Light up your clear plastic grab bar

[jwasnewski]

My clear plastic entry grab bar was not lighted from the factory. I
purchased a 12v high output LED from a local auto parts house. I
drilled a 9/16 hole on the end of the plastic and inserted the LED. On
the bench it glows a beautiful blue in the dark. I plan to install it
this weekend. I plan to pull power from the co-pilot seat through a
rocker switch I will install in the wall next to the co- pilot. I hope
all goes well this weekend. Cost-about $15.00 plus a couple of hours
work.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40
Niceville, FL

[g_man1146]

Leroy,

Have you pulled the grab handle out yet? I illuminated the one on
my '90 and the handle had a place where a standard 12VDC bulb would
fit. There was a "knockout" under the handle, on the side of the
coach that was made to hold a socket. Not necessary now to make a
hole big enough for the flush mount socket as your idea of an LED
would be better and would probably mount right into the grab handle
base without any drilling of the handle. I remember that it took
some doing to snake the wire down but I was able to connect it to
the step light switch overhead so the handle came on with the setp
lights.
Rich D. '99LXi43' CT


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jwasnewski"
wrote:
>
> My clear plastic entry grab bar was not lighted from the factory.
I
> purchased a 12v high output LED from a local auto parts house. I
> drilled a 9/16 hole on the end of the plastic and inserted the
LED. On
> the bench it glows a beautiful blue in the dark. I plan to
install it
> this weekend. I plan to pull power from the co-pilot seat through
a
> rocker switch I will install in the wall next to the co- pilot. I
hope
> all goes well this weekend. Cost-about $15.00 plus a couple of
hours
> work.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40
> Niceville, FL
>

[Leroy Eckert]

Rich,
When I took my handle off the coach I was suprised that it was not lighted. No
knock out or socket location. I tested my new light idea- works fine. I'm
going up this PM to put the handle back on the bus. Probably will not get it
wired today.
Since you owned a '90, I have a wierd step light problem. I have talked to Curt
about it and I cannot determine how the light system is supposed to work. My
step light switch is in the footwell. Depending on the position of the three
position footwell switch the footwell light is illuminated or the step light is
illuminated. I cannot get them both to turn on or off at the same time. One of
them is always illuminated.
Do you remember how your '90 worked. Switch positions and what happened when
the door is opened and closed?
I have a Royal conversion and have found many differences in wiring than other
Birds.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40
Niceville, FL



----- Original Message -----
From: g_man1146
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 8:49 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Light up your clear plastic grab bar


Leroy,

Have you pulled the grab handle out yet? I illuminated the one on
my '90 and the handle had a place where a standard 12VDC bulb would
fit. There was a "knockout" under the handle, on the side of the
coach that was made to hold a socket. Not necessary now to make a
hole big enough for the flush mount socket as your idea of an LED
would be better and would probably mount right into the grab handle
base without any drilling of the handle. I remember that it took
some doing to snake the wire down but I was able to connect it to
the step light switch overhead so the handle came on with the setp
lights.
Rich D. '99LXi43' CT

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jwasnewski"
wrote:
>
> My clear plastic entry grab bar was not lighted from the factory.
I
> purchased a 12v high output LED from a local auto parts house. I
> drilled a 9/16 hole on the end of the plastic and inserted the
LED. On
> the bench it glows a beautiful blue in the dark. I plan to
install it
> this weekend. I plan to pull power from the co-pilot seat through
a
> rocker switch I will install in the wall next to the co- pilot. I
hope
> all goes well this weekend. Cost-about $15.00 plus a couple of
hours
> work.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40
> Niceville, FL
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[g_man1146]

Leroy,
My '90 had a 3 position switch too and worked as follows; Position 1
= ON all the time. Position 2 Off all the time. Position 3 On only
when the step is extended. I believe that this was accomplished by
having the center terminal of the SPST switch connected to a hot
wire, one side connected to the steplights (all), and the other side
of the switch connected, through the step extended sensor, to the
steplights (all).
"All" meaning the inside and outside step lights.

Try the switch positions when you are aired up and with the "step
extended" switch in either position.

I like your LED idea, every bulb that can be replaced by an LED
means one more that you will probably never have to replace and they
can be left on with little draw on the batteries. How about posting
a link to the finished project photos? I, as well as others would
like to see it.

