Post by Brian M on Feb 1, 2009 10:47:17 GMT
From: Safariconvert (Original Message) Sent: 28/11/2006 13:20
Does anyone have a spare round awning light? Mine just has a square piece of flat plastic covering the lighting unit, but I would like an original one or one very similar. I have seen similar ones in caravan shops so wondered if the Safari one was of general make.
Cliff
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 28/11/2006 17:48
Cliff,
I have the metal base unit but not the cover as I too am after the correct cover but after 12 months on ebay still no luck.
Should you be offered two then I would be interested in one!
Regards
Mike
From: Safariconvert Sent: 28/11/2006 20:16
Mike,
If I find a supply I will certainly get two! I did check the breaker 12-2 in Manchester but it had a very common battery one.
Regards,
Cliff
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 28/11/2006 21:08
Cliff,
I did to and I believe Oliver sneaked in for a few bits as well!
Mike
From: Brian Sent: 30/11/2006 09:48
We have discussed the problem of awning lights before, and no-one has so far found a suitable replacement.
This is a photo of mine, do we all think this is the original style?
My problem is that mine doesn't work and there doesn't seem to be any way to release the glass unless you just prise off the surround that I am reluctant to do in case I break it.
Anyone got any ideas?
Brian
From: ColinC Sent: 30/11/2006 11:48
Hi Brian
The light on your van isn't the same as on mine and to the best of my recollection, all of my three Safaries' had the same fitting.
The lense is secured by three MT screws, onto the case and sealed by a rubber gromett.
The problem has always been that the lense is made of plastic and not UV protected. Hence the plastic goes britlle and disintegrates.
Over the years I've replaced them a number of times, sometimes having to buy a complete unit, cos the lense on its own wasn't available.
Haven't tried to find a replacement recently.
If someone finds one, then buy a couple of dozen and sell them on to our members.
At a profit, of course.
Regards
Colin
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 30/11/2006 13:52
Brian,
For once I agree with Colin and as both mine and Eddies 13/4 have the same type of cover then we can safely say this is correct. My 12/2 has the same white enamelled shell but has lost its opaque cover. My guess is that as it was fitted on the near side of the van it was vunerable to damage from high hedges etc.
I have a spare shell as does the 12/2 SAFARI in Manchester that has been broken for spares but no cover. I will see if I can source a repro one locally and maybe get a batch made--no promises.
Regards
Droll Mike
From: Jan_Gareth1 Sent: 01/12/2006 12:42
We have been searching too for over 2 years. As yours Brian the opaque front was gone when we bought our van and the plastic lid replacement didi not last.
Currently (photo to follow) our awning light can be used but is protected with a Roses chocolate metal tin screwed into place to keep the elements out. Until i find another opaque cover the light is out of use due to the bind of unscrewing and rescrewing the tin into place each time we set up camp.
From: Safariconvert Sent: 01/12/2006 15:26
If you look at our 12-2s pictures you will see it has an opaque flat plastic plate screwed over the light. It doesn't look pretty but it does work!
Cliff
From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 01/12/2006 22:14
With the exception of my 1980 17-2 I feel fairly sure that all the Safaris we have had in the family had, when we first bought them, a translucent round cover secured by three set screws, and which was approximately rectangular in section - i.e. a fairly flat circular face, and a curved rim spacing this out from the base. I would guess that this was original, and covered a wide range of the later models and years.
The 17-2 has a shallow domed translucent cover, again secured by three set screws, but with no spacer rim; the edge of the dome sits directly on the base, and there is sufficient curvature in the dome to accommodate the bulb. I suspect that this is not original, but someone at some time has either managed to find another pattern that is an exact fit or has had one specially made; I presume that the latter would not be difficult if one had access to a vacuum forming machine, and since these are now standard equipment in secondary school CDT workshops one might reasonably hope that a suitably equipped firm could be found who would make up a batch.
Interestingly, I have just scanned the 1973 Safari Sales Brochure for Digbycenrhos, who intends to upload it to the site shortly; 10 official company photographs showing the nearside of the caravans, and not an awning lamp amongst them!
Oliver
From: robthechemist Sent: 03/12/2006 12:27
i just went to the local DIY store and cut a piece of clear flexible perspex in a circle and inserted under the rubber seal, worked fine and gave more light out, although i know its the original most people want but this is a good stop gap. i also used the same method for one of the interior lights and it was great for reading.
