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09-23-2013, 03:48 PM
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#1
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Ridgeville, OH
Posts: 178
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DIY dimmer switch for 12 volt light fixture!
The light fixture over our dinette in our new Winnebago 2201DS was a bit bright at times for watching TV, so I went online and found a compatible dimmer switch:
EPL1010 12 volt dc lamp dimmer
I took a few minutes today to install it, and it works like a charm.
Next mod will be to tap into a 12 volt light over the bed and run a line for a reading light mounted on the wardrobe at my side of the bed!
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09-23-2013, 04:36 PM
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#2
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 486
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I looked at the dimmer and saw it is limited to 20 watts. A single 1156 bulb is ~26 watts, a 1141 bulb is ~18 watts. If the fixture has 2 or more bulbs, you are overloading the dimmer. Just be aware.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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09-23-2013, 06:26 PM
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#3
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Ridgeville, OH
Posts: 178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
I looked at the dimmer and saw it is limited to 20 watts. A single 1156 bulb is ~26 watts, a 1141 bulb is ~18 watts. If the fixture has 2 or more bulbs, you are overloading the dimmer. Just be aware.
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Thanks for pointing that out. I should have really ordered this one:
EPL1012 12 volt dc lamp dimmer
However, the fixture is a 12 volt fixture with two wedge type light bulbs. Tomorrow, I'll get the exact number on the bulb and check it's specs to see if I do have a problem. I looked up 1156 and 1141 bulbs and it isn't either of them.
So...I'll update the post as soon as possible.
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09-24-2013, 02:22 AM
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#4
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scbwr
Thanks for pointing that out. I should have really ordered this one:
EPL1012 12 volt dc lamp dimmer
However, the fixture is a 12 volt fixture with two wedge type light bulbs. Tomorrow, I'll get the exact number on the bulb and check it's specs to see if I do have a problem. I looked up 1156 and 1141 bulbs and it isn't either of them.
So...I'll update the post as soon as possible.
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912x? 13watt
Halco 90004 912x Miniature Automotive Light Bulb at eLightBulbs.com
__________________
01 WINNEBAGO 35U W20.8.1L SW Wa, Hi. Good Sam, SKP. AMSOIL fluids. BANKS ecm program. SCAN GAUGE II w/ Ally temp. 2 LIFELINE GPL-6CT AGM Batts on their sides. TST tptts. K&N panel air filter. AERO mufflers. TAYLOR plug wires. ULTRA POWER track bar. KONI fsd shocks, toad '14 smart car
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09-27-2013, 06:42 AM
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#5
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Ridgeville, OH
Posts: 178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DAN L
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I thinkd that's it! I pulled both bulbs and can't see any markings on them, but they look like the 912. So, that means I am overloading the dimmer switch.
So far, the light/switch combo is working so far. Am I correct that if overloaded, it may just burn out the switch, or should I be worried about other problems? I don't know that much about 12 volt systems. And/or...what would you reccomend? Thanks!
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09-27-2013, 08:04 AM
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#6
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
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Unless it gets hot, I wouldn't worry about it.
__________________
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
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09-27-2013, 08:42 AM
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#7
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 486
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Since it's a variable pulse dimmer, not just resistance, I'd think the dimmer would burn out before being a heat issue. One way to take some of the stress off would be to install a simple on/off switch on one of the bulbs in the fixture, then the dimmer would only control one bulb. Or you could install a double throw switch in place of the fixture switch and have one or two bulbs on, the dimmer only used when one is on.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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09-28-2013, 04:10 PM
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#8
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 962
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Did you replace the ON/OFF switch with the dimmer ... or did you wire it in series with the ON/OFF switch?
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09-28-2013, 05:39 PM
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#9
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 851
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Variable pulse dimmers can make a lot of radio HASH (Important to folks with user names like mine).
Resistance dimmers make heat. In days of old when folks were bold the Heater blower on a care was controlled by a vairable resistor.. SOME auto parts stores still have 'em.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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09-28-2013, 08:44 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Ridgeville, OH
Posts: 178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skigramp
Did you replace the ON/OFF switch with the dimmer ... or did you wire it in series with the ON/OFF switch?
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I replaced the on/off switch. The dimmer has an "off" position
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10-01-2013, 04:53 PM
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#11
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 10
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OK how do you take off the switch bezel to get to the wires?
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10-01-2013, 07:45 PM
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#12
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Ridgeville, OH
Posts: 178
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I had to drop the fixture (remove the two screws holding the fixture to the ceiling over the dinette. Then I just had to remove the nut that tightened the switch to the fixture. I removed the white wire where it was wire nutted to another, and I had to cut the black wire in order to connect the new switch/dimmer.
And, we used the fixture on our trip to the west coast of MI for 5 days without problem.
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