Light Replacements

[chemist308]

A while back I'd posted about one of the bedroom LEDs flickering. Well, I hate to leave issues hanging so I wanted to update. I emailed Gentry with Grand Design about it because we'd been in contact over my refrigerator--by the way, he did get Dometic to stop screwing me around on that one. I told him about the canister light as well as one bed slide light which went completely out. He sent me both, which I installed last week.

Safety first: I turned off the breaker for the DC inverter, then turned off the battery using the switch in the pass through. This killed power to all trailer lights.

Tools/Parts: iPhone flashlight (quickly replaced by a Ryobi 18V light), screw driver with square bit, wire cutter with wire strippers and small wire ties (22-10 gauge and 22-14 gauge)--Question: Was I okay using the twist on wire ties or is there a good reason I needed the crimp ones?

Bed Slide Light:
I pulled off the plastic diffuser face. Then I removed 4 screws holding the light down. Pulled the light down and cut the trailer wires just behind their crimped wire ties. There were 2 white trailer wires and 2 black trailer wires. I stripped about 3/8 - 1/2" wire insulation off of each trailer wire and twisted them to the new light wires (2 trailer white to 1 fixture white and 2 trailer black to 1 fixture black). These were then tied with with 22-10 twist on wire connections. Re-install was the reverse of removal.
Tip for you: The insulation above these looks like cooler styrofoam--nice to see that, but it flakes as easily. Laying a towel under it is a good idea to catch debris.

Canister Light:
Ensuring the switch was also turned off, I pulled the canister down, wiggled it to get the spring clips to let go of the ceiling, then swore loudly enough that most of the park heard me--turns out having one's fingers directly below those clips is a bad idea because they snap like a mouse trap... Anyway it pulled down freely, and I cut the trailer wires just behind their crimped wire ties. There was only 1 white trailer wire and 1 black trailer wire here. I stripped them about 3/8 - 1/2" back and twisted them to the new canister light wires (white to white and black to black). These I tied with 22-14 twist on wire ties. To re-install I opened the spring clips, placed them into the ceiling, then guided the light in so it didn't slam against the ceiling.

[Country Campers]

Good write up and job well done.
In regards to the twist on wire ties , AKA , wire nuts, some use them others don't. With something traveling down our superb highway system and bouncing and shaking there is concern that the wire nuts will loosen.
I have seen it both ways , if I have to use them I will also use some electrical tape.
Also glad GD sent you replacement parts.

Brian