Electrical Panel Light

[Jims380DA]

Has anyone ever had to replace the green power light in the electrical distribution panel? One is very dim and the other is flickering. Is it an easy fix? thanks

 

[fc3]

They're neon bulbs with green lens. Typical behavior of neon lamps. You can either pop the entire package out of the panel and replace it, or after removing the lamp unit from the panel, open the indicator and replace just the neon bulb while retaining the dropping resistor. Trivial and cheap job.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[Sorrento 25]

Replace them all with LEDs.

 

[fc3]

Retrofitting LEDs to a panel indicator is a pain in the butt. I've not found a supplier of a ready-made unit. Consider the wide voltage traversals nominal to the mains, that 120 VAC has a peak-to-peak voltage of over 170 volts, plus surges, etc. Yuck! A neon will last longer unless you get or do some quality work. It's easy to replace the lamps in the dash panel switches with LEDs, but not so on the A.C side.

On the other hand, if you really want to do it, full wave rectify, filter with a decent film cap, and use a constant current power supply. I found this one on line, you can simplify it since you only need to drive one LED.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[37 Dancer]

I think the replacement light was the most reasonable thing I've ever bought from my local Sea Ray dealer. I remember it only cost about $12.00....The old one pushed out and the new pushed in.....and only 2 wires. Im old school and I like keeping things original.

 

[JediJD]

Thank you for this post. I have a flickering power light and was ready to start with DVOM's to figure out why. I'll start with the bulb.

 

[NorCal Boater]

I have been buying repacement neons at Radio Shack for about $1.75 each for the 120v panel lights. I switched out all 12v panel lights for led again from Radio Shack.