Community Forums

markcl · 04-03-2016, 07:12 AM

After living and moving around Texas this winter I know my bathroom $2 led nite light quite working if plugged in when I unplug shore power and it goes to inverter, Do I have a problem I need to work on ? More than unplug it before we move? Where would I start to look?

BFlinn181 · 04-03-2016, 08:36 AM

What type of inverter do you have? Shore power is pure sine wave alternating current. Many inverters create modified sine wave power which doesn't always play nice with some appliances. Perhaps that is the problem. Feel the night light and see if it feels hot on inverter power. This is an issue with some electric blankets and small chargers for tablets, computers and phones. It would be a good idea to know what kind of power your inverter puts out and what equipment can be harmed by it.

becks · 04-03-2016, 08:43 AM

Or are you simply not plugged into an inverter circuit?

BFlinn181 · 04-03-2016, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by becks

Or are you simply not plugged into an inverter circuit?

I was assuming it was an inverter powered outlet, but you are absolutely correct, it could be that simple!

smlranger · 04-03-2016, 08:58 AM

On our previous coach, the inverter was modified sine wave and when we tried to use LED night lights, they would only work for a short time then they would actually get very hot and the base around the LED would start to melt. At first I thought we just got a card of four cheapo LED night lights.

Later when I switched to a pure sine wave inverter, we tried them again and they worked fine. Our current rig has a PSW inverter and we use LED night lights with no issue.

Guess they don't like MSW power.

markcl · 04-03-2016, 11:50 AM

thanks, I think the inverter is the cause,I will just unplug before unplugging shore power , but this makes me aware to watch other led lights for overheating if on inverter

Gary RVRoamer · 04-03-2016, 05:11 PM

In my experience led nightlights don't fare well on modified sine power. Neither do many inexpensive digital timers. I tried to remember to unplug them before leaving shore power but would forget sooner or later and cook another one. Decided to buy old-fashioned incandescent nite lights instead.

brobox · 04-03-2016, 05:25 PM

My S&B photo cell porch light will not work with LED bulbs. LED's lights do not play well with older electric circuits, even in fixed locations.

gemini5362 · 04-03-2016, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

My S&B photo cell porch light will not work with LED bulbs. LED's lights do not play well with older electric circuits, even in fixed locations.

Check out the porch lites here RV Led Lites - rvledlites
if you have the style of porch lites this will replace you will not find anything better. I installed one and have had two people in the campground where I am staying ask me if I could install one for them.

BFlinn181 · 04-03-2016, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemini5362

Check out the porch lites here RV Led Lites - rvledlites
if you have the style of porch lites this will replace you will not find anything better. I installed one and have had two people in the campground where I am staying ask me if I could install one for them.

Brobox was talking about an automatic light on a photo cell controller at his 'Sticks and Bricks' home with 120 v AC power, not a 12 v RV porch light.

gemini5362 · 04-04-2016, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

Brobox was talking about an automatic light on a photo cell controller at his 'Sticks and Bricks' home with 120 v AC power, not a 12 v RV porch light.

Well duh I should have realized that. Thank you.

However my stick and brick home was rewired in 1988 so not sure how old he is talking about. Not only do i have a lot of LED Lights now replacing the incandescent or flourescent bulbs. I have several lights that work on wifi through a wink controller so I can vary what lights are on and off when I am gone. I have not had any problem with any of them.

I also am not sure what effect the MSW inverter has on LED bulbs. I have a bathroom LED that I leave on when I am travelling it runs off of the same MSW inverter that powers my refrigerator on the road. I have had that light for two years now and it is still growing strong.

gemini5362 · 04-04-2016, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

My S&B photo cell porch light will not work with LED bulbs. LED's lights do not play well with older electric circuits, even in fixed locations.

Brobox maybe you could get a 12 volt power supply and get one of the automatic on LED lights I was talking about in my earlier post. Put it in your stick and brick house. They really do work well.

Mr_D · 04-04-2016, 11:30 PM

I put a 120 V ceiling fan in our 2002 Dutch Star, worked great (for a while) on the MSW inverter. Then it burned out the controller after a few years. I replaced it and it was still working fine when we traded the rig off. But I'm sure it will burn out again.