Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-10-2007, 02:34 PM   #1
Winnebago Master
 
RickO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 656
After full timing in our new Ellipse for five months we're learning about all of those things which weren't apparent at first. One of those things is the ceiling lighting in the Lounge, Galley and Bath. They are all just way too harsh and bright for most times.

These areas are covered by four 7.5" X 22" "Thin Lites" each containing two florescent tubes.

Does anyone have experience with replacing these with something that can have a dimmer put on it or other creative approaches?
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.

2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
RickO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2007, 02:34 PM   #2
Winnebago Master
 
RickO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 656
After full timing in our new Ellipse for five months we're learning about all of those things which weren't apparent at first. One of those things is the ceiling lighting in the Lounge, Galley and Bath. They are all just way too harsh and bright for most times.

These areas are covered by four 7.5" X 22" "Thin Lites" each containing two florescent tubes.

Does anyone have experience with replacing these with something that can have a dimmer put on it or other creative approaches?
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.

2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
RickO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2007, 02:39 PM   #3
KIX
Winnebago Master
 
KIX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: St. Augustine, FL
Posts: 587
We had the same experience. I went to Home Depot and bought a bulb labeled as a "Kitchen" bulb. Softens the light just right. If I still had the packaging I could give you the model/brand name but as I remember there's not a lot of choices. What you probably have now is "Cool White".
__________________
KIX
'02 Ultimate Advantage 40J Spartan MM - Cummins ISC
KIX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2007, 02:50 PM   #4
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 530
You should be able to look at the wattage of the bulb and purchase lower wattage bulbs. In addition there are cool and warm bulbs meaning the color of the light they produce. A warm light bulb would be more reddish a cool light bulb would be more blueish. Most ace hardware stores carry these bulbs or can order them for you.

Jim
__________________
2011 Mobiles Suites, 2011 Chevy 3500 Dually

Our Webpage
jimandsue60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2007, 10:41 AM   #5
Winnebago Owner
 
Moder2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: On the Road in the USA
Posts: 171
We did the same thing.

Actually our friends, Buck & Jeff did it as a 'Coach Warming' present for us. We got them at Home Depot, and I believe they were the Phillips Soft White F15T8 15 watt for the majority of the thin light fixtures, a few of the others took smaller bulbs (under cabinet lights), and the Big fixtures I believe were 4 foot bulbs.

All were available at home depot in the same 'color'. It does make a dramatic difference.

John
__________________
"It's always wrong, everywhere, for anyone, to believe anything beyond insufficient evidence" -- William Kingdon Clifford

John (N9MXX) & Derek (KC9KEM)
Moder2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2007, 03:22 PM   #6
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
Some 12 volt dimmers are rated for fluorescent lights. This is the one I have. I use it on incandescent lights, but it works with fluorescent lighting. Dimmer
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C Handicap Equipped
F53/V10
1999 Jeep Cherokee & 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
John Hilley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2007, 04:55 AM   #7
Winnebago Owner
 
Zimectrin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Sioux Falls SD USA
Posts: 116
As we see more and more florescent lights in life you will see references to the 'color tempeture'. The higher the number (4000's) the color will have more blue and be labeled as natural. The lower numbers (3000's) will be more yellow and be labeled indoor or soft light. Older folks find the 3700+ degree lights a little harsh (we do like our sunglasses outdoors) and seem to feel more at home with 3500 degree.

Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc should have the tubes side by side on sale.

We changed all of ours to the 'Kitchen' as stated above and are very happy with them.
__________________
Steve & Sherri
2002 Winnebago Journey DL 39QD
Zimectrin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2007, 09:05 AM   #8
Winnebago Master
 
RickO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 656
Thanks to all. Great suggestions! I sure didn't know that dimmers were an option for florescent lights.
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.

2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
RickO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2007, 12:21 PM   #9
Winnebago Camper
 
Randyat1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 32
Dimmers are only an option for fluoresent fixtures with dimming ballasts, which are quite expensive. I doubt if there was no dimmer that the fixtures were so designed and installing a dimmer will burn the ballast up prematurely.
Regards, Randy
__________________
2001 Journey DL LD 330 Cat
Randyat1001 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2007, 05:09 PM   #10
Winnebago Owner
 
Doula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 61
This is a source of small disagreement between my husband and I. I dislike the harshness of the overhead thinlites. My husband prefers them! He keeps turning them on, and I keep turning the under-cabinet lights and side lamp on and turning those florescents off. Back and forth we go! I like the more "cozy" lighting unless I need the bright lights for deep cleaning, but he "likes to see everything". If I snuck in some lower watt bulbs, you think he'd notice?
__________________
~Todd & Lori~ Proud Army Parents
2000 Winnebago Adventurer 37G/ Banks Power
2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited / Master Tow dolly
Doula is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2007, 12:55 AM   #11
Winnebago Master
 
SCVJeff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Santa Clarita, CA.
Posts: 1,222
Mine really aren't too bright, but they are "harsh". Our SOP TV mode is one small table lamp converted to 12V at least 20 years ago. It's the best light in the house. The florescents are basically used as "maintenance", or cleaning lights. besides, they kill the AM radio.
__________________
_______________________________

Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
SCVJeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2007, 06:08 PM   #12
Winnebago Owner
 
Doula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 61
Btw...I just got a kick out of showing this thread to my husband so that he knows that it's not just me who thinks those lights are too harsh for routine stuff. Thanks you all! I agree that they're great for maintenance and cleaning, so it's not like I'd want to be totally without them.
__________________
~Todd & Lori~ Proud Army Parents
2000 Winnebago Adventurer 37G/ Banks Power
2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited / Master Tow dolly
Doula is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2007, 08:28 PM   #13
B K
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17
I'm on your side Lori. We also thought the overheads too harsh. Liked the rope lights over the kitchen cabinet and bingo. Went to Home Depot and bought rope lights and remote control outlets. Installed the rope lights around the perimeter of the two front slides behind the trim moulding and under the front cabinets above the dash. Plugged them into two remote control outlets and mounted the remote control on the side of the kitchen cabinet. We love the "mood" lighting.
__________________
Bob K

B K is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 04:06 AM   #14
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: North East Indiana
Posts: 762
We did the same thing with rope lights a few years back. Installed mine with a dimmer switch and wouldn't be with out them. Only lights we use in the coach except for reading. Gives the coach a nice comfortable glow and seems to enhance the furnishings. Homer's DW.
Izzyblueye is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Radio display in bedroom is too bright Mnichols4 Tech | Toys and Gear 19 06-11-2012 08:32 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.