Lighting problem

[jburgessx2]

I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our Beaver
and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily
and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I need
some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and assorted
other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem
today:

- Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn on
the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front curtains
on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I haven't
been able to get them to turn on.

- The little individual lights work as do the rest of them
throughout the coach.

- I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for loose
wires, all to no avail.

- The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to get
them to turn on in 2 days.

Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

Jerry and Jayne
Full timing in our 85 PT40

[Don Bradner]

Somewhere there are breakers for those lights (12v breakers). On mine, they are
on the passenger side overhead mid-coach, just forward of the refrigerator.
Since that is only one of 5 separate 12V distribution areas on this coach I am
not about to assume that's where yours are, but you need to find the appropriate
panel.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Posting today by aircard from the Flying J in Lodi, California
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 2/6/2009 at 1:01 AM jburgessx2 wrote:

>I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our Beaver
>and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily
>and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I need
>some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and assorted
>other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem
>today:
>
> - Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn on
>the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front curtains
>on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I haven't
>been able to get them to turn on.
>
> - The little individual lights work as do the rest of them
>throughout the coach.
>
> - I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for loose
>wires, all to no avail.
>
> - The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to get
>them to turn on in 2 days.
>
>Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks again.
>
>Jerry and Jayne
>Full timing in our 85 PT40
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[jburgessx2]

Don,

I've found a few busses and load centers but I have yet to see a
circuit breaker for the 12 volt system. I've checked the books that
came with the coach and it doesn't tell me where the circuit breakers
are. I haven't yet checked behind the left headlight panel but will
tomorrow.

Jerry
85 PT40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> Somewhere there are breakers for those lights (12v breakers). On
mine, they are on the passenger side overhead mid-coach, just forward
of the refrigerator. Since that is only one of 5 separate 12V
distribution areas on this coach I am not about to assume that's
where yours are, but you need to find the appropriate panel.
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Posting today by aircard from the Flying J in Lodi, California
> My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1
>
> On 2/6/2009 at 1:01 AM jburgessx2 wrote:
>
> >I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our
Beaver
> >and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily
> >and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I
need
> >some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and
assorted
> >other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem
> >today:
> >
> > - Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn
on
> >the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front
curtains
> >on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I
haven't
> >been able to get them to turn on.
> >
> > - The little individual lights work as do the rest of them
> >throughout the coach.
> >
> > - I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for
loose
> >wires, all to no avail.
> >
> > - The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to
get
> >them to turn on in 2 days.
> >
> >Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> >Thanks again.
> >
> >Jerry and Jayne
> >Full timing in our 85 PT40
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>

[Curt Sprenger]

Jerry,

Seems strange that all would stop working at one time.

Follow the other responses first.

Assuming the '85 PT40 is the same as an '87 PT38...

Is there 12V at the switch(s)?


If there is 12V...remove one of the florescent fixture frame/box. There should be an inverter attached to the fixture box...the lights work on AC and have an inverter to run each light. Test for 12V feeding the inverter.


If there is 12V...and assuming the bulbs are good...replace the inverter as it's no longer working. Stephen Birtles sells the inverters. You will need one for each florescent fixture. I changed several in our coach.


Good luck.

Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, CA

On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 8:09 PM, jburgessx2 <"jburgessx2@yahoo.com"> wrote:

Don,



I've found a few busses and load centers but I have yet to see a

circuit breaker for the 12 volt system. I've checked the books that

came with the coach and it doesn't tell me where the circuit breakers

are. I haven't yet checked behind the left headlight panel but will

tomorrow.



Jerry

85 PT40



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", "Don Bradner"

wrote:

>

> Somewhere there are breakers for those lights (12v breakers). On

mine, they are on the passenger side overhead mid-coach, just forward

of the refrigerator. Since that is only one of 5 separate 12V

distribution areas on this coach I am not about to assume that's

where yours are, but you need to find the appropriate panel.

>

> Don Bradner

> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"

> Posting today by aircard from the Flying J in Lodi, California

> My location: www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

>

> On 2/6/2009 at 1:01 AM jburgessx2 wrote:

>

> >I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our

Beaver

> >and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily

> >and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I

need

> >some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and

assorted

> >other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem

> >today:

> >

> > - Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn

on

> >the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front

curtains

> >on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I

haven't

> >been able to get them to turn on.

> >

> > - The little individual lights work as do the rest of them

> >throughout the coach.

> >

> > - I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for

loose

> >wires, all to no avail.

> >

> > - The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to

get

> >them to turn on in 2 days.

> >

> >Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.

> >

> >Thanks again.

