Flourescent light issue

[zboy59]

I have an issue with the front interior flourescent lighting on an '86 PT40.

There are three switches over the entry door that control the flourescent lights
in the forward area of my bus.(Over the sofa, and side mini-desk salon area).

These lights will not work for long periods of time at all, then suddenly work
fine for a long period, then back again to inoperative.

I'm trying to determine if they all run off a SINGLE ballast. If so, that is
probably my problem, if they're all independantly ballasted ... then I have an
intermittent short of some sort to run down.

The exterior light that runs off the same power loop works fine all the time,
but those are incandescent so ....

I've discovered many time that a simple ground issue kills lights.

Anyone dealt with the ballasts in this part of the bus ? One ? Three ?

Where is it ... and what contemporary model number is it if it's just one ?

I'd like to fix it the first time I have to tear that open ...

[Ernie Ekberg]

I have the same problem and took the switches out to expose the wiring. Found out that a butt connector was loose. Sometimes I would pound my fist by the switches and that would jar the butt connector. Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx 817-475-3991 www.ernieekbergflooring.net --- On Wed, 3/17/10, zboy59 wrote: From: zboy59 Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Flourescent light issue To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 3:21 AM I have an issue with the front interior flourescent lighting on an '86 PT40. There are three switches over the entry door that control the flourescent lights in the forward area of my bus.(Over the sofa, and side mini-desk salon area). These lights will not work for long periods of time at all, then suddenly work fine for a long period, then back again to inoperative. I'm trying to determine if they all run off a SINGLE ballast. If so, that is probably my problem, if they're all independantly ballasted ... then I have an intermittent short of some sort to run down. The exterior light that runs off the same power loop works fine all the time, but those are incandescent so .... I've discovered many time that a simple ground issue kills lights. Anyone dealt with the ballasts in this part of the bus ? One ? Three ? Where is it ... and what contemporary model number is it if it's just one ? I'd like to fix it the first time I have to tear that open ...

[jburgessx2@...]

I had a similar problem in my 85 PT40. It turned out to be a canon connector. The connector is a large (1 1/2 - 2") and can be found by removing the back panels in the overhead cabinets. I found my problem by emptying the passenger side cabinets and removing the panels aft of the mini-desk area. The contacts within the connector become slightly corroded and/or loose. Undo the connector and check the contacts and clean. You may also have to bend a contact or two to make the connection.

Hope this helps.

Jerry
85 PT40

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

---

From: "zboy59"

Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:21:32 -0000

To:

Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Flourescent light issue

I have an issue with the front interior flourescent lighting on an '86 PT40.



There are three switches over the entry door that control the flourescent lights in the forward area of my bus.(Over the sofa, and side mini-desk salon area).



These lights will not work for long periods of time at all, then suddenly work fine for a long period, then back again to inoperative.



I'm trying to determine if they all run off a SINGLE ballast. If so, that is probably my problem, if they're all independantly ballasted ... then I have an intermittent short of some sort to run down.



The exterior light that runs off the same power loop works fine all the time, but those are incandescent so ....



I've discovered many time that a simple ground issue kills lights.



Anyone dealt with the ballasts in this part of the bus ? One ? Three ?



Where is it ... and what contemporary model number is it if it's just one ?



I'd like to fix it the first time I have to tear that open ...

[cape0001]

one ballast for each light

Stephen 97 BMC 35
77 fc for sale

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "zboy59" wrote:
>
> I have an issue with the front interior flourescent lighting on an '86 PT40.
>
> There are three switches over the entry door that control the flourescent
lights in the forward area of my bus.(Over the sofa, and side mini-desk salon
area).
>
> These lights will not work for long periods of time at all, then suddenly work
fine for a long period, then back again to inoperative.
>
> I'm trying to determine if they all run off a SINGLE ballast. If so, that is
probably my problem, if they're all independantly ballasted ... then I have an
intermittent short of some sort to run down.
>
> The exterior light that runs off the same power loop works fine all the time,
but those are incandescent so ....
>
> I've discovered many time that a simple ground issue kills lights.
>
> Anyone dealt with the ballasts in this part of the bus ? One ? Three ?
>
> Where is it ... and what contemporary model number is it if it's just one ?
>
> I'd like to fix it the first time I have to tear that open ...
>

[zboy59]

Thanks guys !

Now that I know it's not the ballast ... I can trace wiring. I've had the switch
bank apart and found nothing there. Must be wiring elsewhere.

Marty
86 PT40
Kalamazoo

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "cape0001" wrote:
>
> one ballast for each light
>
> Stephen 97 BMC 35
> 77 fc for sale
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "zboy59" wrote:
> >
> > I have an issue with the front interior flourescent lighting on an '86 PT40.
> >
> > There are three switches over the entry door that control the flourescent
lights in the forward area of my bus.(Over the sofa, and side mini-desk salon
area).
> >
> > These lights will not work for long periods of time at all, then suddenly
work fine for a long period, then back again to inoperative.
> >
> > I'm trying to determine if they all run off a SINGLE ballast. If so, that is
probably my problem, if they're all independantly ballasted ... then I have an
intermittent short of some sort to run down.
> >
> > The exterior light that runs off the same power loop works fine all the
time, but those are incandescent so ....
> >
> > I've discovered many time that a simple ground issue kills lights.
> >
> > Anyone dealt with the ballasts in this part of the bus ? One ? Three ?
> >
> > Where is it ... and what contemporary model number is it if it's just one ?
> >
> > I'd like to fix it the first time I have to tear that open ...
> >
>

[GARY MINKER]

Look for an intermittent molex plug Gary 85pt40 --- On Sat, 3/20/10, zboy59 wrote: From: zboy59 Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Flourescent light issue To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, March 20, 2010, 3:11 AM Thanks guys ! Now that I know it's not the ballast ... I can trace wiring. I've had the switch bank apart and found nothing there. Must be wiring elsewhere. Marty 86 PT40 Kalamazoo --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "cape0001" wrote: > > one ballast for each light > > Stephen 97 BMC 35 > 77 fc for sale > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "zboy59" wrote: > > > > I have an issue with the front interior flourescent lighting on an '86 PT40. > > > > There are three switches over the entry door that control the flourescent lights in the forward area of my bus.(Over the sofa, and side mini-desk salon area). > > > > These lights will not work for long periods of time at all, then suddenly work fine for a long period, then back again to inoperative. > > > > I'm trying to determine if they all run off a SINGLE ballast. If so, that is probably my problem, if they're all independantly ballasted ... then I have an intermittent short of some sort to run down. > > > > The exterior light that runs off the same power loop works fine all the time, but those are incandescent so .... > > > > I've discovered many time that a simple ground issue kills lights. > > > > Anyone dealt with the ballasts in this part of the bus ? One ? Three ? > > > > Where is it ... and what contemporary model number is it if it's just one ? > > > > I'd like to fix it the first time I have to tear that open ... > > >