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Old 03-12-2020, 11:51 AM   #1
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Ceiling light fixtures

Calling ALL tinkerers and modifiers......


I'd greatly appreciate some help here.

My ceiling has three of these running down the center-line in the main living area, two under the slide, one over the sink and another under the cabinets over the recliners. When they're all on I get calls from the Spacestation complaining about the light pollution.

I called Trekwood to confirm these are not dimmable, which they did.



I wanted to replace the three center-line ones with something dimmable. The circuit they're on is controlled from the entry door switch.

Sadly, the units I wanted, slimline recessed ones that fit into the ceiling void, leave exposed the holes these pig ugly originals are secured with.

Does anyone have a solution, or some advice, I'm sure someone out there has replaced these successfully.

Thanks in anticipation.
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Old 03-12-2020, 02:17 PM   #2
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I didn't look for you, but these folks have a pretty extensive lighting lineup. It might be worth investigating.
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Old 03-12-2020, 04:13 PM   #3
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Thanks Lloyd.
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Old 03-12-2020, 04:27 PM   #4
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This is what I had in mind to replace them with.


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Old 03-12-2020, 04:33 PM   #5
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Can you use some kind of ceiling light medallions to cover the holes?
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Old 03-12-2020, 06:16 PM   #6
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That's a great idea Mark, thanks for that.

I may just pull one of the originals and see what I can do about concealing the holes with a light spackle or something similar.

If I run a light countersink to de-burr the face side of the hole where the fixing screws will have inevitably pulled up the finished surface it might work. The tragedy is the holes are about 7" or 8" apart, and the recessed units I like are only 5.75" diameter.

I also have to check there's not a roof truss right above where they go otherwise the whole exercise is moot if I can't recess them.

Either way it's something to do over the weekend now the Formula 1 Grand Prix has been postponed....Boooo.
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Old 03-13-2020, 05:58 AM   #7
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We just replaced the bulbs with a low watt led bulb however their not dimmable.
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Old 03-13-2020, 06:54 PM   #8
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I'm with mark on this one. There are many different decorative plates to be found for just such an occasion.
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Old 03-13-2020, 08:18 PM   #9
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Thee are 2 bulbs in each , take one out of each as needed.
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Old 03-14-2020, 03:14 AM   #10
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Quote:
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Thee are 2 bulbs in each , take one out of each as needed.
That was my first inclination, until I re-read his post, and spotted where he called the existing lights "Pig Ugly". I believe his issue with them is two-fold. But hey, My high school prom date looked better in low lighting, so you never know, taking out half the bulbs might be enough to satisfy him. It worked for me all those years ago (at least for one night) Lol
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Old 03-14-2020, 02:47 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rrizz View Post
That was my first inclination, until I re-read his post, and spotted where he called the existing lights "Pig Ugly". I believe his issue with them is two-fold. But hey, My high school prom date looked better in low lighting, so you never know, taking out half the bulbs might be enough to satisfy him. It worked for me all those years ago (at least for one night) Lol
Bet that's what your date thought about her escort also!
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Old 03-15-2020, 05:18 AM   #12
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You guys are all too funny, thanks for always brightening my day.

However, the units in my rig have a circuit board with multiples of those little square LED's soldered into it under each of the two translucent lenses.

Removing a bulb is therefore not an option.

I think some delicate filling, sanding and touch up, or a medallion are the only ways to go.

You must admit though, they're not the prettiest of fittings, just the cheapest.



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Old 03-21-2020, 10:47 AM   #13
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Biggles...I actually went the other way...I had the smaller lights you have a picture of in post #4, but they were surface mounted not recessed, and I installed the larger Pig Ugly pancake lights... I had two that burnt out, one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom, and replaced the with the larger pancake lights which made both areas brighter, which was my intention...I bought the pancake light that had the Black Switch which gave me the ability to turn off one side of the light if I wanted...Good luck on your search for the dec plate...
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Old 03-25-2020, 11:31 AM   #14
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OK, so after much deliberation, I decided I really wanted the smoother look that the recessed LED lights offer.