Rich D. '99LXi43' CT



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
wrote:
>
> Rich,
> When I took my handle off the coach I was suprised that it was not
lighted. No knock out or socket location. I tested my new light
idea- works fine. I'm going up this PM to put the handle back on
the bus. Probably will not get it wired today.
> Since you owned a '90, I have a wierd step light problem. I have
talked to Curt about it and I cannot determine how the light system
is supposed to work. My step light switch is in the footwell.
Depending on the position of the three position footwell switch the
footwell light is illuminated or the step light is illuminated. I
cannot get them both to turn on or off at the same time. One of them
is always illuminated.
> Do you remember how your '90 worked. Switch positions and what
happened when the door is opened and closed?
> I have a Royal conversion and have found many differences in
wiring than other Birds.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40
> Niceville, FL
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: g_man1146
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 8:49 AM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Light up your clear plastic grab
bar
>
>
> Leroy,
>
> Have you pulled the grab handle out yet? I illuminated the one
on
> my '90 and the handle had a place where a standard 12VDC bulb
would
> fit. There was a "knockout" under the handle, on the side of the
> coach that was made to hold a socket. Not necessary now to make
a
> hole big enough for the flush mount socket as your idea of an
LED
> would be better and would probably mount right into the grab
handle
> base without any drilling of the handle. I remember that it took
> some doing to snake the wire down but I was able to connect it
to
> the step light switch overhead so the handle came on with the
setp
> lights.
> Rich D. '99LXi43' CT
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jwasnewski"
> wrote:
> >
> > My clear plastic entry grab bar was not lighted from the
factory.
> I
> > purchased a 12v high output LED from a local auto parts house.
I
> > drilled a 9/16 hole on the end of the plastic and inserted the
> LED. On
> > the bench it glows a beautiful blue in the dark. I plan to
> install it
> > this weekend. I plan to pull power from the co-pilot seat
through
> a
> > rocker switch I will install in the wall next to the co-
pilot. I
> hope
> > all goes well this weekend. Cost-about $15.00 plus a couple of
> hours
> > work.
> >
> > Leroy Eckert
> > 1990 WB-40
> > Niceville, FL
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[Leroy Eckert]

Rich,
I appreciate your help here. I think the key may be the step extended sensor.
I'll need to locate it when I do the testing. Part of my problem is the
schematics show items I do not have. Your description will help me trace back.
I probably will not get to it until January because of trips we intend to take.
I installed and wired the handle LED today. Seems to be working fine. I did
not get to see it at dark. I will draw out the wiring I used and take an
evening pic and post it on the forum. As LED progresses, I expect to replace
12v bulbs with LED. I have already retrofitted the tail lights on the coach
with LED.
I really like my Bird but someday would like to own an LXI. Don't really know
why because they all have a bed, bath and beyond. Question? Other than the
year manufactured and a Series 60 Detroit, do you find the LXI to be of greater
value, not in terms of total dollars, but in terms of living, storage,
traveling and creature benefits.

If you do not want to answer the question on Forum you may do so at
http://www.jwasnewski@...

Thanks again,

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40
Niceville, FL




----- Original Message -----
From: g_man1146
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 1:20 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Light up your clear plastic grab bar


Leroy,
My '90 had a 3 position switch too and worked as follows; Position 1
= ON all the time. Position 2 Off all the time. Position 3 On only
when the step is extended. I believe that this was accomplished by
having the center terminal of the SPST switch connected to a hot
wire, one side connected to the steplights (all), and the other side
of the switch connected, through the step extended sensor, to the
steplights (all).
"All" meaning the inside and outside step lights.

Try the switch positions when you are aired up and with the "step
extended" switch in either position.

I like your LED idea, every bulb that can be replaced by an LED
means one more that you will probably never have to replace and they
can be left on with little draw on the batteries. How about posting
a link to the finished project photos? I, as well as others would
like to see it.

Rich D. '99LXi43' CT

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
wrote:
>
> Rich,
> When I took my handle off the coach I was suprised that it was not
lighted. No knock out or socket location. I tested my new light
idea- works fine. I'm going up this PM to put the handle back on
the bus. Probably will not get it wired today.
> Since you owned a '90, I have a wierd step light problem. I have
talked to Curt about it and I cannot determine how the light system
is supposed to work. My step light switch is in the footwell.
Depending on the position of the three position footwell switch the
footwell light is illuminated or the step light is illuminated. I
cannot get them both to turn on or off at the same time. One of them
is always illuminated.
> Do you remember how your '90 worked. Switch positions and what
happened when the door is opened and closed?
> I have a Royal conversion and have found many differences in
wiring than other Birds.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40
> Niceville, FL
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: g_man1146
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 8:49 AM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Light up your clear plastic grab
bar
>
>
> Leroy,
>
> Have you pulled the grab handle out yet? I illuminated the one
on
> my '90 and the handle had a place where a standard 12VDC bulb
would
> fit. There was a "knockout" under the handle, on the side of the
> coach that was made to hold a socket. Not necessary now to make
a
> hole big enough for the flush mount socket as your idea of an
LED
> would be better and would probably mount right into the grab
handle
> base without any drilling of the handle. I remember that it took
> some doing to snake the wire down but I was able to connect it
to
> the step light switch overhead so the handle came on with the
setp
> lights.
> Rich D. '99LXi43' CT
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jwasnewski"
> wrote:
> >
> > My clear plastic entry grab bar was not lighted from the
factory.
> I
> > purchased a 12v high output LED from a local auto parts house.
I
> > drilled a 9/16 hole on the end of the plastic and inserted the
> LED. On
> > the bench it glows a beautiful blue in the dark. I plan to
> install it
> > this weekend. I plan to pull power from the co-pilot seat
through
> a
> > rocker switch I will install in the wall next to the co-
pilot. I
> hope
> > all goes well this weekend. Cost-about $15.00 plus a couple of
> hours
> > work.
> >
> > Leroy Eckert
> > 1990 WB-40
> > Niceville, FL
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]