Light fixture changes etc.

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
R

rvannie23

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2017
Posts
260
As an avid Pinterester, I come across all sorts of RV remodels. I always have the same question. How are these people installing gorgeous regular old lighting fixtures in their units? Here's two examples. I cannot for the life of me figure this out. I'd love to get some sconces and pendant lights from ikea or even Home Depot that are cute and modern but I just can't understand how they're doing it.

Any advice? Has anyone done this? Does anyone else want to live on the modern mountain life RV for the rest of their life? Just me?

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/house-tour-a-cute-home-in-a-small-blue-school-bus-223897#gallery/50196/23

http://mountainmodernlife.com/wanderlust/
 
Wow is it really that simple? What about connections and wires and such? I know a little about electrical (like to turn off the power before you touch something) but not too much.
 
There are also plenty of lovely 12v light fixtures available, though usually found in places that cater to the high end marine market. RV dealers seem to be stuck at the bargain basement end of lighting.
http://www.atlanticmarineinc.com/12-volt-rv-led-lighting/?sort=featured&page=1
http://www.itc-rv.com/product-category/lighting/decorative-lighting/

It is also fairly easy to convert a 120v fixture to 12v lighting, led or incandescent. Anyone with a bit of electrical handyman skill will have no problem doing it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWOqSWrRSXQ
 
In the converted school bug (first link... and can I just say WOW!) the fixtures are for standard 110V AC household power.  They are plugged into one of the RV's wall sockets, a long cord is strung up to the ceiling (which is visible in the photos), and they are hung by hooks.  I put those particular photos below.

RV power hookups, a generator, or an inverter would be required to power those wall outlets.  The fixtures don't appear to be usable for battery (or solar) power only, used for 12V DC devices.

As far as how to actually find/make those kind of fixtures, you'll have to talk to someone more creative than I am.  ;)
 

Attachments

  • bus-fixture-1.jpg
    bus-fixture-1.jpg
    81.7 KB · Views: 32
  • bus-fixture-2.jpg
    bus-fixture-2.jpg
    59.6 KB · Views: 30
scottydl said:
In the converted school bug (first link... and can I just say WOW!) the fixtures are for standard 110V AC household power.  They are plugged into one of the RV's wall sockets, a long cord is strung up to the ceiling (which is visible in the photos), and they are hung by hooks.  I put those particular photos below.

RV power hookups, a generator, or an inverter would be required to power those wall outlets.  The fixtures don't appear to be usable for battery (or solar) power only, used for 12V DC devices.

As far as how to actually find/make those kind of fixtures, you'll have to talk to someone more creative than I am.  ;)
Click to expand...



Wow I totally missed that! That may actually be a good idea for me in one situation...but in the others I'd have to convert what I had.

Can you believe that school bus?! Where do people even get the time patience and know how to take hat on. Wish I could do it.
 
I think another more important question is what about lights that aren't run on a switch but are instead the on off kind? I would have to replace those with ones which have switches on the base correct?
 
Not really. Fixtures can be designed for led, flourescent or incandescent lights, whether 12v or 120v. Fluorescents and leds have little power conversion circuit boards to make them work anyway.

As for switches, they can be on the light fixture itself, or on the wall circuit that supplies power to it. Makes no difference unless you want to place multiple lights on one circuit but control them independently.
 
So, I have thought a lot about this very question.  ;) I researched quite a bit, and yes, RV lights are darn expensive, and the "cheaper" ones are ugly. So, This is what I'm going to do. I will find secondhand fixtures (Craigslist or offerup, etc.) and just convert it to an RV light. I found these; https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/installation-power/ba15-bayonet-base-sockets-wired/171/769/?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=base&utm_content=BA15x-SW&utm_campaign=GoogleBaseChild&gclid=CP7h0Ljq8c0CFYdlfgodQxgCbw

My hope is to gut the existing light hardware on the used fixture and then modify it for 12V. I'll definitely post when I do.  ;)
 
Wegocampin said:
Here is another option;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q4cgym322Y
Click to expand...

Wow. I could totally handle that. I also found some normal base 12v led light bulbs on amazon. They look like regular lights to me so I'm sure they would fit.

I'll definitely post when I get around to doing it. This changes so much.
 
We like to find used ones at yard sales, flea market, etc and all we do is change out the fixtures guts some take a little thinking outside the box do remember to disconnect from shore power and flip the battery bank switch to off before doing the actual wiring
 
I have figured out everything I need to do this in ours. Only thing we are firm about is the bulbs. We want the e26 base bulbs but not led. Really want filament bulbs. Having a very hard time finding them.
 
thenomad said:
I have figured out everything I need to do this in ours. Only thing we are firm about is the bulbs. We want the e26 base bulbs but not led. Really want filament bulbs. Having a very hard time finding them.
Click to expand...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013HIF66O?psc=1

Try those.

What exactly did you have to do to the base of the lamp you want to install? I think its just like that video where you only use two of the wires. Am i missing something?
 
rvannie23 said:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013HIF66O?psc=1

Try those.

What exactly did you have to do to the base of the lamp you want to install? I think its just like that video where you only use two of the wires. Am i missing something?
Click to expand...
Not really, but it is going to be a 12v fixture. A bayonet base using an adapter from a bayonet base to an E26 base. Problem is finding a 12v E26 filament bulb. not really wanting to install a 120v fixture. The link you shared are great bulbs but are 120v. May be able to figure something out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 1,318 (members: 28, guests: 1,290)

Forum statistics

Threads
131,930
Posts
1,387,706
Members
137,680
Latest member
Pearl Constance de_la She
Back
Top Bottom