Rob
Does anyone have a spare round awning light? Mine just has a square piece of flat plastic covering the lighting unit, but I would like an original one or one very similar. I have seen similar ones in caravan shops so wondered if the Safari one was of general make.
Cliff
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 28/11/2006 17:48
Cliff,
I have the metal base unit but not the cover as I too am after the correct cover but after 12 months on ebay still no luck.
Should you be offered two then I would be interested in one!
Regards
Mike
From: Safariconvert Sent: 28/11/2006 20:16
Mike,
If I find a supply I will certainly get two! I did check the breaker 12-2 in Manchester but it had a very common battery one.
Regards,
Cliff
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 28/11/2006 21:08
Cliff,
I did to and I believe Oliver sneaked in for a few bits as well!
Mike
From: Brian Sent: 30/11/2006 09:48
We have discussed the problem of awning lights before, and no-one has so far found a suitable replacement.
This is a photo of mine, do we all think this is the original style?
My problem is that mine doesn't work and there doesn't seem to be any way to release the glass unless you just prise off the surround that I am reluctant to do in case I break it.
Anyone got any ideas?
Brian
From: ColinC Sent: 30/11/2006 11:48
Hi Brian
The light on your van isn't the same as on mine and to the best of my recollection, all of my three Safaries' had the same fitting.
The lense is secured by three MT screws, onto the case and sealed by a rubber gromett.
The problem has always been that the lense is made of plastic and not UV protected. Hence the plastic goes britlle and disintegrates.
Over the years I've replaced them a number of times, sometimes having to buy a complete unit, cos the lense on its own wasn't available.
Haven't tried to find a replacement recently.
If someone finds one, then buy a couple of dozen and sell them on to our members.
At a profit, of course.
Regards
Colin
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 30/11/2006 13:52
Brian,
For once I agree with Colin and as both mine and Eddies 13/4 have the same type of cover then we can safely say this is correct. My 12/2 has the same white enamelled shell but has lost its opaque cover. My guess is that as it was fitted on the near side of the van it was vunerable to damage from high hedges etc.
I have a spare shell as does the 12/2 SAFARI in Manchester that has been broken for spares but no cover. I will see if I can source a repro one locally and maybe get a batch made--no promises.
Regards
Droll Mike
From: Jan_Gareth1 Sent: 01/12/2006 12:42
We have been searching too for over 2 years. As yours Brian the opaque front was gone when we bought our van and the plastic lid replacement didi not last.
Currently (photo to follow) our awning light can be used but is protected with a Roses chocolate metal tin screwed into place to keep the elements out. Until i find another opaque cover the light is out of use due to the bind of unscrewing and rescrewing the tin into place each time we set up camp.
From: Safariconvert Sent: 01/12/2006 15:26
If you look at our 12-2s pictures you will see it has an opaque flat plastic plate screwed over the light. It doesn't look pretty but it does work!
Cliff
From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 01/12/2006 22:14
With the exception of my 1980 17-2 I feel fairly sure that all the Safaris we have had in the family had, when we first bought them, a translucent round cover secured by three set screws, and which was approximately rectangular in section - i.e. a fairly flat circular face, and a curved rim spacing this out from the base. I would guess that this was original, and covered a wide range of the later models and years.
The 17-2 has a shallow domed translucent cover, again secured by three set screws, but with no spacer rim; the edge of the dome sits directly on the base, and there is sufficient curvature in the dome to accommodate the bulb. I suspect that this is not original, but someone at some time has either managed to find another pattern that is an exact fit or has had one specially made; I presume that the latter would not be difficult if one had access to a vacuum forming machine, and since these are now standard equipment in secondary school CDT workshops one might reasonably hope that a suitably equipped firm could be found who would make up a batch.
Interestingly, I have just scanned the 1973 Safari Sales Brochure for Digbycenrhos, who intends to upload it to the site shortly; 10 official company photographs showing the nearside of the caravans, and not an awning lamp amongst them!
Oliver
From: robthechemist Sent: 03/12/2006 12:27
i just went to the local DIY store and cut a piece of clear flexible perspex in a circle and inserted under the rubber seal, worked fine and gave more light out, although i know its the original most people want but this is a good stop gap. i also used the same method for one of the interior lights and it was great for reading.
Rob