Community Forums

rockintom · 10-18-2012, 10:45 AM

Just wanted to post a note about these Halogen bulbs. I have one in a ceiling light that burned out. I've replaced many of these in the last 2 rigs, so feel good that I know how to do. I use a kleenex to wrap the bulb when installing. I also know to be patient and be gentle with them. Anyhow, I had an "experience" with one today. When installing the new bulb I broke off a pin terminal in the socket. It was already completely installed when the pin broke.

I hadn't had any struggle or problem with the installation. I'm thinking that it was just a bad terminal in the bulb. Admitted, I got the bulbs as "cheapy China" bulbs off Ebay. They don't even have any bulb life posted on the box.....but they are real cheap and up to this point haven't had any issues other than some have a shorter life!

I disassemble the light and tried to dig out the broken off pin without any luck (this light and socket aren't really designed to be repaired-parts riveted together). Maybe if I had a jeweler's tiny needle nose pliers I may have been able to retrieve the pin out of the socket. Anyway, I took a new bulb and bent the pins out just a little bit to slide next to the side of the old pin and was able to get it in. Got lucky and the light works OK. Just thought I'd post this just in case you run into a smiliar issue. Careful....careful. I think I'll tug on the pins before installation.......if it can happen....it'll happen to me! rockin'

Docschro98 · 10-18-2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom

Just wanted to post a note about these Halogen bulbs. I have one in a ceiling light that burned out. I've replaced many of these in the last 2 rigs, so feel good that I know how to do. I use a kleenex to wrap the bulb when installing. I also know to be patient and be gentle with them. Anyhow, I had an "experience" with one today. When installing the new bulb I broke off a pin terminal in the socket. It was already completely installed when the pin broke.

I hadn't had any struggle or problem with the installation. I'm thinking that it was just a bad terminal in the bulb. Admitted, I got the bulbs as "cheapy China" bulbs off Ebay. They don't even have any bulb life posted on the box.....but they are real cheap and up to this point haven't had any issues other than some have a shorter life!

I disassemble the light and tried to dig out the broken off pin without any luck (this light and socket aren't really designed to be repaired-parts riveted together). Maybe if I had a jeweler's tiny needle nose pliers I may have been able to retrieve the pin out of the socket. Anyway, I took a new bulb and bent the pins out just a little bit to slide next to the side of the old pin and was able to get it in. Got lucky and the light works OK. Just thought I'd post this just in case you run into a smiliar issue. Careful....careful. I think I'll tug on the pins before installation.......if it can happen....it'll happen to me! rockin'

Having dealt with these little buggers in the past I knew there had to be a better way to install them. After pondering awhile I came up with the perfect tool to hold the bulbs in a proper position to insert them into those impossibly small ( to see and align the pins to ). It was an old fashioned, wooden clothes pin. Place the bulb in the end groove with the pins oriented to match the fixture holes, raise the bulb into the fixture, and with the tip of one finger press the bulb home. Wah la!

rockintom · 10-18-2012, 11:58 AM

Doc.......you are so smart. Thanks for sharing. I'll give it try when my next bulb burns out which should be anytime,now!!!!! Together, we are can sure help one another! Thanks again! rockin'

rockintom · 10-18-2012, 03:17 PM

OK.....I went to try my new bulb installer (clothes pin) and found the nose of the tool was too long for the lights we have in our Excel and needed a bit of modifying. I just put the clothes pin in a vise and used a sabre saw with a fine blade and rounded the nose of the pin. It works now.

Just thinking that an old round tube type fuse puller would work good for this chore too. rockin' always up to something.....

PS....workhorse - no comment on my wood working skills...we FTers are working out here with a rock, hammer, chisel, and sometimes even a vise. Kinda like going back to the caveman days!!!

AFChap · 10-18-2012, 03:31 PM

I have replaced many of these little buggers with a Kleenix. My solution now is to go to Lowes and buy a G4 12v 1.0w "Array Premium LED" for $8.08 ea. It is a Landscape bulb, 62 Lumen, at $8.08 ea. On my puck lights, I have to removed the pot-metal "reflector" to easily install the new bulb, but an LED doesn't need the reflector anyway...

didymop · 10-18-2012, 11:08 PM

Gee, Rockin. Now you know what you can make for all of your RVing friends for Christmas. ....or dishrags.

rockintom · 10-19-2012, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by didymop

Gee, Rockin. Now you know what you can make for all of your RVing friends for Christmas. ....or dishrags.

