two incoming voltages with a difference of .21V. The first question is, is that difference the cause of the dimming in that LED?

The other question is why is there a drop in voltage from one side of the trailer to the other?

Thanks for your feedback.

[Ron045]

Originally Posted by Last Train

Without any preceding symptoms, the under cabinet LED fixture in our galley has suddenly dimmed. Seems to be maybe 2/3 of its original full intensity. I dropped the fixture down from under the cabinet and checked incoming voltage. (I also made sure that the factory made crimps into the wiring harness were secure.)

I'm showing 13.29V at the fixture's contacts when switched on. Interestingly, an identical LED fixture on the other side of our TT measures 13.51V, and it is functioning normally. Both of these readings are when connected to shore power.

So there is a discrepancy between the two incoming voltages with a difference of .21V. The first question is, is that difference the cause of the dimming in that LED?

The other question is why is there a drop in voltage from one side of the trailer to the other?

Thanks for your feedback.

I'll be interested in the replies. I have a similar issue and just assumed I needed to replace the dim bulb.

[clr]

A dim LED bulb is many times caused by a bad connection or loose connection. LED lights are 12 Volts in the normal RV but use very little power to light. That being said the slight difference in the voltage on one side of the coach to the other is also an indicator of a loose or bad connection. This may be only a couple of strands of the cable connected to the light at the connection point. I would start looking at the connection points such as the switch and then the first light in the string and so forth. I had the same problem in my unit and it was a bad connection crimp at the first light so I replaced the connector and all the lights were bright as they should be.

[Kirk S]

It could be a loose connection or it could be a bad LED.
We hear that they should last "20 years", which they might, but the diodes and supporting circuits are not all created equal. Some of these fixtures run as hot as their incandescent counterparts.
LED 's are light emitting diodes mounted on a small circuit board. Usually, the number of LED's determines brightness. It's not uncommon for cheap LED's to stop working, reducing the lamps brightness.
I had a "bulb" that contained 6 LED's that stopped working one by one until I replaced it with a new one.
No issues with the more expensive replacement.

The fixtures in my Forester don't have replaceable bulbs (unless I have a source for the little boards and am good at soldering). The entire fixture must be replaced.
When buying replacements it's preferable to match the light temperature of the existing fixture (warm white or cool white).

As for voltage differences, it is not unusual to have a .21 volt difference due to resistance between distances from the power source but if the lower voltage you're measuring is closer to the source I'd look for a bad connection.
Also a .21 volt difference shouldn't affect operation as long as the voltage is within the required operating range.
Just my 2 cents. Hope you find the problem.

[Decon Blue]

Lots of reports of defective LED lights in these units. Cheap factory installed LED lights and poor connections are usually the end result. I’ve replaced 4 of the factory lights in my 2016 Flyte. I am a Full Time RVer but good LED’s should last thousands of hours. 3 of my lights were bad, one was poor connection.

[Ron045]

Any ideas on how I replace the bulb in this light? It just spins. I can't seem to pull it straight out either.

[bcmcdonald]

Ron - we have the same fixtures in our flagstaff. Bulb went dim, at least one of the LED's was out. The bulb was a bayonet base bulb, so if it just spins, sounds like keep on twisting until it comes out and use needle nose to extract the remaining base. I did find replacements on amazon:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Good Luck!

[Ron045]

Originally Posted by bcmcdonald

Ron - we have the same fixtures in our flagstaff. Bulb went dim, at least one of the LED's was out. The bulb was a bayonet base bulb, so if it just spins, sounds like keep on twisting until it comes out and use needle nose to extract the remaining base. I did find replacements on amazon:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Good Luck!

Thanks. I'll give it a try. But a $22 replacement bulb? That's crazy.

These sort of look like direct replacements. Do you think these will work? 2 bulbs for $3.

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Camco...-p/18-1271.htm

Ron

[bcmcdonald]

Originally Posted by Ron045

Thanks. I'll give it a try. But a $22 replacement bulb? That's crazy.

These sort of look like direct replacements. Do you think these will work? 2 bulbs for $3.

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Camco...-p/18-1271.htm

Ron

Will probably work if the base is the same. I don't think these are LED bulbs, but whatever works!

[Ron045]

Last Train... I feel as though I hijacked your thread. I'm sorry if I have.

Look at this light. It's not a bulb. So to replace, I need to buy a new LED of this type and solder it in?

This is not convenient.
Thoughts?
Ron

[bcmcdonald]

Originally Posted by Ron045

Last Train... I feel as though I hijacked your thread. I'm sorry if I have.

Look at this light. It's not a bulb. So to replace, I need to buy a new LED of this type and solder it in?

This is not convenient.
Thoughts?
RonAttachment 187206

Am I seeing correctly that there is no socket? If that is the case, I would look for a new fixture that has a socket. Pics attached.

[Ron045]

You are seeing that correct. No socket. I took off the fixture. Here is the label. Trying to find a suitable sub now. No luck yet.

[bcmcdonald]

Originally Posted by Ron045

You are seeing that correct. No socket. I took off the fixture. Here is the label. Trying to find a suitable sub now. No luck yet.
Attachment 187210

There are a few on Amazon, but are pricey if you want a replaceable bulb. The ones that have LEDs built in are cheaper and claim 30000 hour life. Right.

[Ron045]

Found this on etrailer.com

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Lighting...4aAjZAEALw_wcB

[dieselguy]

Last Train ... without seeing what your light looks like, it's hard to give a good answer. The LED lights in my Silverback had opaque lenses that popped off exposing the circuit board with embedded LEDs underneath. Several of mine had a couple of the LED's burn out on the circuit board itself causing the light to gradually dim. You just replace the whole light ... 3 screws and two wires that are not polarity dependent. I doubt if .2 VDC will be of importance. Draw of other lights (if any) in the circuit, different switch, and wire length could cause the drop of .2 VDC.


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ses-89457.html