-
Troubleshooting a Tivoli Light Problem
I have two separate Tivoli light systems in our bus. One is on a wall switch with a dimmer mouinted under an upper galley cabinet. It operates and has a dimmer for the front half of the coach. That being both the upper valance panels and lower floor area. It works fine.
The second systems switch is mounted on the wall in the bathroom area. Same type of switch with a dimmer. All lights on both systems had been working fine. Now a portion of the upper lights in this second system have quit working. The part that no longer works is the upper valance panels on the port and starboard sides of the bedroom. The other upper lights in the bath area on the second system still work fine.
Looking for ideas on how to troubleshoot and fix.
Thanks,
-
1 Reply
-
These are 120v incandescent rope lights. They were originally all imported, and came in only 1/2″ or 3/8″ diameter. The individual bulbs are set up like “Christmas tree lights” in that for every section, the bulbs are wired in series. In this arrangement, if one bulb burns out, the entire section goes out. I can’t remember exactly how many feet were in each section, but they could only be cut at marked areas every 18″, with the extra stuffed back behind the cabinet or valance. When cut, there are lamp cord ends that have barbs on them to “stab” into the rope to hit the conductors that run to the bulbs. If you are so inclined, I would take one of the valances off so you could access behind it to the point where the lamp cord termination meets with the rubber-like light rope. If you pull them apart to expose the barbs, being EXTREMELY CAREFUL not to get shocked (120v AC power should be at the barbs).
I have seen over time that either the barbs wiggle loose and no longer contact the wire in the end of the rope, or that one or more bulbs may be burned out, requiring you to replace the section of rope. At least this will get you access to replacing that section of rope, and let you verify whether or not you have power to that section. Since you have ANY of the rear rope lights working rules out a bad relay or the dimmer control. The only other connection points are 2 x 4 metal junction boxes buried at centralized “hub” locations in each side of the rear of the coach. If only two continuous sections of the rope lighting are not working, my bet is that it is the fault of the rope or the termination to that section of rope.
Hope this helps.
Ben Cummings
Parliament Motor Coach
Log in to reply.