Fluorescent Lighting

[sdennislee]

I have fluorescent lighting throughout the MH, sometimes it comes on nice and bright and other times they are considerably dimmer, Any thoughts?

[Paul R. Haller]

You need to do some trouble shooting. Take a digital VOM and measure voltage when dim and bight at the fixture. I know some lights are temperature sensitive. Below about 55 F some will not light.
-Paul R Haller-

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul R. Haller You need to do some trouble shooting. Take a digital VOM and measure voltage when dim and bight at the fixture. I know some lights are temperature sensitive. Below about 55 F some will not light. -Paul R Haller-

Will try your suggestion. Very frustrating never knowing which lights will light fully and which are going to be dimmer.

[paz]

Our fluorescent lights are a little dim when you first turn them on. After 5 minutes or so, they brighten up.

As Paul says, some fluorescents don't work well at low temperatures. If the weather is warm, the voltage is good, and the lights still don't brighten up after a few minutes, you may need to replace the tubes - especially if you use them a lot. Fluorescent lights usually take a long time to burn out, but they will loose efficiency and put out less light over time.

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz Our fluorescent lights are a little dim when you first turn them on. After 5 minutes or so, they brighten up. As Paul says, some fluorescents don't work well at low temperatures. If the weather is warm, and the lights don't brighten up after a few minutes, you may need to replace the tubes - especially if you use them a lot. Fluorescent lights usually take a long time to burn out, but they will loose efficiency and put out less light over time.

If they come on dim they stay dim. Temp hasn't been an issue yet her in AK, soon though.

Thanks for the advice.

[JJH3rd]

Also check the house batteries' voiltage & the inverter/charger's voltage as well.

JJ

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJH3rd Also check the house batteries' voiltage & the inverter/charger's voltage as well. JJ

Done that, even replaced all 4 house batteries.

[wa8yxm]

Sometimes your converter is charging your batteries or holding them in a full state of charge and the lights are nice and bright.

Sometimes the batteries are running the show, have been for a while, and need a recharge and the lights are ... Dimmer.

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm Sometimes your converter is charging your batteries or holding them in a full state of charge and the lights are nice and bright. Sometimes the batteries are running the show, have been for a while, and need a recharge and the lights are ... Dimmer.

Thats possible, I think it happens on shore power as well but not positive. Or are you saying power could be diverted from shore power to charging and therefore starving the lights?

I will check the state of charge the next time it happens.

Thanks for the idea.

[Gary RVRoamer]

If all else fails, replace the fluorescent tubes with LEd equivalents. They are not temperature sensitive and good quality LEds have circuitry that assures the same light output (lumens) regardless of voltage. I have replaced all of mine with Led tubes from RVLEDBulbs.com - RV LED Bulbs, RV LED Lights and Light Accessories. They carry the excellent Revolution brand led tubes and also the slightly less expensive Ming brand. I have the Revolutions.

[Mr_D]

I tried replacing one of the chandler bulbs with a LED bulb. My wife noticed it immediately and made me put the old incandescent bulb back. She HATES the whiter light they give, even the CFL's in the house she grouses about. But we used to have 200watt bulbs (3 of them) in the kitchen, now we have 3 23 watt CFL bulbs and it's still good lighting. Saves a bunch of elec.
Not sure if I can get away with LED's in the MH until they get them in the right Kelvin range to satisfy her.

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer If all else fails, replace the fluorescent tubes with LEd equivalents. They are not temperature sensitive and good quality LEds have circuitry that assures the same light output (lumens) regardless of voltage. I have replaced all of mine with Led tubes from RVLEDBulbs.com - RV LED Bulbs, RV LED Lights and Light Accessories. They carry the excellent Revolution brand led tubes and also the slightly less expensive Ming brand. I have the Revolutions.

Great link, I did not know I could get LED replacements for my fluorescent tubes. Thanks

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D I tried replacing one of the chandler bulbs with a LED bulb. My wife noticed it immediately and made me put the old incandescent bulb back. She HATES the whiter light they give, even the CFL's in the house she grouses about. But we used to have 200watt bulbs (3 of them) in the kitchen, now we have 3 23 watt CFL bulbs and it's still good lighting. Saves a bunch of elec. Not sure if I can get away with LED's in the MH until they get them in the right Kelvin range to satisfy her.

Wife hasn't seen this coach yet. Picked it up in NV back in June and drove straight back to AK, where I work. She will see it for the first time in October when I drive to OH where I live. Just have to replace before then. GOing out now to count the tubes and get my order in.

[JimM68]

In normal operation, the voltage out of a good 3 stage charger can vary from as high as 14.6 volts, down to 13.2.
This is enough to produce a noticeable brightness change in the lights in my coach.
If you are just running on battery, voltage 12.6 or lower, they will be even dimmer.
all normal.