A quick search on AmazonSmile, a couple of clicks here and there, then as if by magic, two days and $43.00 later a pack of five of the things I posted above arrived on my doorstep.

They're very nicely made, slimmer than a vegan thin crust pizza, and when energized, they give off an even light across the whole lens, with no apparent hot spots. (I tested them using a 9v smoke alarm battery)

I'm initially replacing the three center-line OEM non-dimmable LED POS clusters that were fitted to my ceiling. There's a photo of one of them above too.

Job one was to identify and remove the fuse that protects the ceiling lights in the distribution panel. I turned all the lights on, then sequentially removed and replaced the 12volt fuses until the ceiling lights went out, cool, that was easy.

Two are located very close to roof trusses, the third just hangs in the 1/8" luan ceiling material. This is one time when I wish they hadn't bothered to try and find a truss as cutting a 5 1/2" hole in the ceiling, intentionally missing the trusses, but covering as much of the original fixing holes proved to be a test of nerves.



Once I plunged the first hole there was no turning back, my wife couldn't watch, she took the dog for a walk. Is it possible she's over exercising our dog I wonder..?

Once the holes were cut the electrical installation is as simple as matching up the black and white wires to those left dangling where the old units were. In mine the positive is white with a yellow stripe, while the ground
is solid white.

I used automotive double ended crimp connectors throughout as I always have some on hand for small electrical jobs. Then wrapped the connector with some electrical tape just to make sure.

Once connected, I re-installed the fuse and tested the operation. Excellent, they all came on, Whoa, they're bright....or was it because I'd been working in the subdued light inside my coach?

The units secure into the ceiling holes with rather agressively sprung tabs. They're the type you fold up, insert through the hole then try and get your finger out before they clamp the flange tight against the ceiling and pinch the tip of your finger. The good thing is they look incredibly flush almost watertight I'd say.

To control the new lights I purchased an inline RF LED remote dimmer, capable of handling a maximum of 10amps. (Each of the lights is rated at 9w, so the current draw is 0.75amps per light unit, well within the dimmers capability) The RF receiver is about 3" long, 1 inch wide and 3/4" deep. It's perfect to stuff in the wall cavity at the location of the existing factory on/off switch which will be left in situ but disconnected.

The receiver has four terminals, two on each end. 12v + and - in at one end, and 12v + and - out to LED lights at the other. Couldn't be simpler.

The handset is futuristic looking, sleek, smooth and nicely proportioned to slip perfectly down between the back and seat cushion of the recliners if you're not careful (don't ask me how I know this) It came with a little self adhesive magnetic plate so you can pick an appropriate location to park it for future reference. Either that of bring someone with you who has thin wrists to rummage around in the various crevices in your rig.

The end results are; I now have a sleek looking ceiling, devoid of pig ugly yellowing cheap plastic POS bulbous light fittings, plus remote ambient lighting that can be dimmed, flicker free from off to solar flare in a matter of seconds, and no longer from just the rear entry door switch but from anywhere in the coach.



If only I could find the bloody remote.
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Old 03-25-2020, 02:08 PM   #15
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Looking good.
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Old 03-25-2020, 05:56 PM   #16
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Thanks Rrizz,


It actually looks even more impressive in reality, for some reason my ceiling looks yukky in this cellphone photo, but honestly it's pristine.
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Old 03-25-2020, 07:43 PM   #17
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Biggles607, could you insert a link to the light fixture you used for this.. Thanks.
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Old 03-25-2020, 08:10 PM   #18
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Good work there. Thanks for posting the pictures. It really looks good.
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Old 03-26-2020, 08:38 AM   #19
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Thanks for your kind words guys.

Aceallenk,

Here's the link to the recessed light units,

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

and this is the remote.

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


Stay safe and well everyone.
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Old 04-02-2020, 10:46 AM   #20
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Nice looking job, glad your happy with your new lighting system...
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