Flickering LED Lights

[reace]

Every now and again we get flickering interior LED lights. Some have a faint flicker and some look like strobe lights. Normally we just swap them out and return the bad units. (I think they just send them back to me)

Found out the other day that if you pull the LED plate out of the light fixture, use a knife blade to lightly scrape the 2 silver contacts clean...no more flicker.

Reace

 

[TAfraser]

Thanks Reace, that's good to know. You already replaced one of mine. Hope I remember this when/if it comes up again.
Tom

 

[MarksAlot]

I don't know how many times that I've taken out a circuit board, simply to reseat it to resolve a problem. If that didn't work, many times cleaning the contact with a knife, or sandpaper on both sides of the contact would do the trick. Make sure power is off to the device before doing this.

 

[Scruffy Varmint]

Personally, I would never use a knife or sandpaper on the contacts. Have lightly used a pencil eraser on many circuit card contacts with great success.

 

[Zardoz-ESC]

Might be easier to use a disposable (paper) finger nail file; they can easily be trimed to size and could be inserted into the base of light fixture while still in place. A finer grit would be all you need.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Might be easier to use a disposable (paper) finger nail file; they can easily be trimed to size and could be inserted into the base of light fixture while still in place. A finer grit would be all you need.

Just make sure the light is off…..

 

[reace]

These are the contacts I was referring to. Scraping a wee bit of the silver makes for a clean contact...with a knife blade or sand paper...or what have you.

Reace

 

[MarksAlot]

The tools that you use are personal preference and can be wide and diverse. For years I've always carried a small pocket Swiss Army knife, but changed over to a pocket leatherman. Both work well, but the leatherman had a small pliers which I find very useful.

Rease, what is the part/model number of these lights? I've never seen anything like it. Looking at the pic, it looks like the LED side of the circuit board faces down providing light 180 degrees and is housed in a low profile fixture of some sort. I had asked Tammy about the LED lighting option and she, or Kim weren't sure of the type. Looks cool.

 

[Donna D.]

I hope Reace as gone home to relax. There's this post about these particular LEDs: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f7/led-lights-2812.html#post33376

 

[TAfraser]

I've always used an eraser when cleaning contacts, but it has to be an ink eraser, no other will do. Follow that up with 91% Isopropyl alcohol so you leave very little residue, and you're golden.

 

[cpaharley2008]

I have not seen an ink eraser since we stopped using blotters and typewriter erasers when I was working.

 

[TAfraser]

WOW Jim, you must have been sitting on this topic. You're probably right about the ink eraser being obsolete, I wouldn't know because I've saved one for this use only, and I haven't looked for another for a long time. I learned this trick over 40 years ago while working electronics in the Nave. Ink erasers work great, taking off any film that interferes with conductivity and they don't mar the surface of the contact. You might not need the alcohol, I'm just in the habit of using it while working on circuit cards.

 

[Scruffy Varmint]

Hi Tom,
I had a military career in electronics, followed by teaching college. I always taught to use an eraser on the circuit card finger contacts, and then gently; just enough to get rid of any crud. I also taught students to gently lift and reset circuit cards and connectors to reseat the contacts. Alcohol wipes comshawed from sickbay were also a nice thing for the techs to have in their tool bags. LOL.
Greg

 

[MarksAlot]

Erasers have many uses, but in today's technology age, they're getting harder to find. Backspace is easier. ;D

Thanks to all for their input.

One/two more LED question(s). With the LED lighting option, how many lights are there to upgrade and are all the coach lights upgraded to LED with that ($200) option?

 

[TAfraser]

I think the only light not changed to LED in my 21 is the one in the range hood, and boy is it noticeable.

 

[escape artist]

Hi: All..."Eraser"? Where I worked none of the pencils had 'em...cause they didn't make misteaks. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[Jim Bennett]

So you worked at a BBQ shack, and put out only good steaks. I'm a comin' to your next grilling, Alf.

 

[TAfraser]

Alf, great reply, but remember, it's not a pencil eraser, it's a pen, or ink, eraser!
Tom

 

[Scruffy Varmint]

One/two more LED question(s). With the LED lighting option, how many lights are there to upgrade and are all the coach lights upgraded to LED with that ($200) option?

We also opted for the $200 LED option for our 19' and are glad we did. Light are a bright white. Only light not changed was the range hood incandescent, which I plan to change out myself.
Greg

 

[MarksAlot]

We also opted for the $200 LED option for our 19' and are glad we did. Light are a bright white. Only light not changed was the range hood incandescent, which I plan to change out myself.
Greg

Thanks Scruffy. Yup. I got the LED option in the 11th hour and I'm comfortable with it. This 19 will be my new and improved therapy chariot.