> >

> >Jerry and Jayne

> >Full timing in our 85 PT40

> >

> >

> >

> >------------------------------------

> >

> >Yahoo! Groups Links

> >

> >

> >

>

[Ernie Ekberg]

Jerry, take the 3 switchs completly out of their mount. I bet that there is a butt connection that is feeding those switches that has come loose. I had the same problem. Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair --- On Thu, 2/5/09, Curt Sprenger wrote: From: Curt Sprenger Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Lighting problem To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 11:10 PM Jerry, Seems strange that all would stop working at one time. Follow the other responses first. Assuming the '85 PT40 is the same as an '87 PT38... Is there 12V at the switch(s)? If there is 12V...remove one of the florescent fixture frame/box. There should be an inverter attached to the fixture box...the lights work on AC and have an inverter to run each light. Test for 12V feeding the inverter. If there is 12V...and assuming the bulbs are good...replace the inverter as it's no longer working. Stephen Birtles sells the inverters. You will need one for each florescent fixture. I changed several in our coach. Good luck. Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing" Anaheim Hills, CA On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 8:09 PM, jburgessx2 <"jburgessx2@yahoo.com"> wrote: Don, I've found a few busses and load centers but I have yet to see a circuit breaker for the 12 volt system. I've checked the books that came with the coach and it doesn't tell me where the circuit breakers are. I haven't yet checked behind the left headlight panel but will tomorrow. Jerry 85 PT40 --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", "Don Bradner" wrote: > > Somewhere there are breakers for those lights (12v breakers). On mine, they are on the passenger side overhead mid-coach, just forward of the refrigerator. Since that is only one of 5 separate 12V distribution areas on this coach I am not about to assume that's where yours are, but you need to find the appropriate panel. > > Don Bradner > 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder" > Posting today by aircard from the Flying J in Lodi, California > My location: www.bbirdmaps. com/user2. cfm?user= 1 > > On 2/6/2009 at 1:01 AM jburgessx2 wrote: > > >I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our Beaver > >and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily > >and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I need > >some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and assorted > >other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem > >today: > > > > - Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn on > >the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front curtains > >on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I haven't > >been able to get them to turn on. > > > > - The little individual lights work as do the rest of them > >throughout the coach. > > > > - I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for loose > >wires, all to no avail. > > > > - The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to get > >them to turn on in 2 days. > > > >Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated. > > > >Thanks again. > > > >Jerry and Jayne > >Full timing in our 85 PT40 > > > > > > > >------------ --------- --------- ------ > > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[Pete Masterson]

12V circuit breakers are fuse-like thingies with a little push switch on them. They otherwise look like the regular 2-prong automotive-type fuses. Half or more of the fuses on my coach are the circuit breaker type. Most of the rest are silver-canisters (that look a lot like the circuit breaker type) and a few are typical colored plastic fuses.

Unless someone has added ad hoc fuses, the fuses and circuit breakers should be in one of the several power centers in your coach.

My coach is quite a lot newer, so the locations are likely different. I note, however, that a "hidden" power center was behind the above-dash cabinets that I only found when I was trying to fix a bad wire on my TV antenna. I was then able to resolve a dead power feed to the passenger power seat control which had eluded me for months.... So the hint is to check cabinets for removable panels at the rear that might conceal a power center.

A circuit tracer tool _might_ be helpful -- but sometimes it's impossible to fully trace the circuit.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Feb 5, 2009, at 8:09 PM, jburgessx2 wrote:

Don,

I've found a few busses and load centers but I have yet to see a
circuit breaker for the 12 volt system. I've checked the books that
came with the coach and it doesn't tell me where the circuit breakers
are. I haven't yet checked behind the left headlight panel but will
tomorrow.

Jerry
85 PT40

--- In "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com", "Don Bradner"
wrote:

Somewhere there are breakers for those lights (12v breakers). On

mine, they are on the passenger side overhead mid-coach, just forward
of the refrigerator. Since that is only one of 5 separate 12V
distribution areas on this coach I am not about to assume that's
where yours are, but you need to find the appropriate panel.

Don Bradner

90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"

Posting today by aircard from the Flying J in Lodi, California

My location: www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 2/6/2009 at 1:01 AM jburgessx2 wrote:

I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our

Beaver

and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily

and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I

need

some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and

assorted

other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem

today:

- Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn

on

the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front

curtains

on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I

haven't

been able to get them to turn on.

- The little individual lights work as do the rest of them

throughout the coach.

- I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for

loose

wires, all to no avail.

- The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to

get

them to turn on in 2 days.

Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

Jerry and Jayne

Full timing in our 85 PT40

------------------------------------

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[Don Bradner]

On 2/6/2009 at 10:31 AM Pete Masterson wrote:

>Half or more of the fuses on my coach are the circuit breaker
>type. Most of the rest are silver-canisters (that look a lot like the
>circuit breaker type)

Pete, those are self-resetting circuit breakers.

