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Mood lights around windows

February 08, 2020, 03:59:58 pm

Have a 2008 Magna with many of the incandescent mood lights out around windows.  I love the light these give off so bought about 120 feet of the original lights from CC.  Now I have to figure out how to disassemble the existing ropes and replace and hook up the new lights.  I'm thinking it should be possible to pull the existing plastic tubes out of the window trim, connect the new wire to the old in order to pull it through the existing plastic tube and reconnect to power at top of window.  I have purchased some connectors for this purpose.  Has anyone done this?  What sorcery has CC used to prevent doing this?

PS...I know LED strips are probably easier, but am trying to keep coach original

Thanks!

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #1 – February 10, 2020, 09:57:21 am

Roger66,
Like you, we were not interested in LED's for this application.  So this is what I did to replace individual bulbs.  It looks fussy but I think it's a whole lot easier than replacing all of the rope lights.  If you use the bulbs from the replacement string you bought, the difference in appearance should be non existent.

Individual bulb replacement in rope lights.

FWIW

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #2 – February 10, 2020, 12:00:43 pm

Dave, thanks.  Had not even considered surgery on the existing burnt bulbs.  So using this method, I could replace one or several in a row while conserving the good bulbs.  I have never soldered so any advice on the supplies I'll need?  Also, is the plastic tube glued to the wood frame or just jammed in tightly? Mine looks exactly like yours.  I just don't want to damage the wood finish fishing it out.  Thanks so much for the pics...worth a thousand words for sure!

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #3 – February 11, 2020, 07:08:33 am

The tubing holding the bulbs is simply pressed into the grooves of the window trim.  The bottom end may have a dab of silicone to anchor it but mine have been easy to pull out.  The top end remains in place and I have not tried to remove that end.
There's enough slack in the bulb string to work with.  Just clip the wires close to the old bulb and as far away from the donor bulb as practical.  That will leave you plenty of wire to overlap the ends for soldering. 

Soldering Wires Together

I like a butane soldering iron because it's portable and there's no cord to get in your way when operating in awkward positions.  But a cheap, 120 VAC, 25-30 WATT pencil type iron will work too.

Walmart.com Butane Soldering Iron

Rosin core solder is the best for this.  Even though it includes the rosin flux, a separate flux paste will make things go easier.  Keep the soldering iron tip clean.  These Chore Boy pads work great for that.

Chore Boy Stainless Scrub Pads

The basic idea is to apply the soldering iron tip to the wire splice and then touch the solder to the opposite side of the wire splice thus letting the heated wire melt the solder.  The flux will help the solder flow into and around the wire splice.  When the solder flows, stop.  You do not need a big glob of solder.

Practice  on a few splices with the same or similar wire as the project involves and you'll quickly get the hang of it.

Good luck!

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #4 – February 11, 2020, 08:38:22 am

Good stuff. Appreciate the info and tips. Will report back in a couple weeks how it went!

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #5 – February 16, 2020, 03:49:39 pm

Well, good news and bad.  Followed the method above and replaced a 6 bulb string.  Hit switch and all lit up fine.  10 seconds later, the fuse for the bedroom mood lights blew.  As pointed out somewhere above, the bulb size for the replacements is slightly larger and I'm now wondering if an associated increased wattage draw made the fuse blow.  Hard to believe 6 bulbs would make that much difference though.  Did you have any issues like this?  Would you happen to know where the fuse panel is for the bedroom mood lights is?  I plan to look in the wardrobe closet where the Intellitec brain is.  Will try a larger fuse and play with wires to eliminate any short.

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #6 – February 16, 2020, 07:59:34 pm

Sorry to hear about the set-back.  I did not have any trouble with mine.  I do not know where the fuse might be.
I doubt that the different light bulbs could have caused the problem.  The wires to which the bulbs are attached have very thin insulation.  The insulation is like a shellac or varnish.  I speculate that some insulation got rubbed or melted off the wires during the soldering thus creating a short.  Your manual may have enough detail to show the fuse for the lights.
Good luck.

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #7 – February 17, 2020, 04:53:58 pm

Improved quality of solder work and taped area of connection. Several fuses later, all is well!  Thanks again for your help and pics. BTW, found fuse panel for all D slide lights behind a wooden panel in cabinet above the bed headboard.

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #8 – February 17, 2020, 07:29:33 pm

Good news!  Glad you got it worked out.  I've got one bulb out at the moment.  Am trying to get up the gumption to replace it but am enjoying the snowbird lifestyle too much at the moment. There will be dreary days back home made for that sort of work.
Thanks for the fuse location.
Best,

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Re: Mood lights around windows

Reply #9 – June 20, 2020, 08:58:51 am

Hi,

I ended up replacing all the mood lighting with LED.  Have been very happy with it.  Details here: 2008 Magna Window Rope Light Upgrade

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