Yeah right! The only problem is that many of my friends don't have halogen lights in their rig (because they are antiques) and it takes me a whole summer to knit one single little dishrag. Oh woe is me! Such talent!

Still Working "NOT" · 10-19-2012, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom

Yeah right! The only problem is that many of my friends don't have halogen lights in their rig (because they are antiques) and it takes me a whole summer to knit one single little dishrag. Oh woe is me! Such talent!

FRIENDS

ANTIQUES

Be cafeful what you say.

336muffin · 10-19-2012, 07:13 AM

I replaced all 24 of mine with LED's for $2.08 each delivered to my door over a year ago with no problems.

Workshop · 10-19-2012, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom

OK.....I went to try my new bulb installer (clothes pin) and found the nose of the tool was too long for the lights we have in our Excel and needed a bit of modifying. I just put the clothes pin in a vise and used a sabre saw with a fine blade and rounded the nose of the pin. It works now.

Just thinking that an old round tube type fuse puller would work good for this chore too. rockin' always up to something.....

PS....workhorse - no comment on my wood working skills...we FTers are working out here with a rock, hammer, chisel, and sometimes even a vise. Kinda like going back to the caveman days!!!

Rockin'... I think it was a mighty fine job you did there!

Know what your talking about with having limited tools while you travel. I'm just about finished arranging the 'basement and storage' and deciding what I want to travel with. I think I used to carry enough to rebuild the Beast if something happened on the road. Now I'm trying to give up carrying as much and just enough to 'make us road safe' if something happened on our short trips. Hard to leave things at home when I know I still have space to carry more.

In May I left Florida to help a friend pack for a move from Virginia to Florida. While I was there...his home inspection was done and he had several pages of discrepencies. Working with limited tools out of a Home Depot bag and a few choice buys...we worked off all but two of the items. I would never tell the DW I don't need that tools...but know one can get by if one has too.

workhorse

rockintom · 10-19-2012, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Workshop

Rockin'... I think it was a mighty fine job you did there!

Know what your talking about with having limited tools while you travel. I'm just about finished arranging the 'basement and storage' and deciding what I want to travel with. I think I used to carry enough to rebuild the Beast if something happened on the road. Now I'm trying to give up carrying as much and just enough to 'make us road safe' if something happened on our short trips. Hard to leave things at home when I know I still have space to carry more.

In May I left Florida to help a friend pack for a move from Virginia to Florida. While I was there...his home inspection was done and he had several pages of discrepencies. Working with limited tools out of a Home Depot bag and a few choice buys...we worked off all but two of the items. I would never tell the DW I don't need that tools...but know one can get by if one has too.

workhorse

Thanks for the kind words work.....it's alway good hearing from ya! Donna and I have had some serious discussions this last month about "accumulating stuff". In my eyes it appears we're gonna havta get a new rig and that means moving stuff and an automatic purification process. (Just kidding Bryan!) This winter we have commited to working on reducing our load a bit. My nose (tongue weight) is a bit heavy at 3960 lbs.

Hermandutchman · 10-19-2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom

Thanks for the kind words work.....it's alway good hearing from ya! Donna and I have had some serious discussions this last month about "accumulating stuff". In my eyes it appears we're gonna havta get a new rig and that means moving stuff and an automatic purification process. (Just kidding Bryan!) This winter we have commited to working on reducing our load a bit. My nose (tongue weight) is a bit heavy at 3960 lbs.

I was confused at first about that last sentence until I read it again.

rollondown · 10-19-2012, 03:32 PM

Rockin- you just need a bigger truck!
The tool issue is something I'm starting to work thru, I hope to narrow it down to several "Kits"- Electrical 12v and 120, plumbing, tires and brakes, truck maintaince, and a general purpose- picture hanging, loose screw etc.
I guess the table saw, welder, drill press won't fit in the basement, but the wild cargo might work...