light fixtures

Try a search on ebay for "dinette light".

Bumpyroad wrote:
I was under the impression that the OP wanted to use a standard 120 volt fixture for 12 volt operation. could easily just change out bulbs to 12 volt ones, screw base, and hook B&W wires to 12 volt supply. no code involved I wouldn't think. If he absolutely needs a dual 12/120 operation, it could be completely rewired with additional sockets, etc. and do that. but the wiring would have to all be kept completely separate.

bumpy

My impression of the OPs first post came from the following sentence..

"It needs to be able to work on both 12 and 110."

This makes it appear like they are wanting a fixture with BOTH 120V bulb AND 12V bulb.

While this "could" be done it probably "should not" be done since it isn't easy to keep both types of wiring separate in the same fixture without making some sort of "divider"

Now if this isn't the intention of the OPs post that is my mistake and basically a 120V fixture can be "converted" to 12V (which would be powered by your 120V to 12V "converter") by removing the 120V Edison style screw in bulb socket and installing a suitable socket for the 12V bulb of your choice.

I would however skip the 12V incandescent bulb that has the same Edison screw in as a 120V bulb. Causes confusion, much more expensive than automotive 12V bulbs, LARGE, not much choice in wattage (typically 50W) and color temperature.

Another issue you will find with most 120V fixtures, they tend to be, well, extremely large size. Typically 120V home fixtures must be large to accommodate the large edison style bulbs AND the high temperatures given off by these bulbs. Often times these fixtures will look out of place in a RV but thats just my taste.

I have used low voltage 12V under cabinet "puck" lights in my camper, while they do work you have to relamp them from the stock bulb which is for 11.5V to a slightly higher 12.5V bulb in order to not overheat the fixture.

Another suggestion though is retrofitting a 120V fixture with 12V LED lights although I am not a fan of them (I have had too many of these fail).

I bought 2 fixtures from Lowes,took out the sockets and replaced them with 12 volt sockets, and put them up. Mine were 12 volt. Easy

NanciL wrote:
No. It won't work unlss you changed all the sockets and wiring out.

Jack L

I'm talking about wiring it up to 120 with current sockets/wiring, and cobbling up a set of 12 volt sockets/wiring/bulbs to run on 12 volt. a 6 lamp fixture could be wired with 3 bulbs 120 and 3 bulbs 12 volt.
bumpy

You can use a household fixture in an RV on 12v no problem. Nothing to rewire and no sockets to change.

Connect the black wire to hot and white wire to ground. Ignore the green or bare wire.

Purchase either a 12v incandescent or 12v CFL with a medium base and screw it in.

No real difference to the fixture, you just need to install 12v lamps. I've never seen 12v candelabra base lamps so be sure your fixture uses medium base lamps.

No. It won't work unlss you changed all the sockets and wiring out.

Jack L

I was under the impression that the OP wanted to use a standard 120 volt fixture for 12 volt operation. could easily just change out bulbs to 12 volt ones, screw base, and hook B&W wires to 12 volt supply. no code involved I wouldn't think. If he absolutely needs a dual 12/120 operation, it could be completely rewired with additional sockets, etc. and do that. but the wiring would have to all be kept completely separate.

bumpy

loulou57 wrote:
I have been looking for a new dining fixture and have yet to find one I like.

Question.....can I buy a regular light fixture (house), then rewire it for the trailer? If so how? It needs to be able to work on both 12 and 110. Thanks from a picky wife, LOL

Technically it could be done.

While there were back in the 60s/70s such fixtures made for RVs now days that is a no no.

If you are retrofitting an EXISTING fixture in an old RV to replace an existing dual voltage light you will need to "DIY" it.

If you are attempting to retrofit a modern day RV with a dual voltage fixture I would highly discourage this as it does not "meet" modern day electrical codes when it comes to having low voltage mixed with 120V line voltages in the same fixture.

Modern day RVs typically use 12V ONLY for all lighting fixtures although it IS possible with SOME fixtures to replace the edison style screw in sockets used in 120V fixtures with 12V bulb sockets but please pay attention to the WATTAGE restrictions of the fixture.

Bumpy......what I need to know I guess is if I bought a regular house fixture, 110 to replace the standard RV fixture, two way, how do I wire it?

they make standard screw in bulbs that will work on 12 volts. a little pricy IIRC however.
bumpy