[Bob Lawrence]

Try Ernie's solution first.
I have been behind those swithes a lot adding wires and butt
connectors are all over the place back there.
Bob Lawrence
84 PT36
Workcamping at Laguna Atascosa NWR Texas

> I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our
Beaver
> and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily
> and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I need
> some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and
assorted
> other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem
> today:
>
> - Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn
on
> the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front
curtains
> on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I
haven't
> been able to get them to turn on.
>
> - The little individual lights work as do the rest of them
> throughout the coach.
>
> - I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for loose
> wires, all to no avail.
>
> - The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to get
> them to turn on in 2 days.
>
> Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Jerry and Jayne
> Full timing in our 85 PT40
>

[GARY MINKER]

I have an 85 pt40 I would be happy to talk to you about things you should know. Gary Minker 561 969-9245 --- On Fri, 2/6/09, Bob Lawrence wrote: From: Bob Lawrence Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Lighting problem To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, February 6, 2009, 6:29 PM Try Ernie's solution first. I have been behind those swithes a lot adding wires and butt connectors are all over the place back there. Bob Lawrence 84 PT36 Workcamping at Laguna Atascosa NWR Texas > I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our Beaver > and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily > and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I need > some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and assorted > other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem > today: > > - Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn on > the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front curtains > on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I haven't > been able to get them to turn on. > > - The little individual lights work as do the rest of them > throughout the coach. > > - I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for loose > wires, all to no avail. > > - The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to get > them to turn on in 2 days. > > Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks again. > > Jerry and Jayne > Full timing in our 85 PT40 >

[GARY MINKER]

sometimes the switches are stab wired not terminal screw wired and the stab in connections fail. Just re make the connections on the terminals if this is the case --- On Fri, 2/6/09, Ernie Ekberg wrote: From: Ernie Ekberg Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Lighting problem To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, February 6, 2009, 7:42 AM Jerry, take the 3 switchs completly out of their mount. I bet that there is a butt connection that is feeding those switches that has come loose. I had the same problem. Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx http://autos. groups.yahoo. com/group/ erniesremodeling andrepair --- On Thu, 2/5/09, Curt Sprenger wrote: From: Curt Sprenger Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Lighting problem To: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 11:10 PM Jerry, Seems strange that all would stop working at one time. Follow the other responses first. Assuming the '85 PT40 is the same as an '87 PT38... Is there 12V at the switch(s)? If there is 12V...remove one of the florescent fixture frame/box. There should be an inverter attached to the fixture box...the lights work on AC and have an inverter to run each light. Test for 12V feeding the inverter. If there is 12V...and assuming the bulbs are good...replace the inverter as it's no longer working. Stephen Birtles sells the inverters. You will need one for each florescent fixture. I changed several in our coach. Good luck. Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing" Anaheim Hills, CA On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 8:09 PM, jburgessx2 <jburgessx2@yahoo. com> wrote: Don, I've found a few busses and load centers but I have yet to see a circuit breaker for the 12 volt system. I've checked the books that came with the coach and it doesn't tell me where the circuit breakers are. I haven't yet checked behind the left headlight panel but will tomorrow. Jerry 85 PT40 --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "Don Bradner" wrote: > > Somewhere there are breakers for those lights (12v breakers). On mine, they are on the passenger side overhead mid-coach, just forward of the refrigerator. Since that is only one of 5 separate 12V distribution areas on this coach I am not about to assume that's where yours are, but you need to find the appropriate panel. > > Don Bradner > 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder" > Posting today by aircard from the Flying J in Lodi, California > My location: www.bbirdmaps. com/user2. cfm?user= 1 > > On 2/6/2009 at 1:01 AM jburgessx2 wrote: > > >I registered on this forum a few weeks back after we sold our Beaver > >and bought this 85 PT40. I religously read the emails twice daily > >and it appears there is a wealth of knowledge here. I think I need > >some help now myself. I've fixed two plumbing problems and assorted > >other things and still have a few to go. Here's my main problem > >today: > > > > - Our 85 PT40 has the light switches above the front door to turn on > >the light over the door and turn on the lights by the front curtains > >on both sides. The other night the lights all went out and I haven't > >been able to get them to turn on. > > > > - The little individual lights work as do the rest of them > >throughout the coach. > > > > - I did take off all the switch plate covers and checked for loose > >wires, all to no avail. > > > > - The lights did work sporadically, but I haven't been able to get > >them to turn on in 2 days. > > > >Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated. > > > >Thanks again. > > > >Jerry and Jayne > >Full timing in our 85 PT40 > > > > > > > >------------ --------- --------- ------ > > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >