MCI Marker lights

[peterbylt]

On the MCI 96A3 I need to replace a few of the Marker lights.

I have decided since at least 50% of the lights need to be replaced I might as well replace them all and switch to LED if possible.
 
This Grote 47732 looks like it is the only LED that is 24 volt that has all the correct measurements to be a direct screw in replacement.

http://www.grote.com/products/47732-sealed-rectangular-led-clearance-marker-lamp-red/?industrycat=&prodcat=clearance-marker-lights

Has anyone used these or see any reason they would not be a good replacement?

The only drawback I see is they are rather expensive at $20 each.

Peter

[scanzel]

Yes it is hard to find 24v replacements. On mine I want to go led too so I am thinking of tracing out all the exterior light wires and converting over to 12v using a 24v to 12v relay. The 12v has many more options for choices. This light that you are looking at doesn't look to be surface mount as it has a small round disk on the back. The relay would be activated by the 24v but send 12v over the wires. With led you probably won't over power the smaller gauge wire with led low amp draw. Good Luck !

[RJ]

Peter -

I have heard that MCI has a kit to completely change the exterior marker lights (all 14 of them) to LEDs that are exact duplicates of the originals.

Might call MCI Service Parts at (800)-323-1290 and ask.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[buswarrior]

Yes, MCI made LED retrofit kits available.

Many busnuts have quietly/mistakenly/boldly gone ahead and put name brand LED onto the 24 volt with no problems.

All bets are off on un-rated, no-name cheapies...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[scanzel]

So buswarrior are you says that they put a 12v rated led on a 24v system, did they use a resistor to decrease voltage ?

[buswarrior]

Straight in.

My parts bus went several years with 7" round brake lights in it that a helpful mechanic "upgraded" for the previous owner out of the old transit bus parts.

Back when LED first appeared, many/most of the name brand stuff had no ratings. Not much has changed? If you could find a factory tech that will talk, it was discovered they were voltage tolerant, they just didn't bother thinking about the, even then, 24 volt obscure crowd.

They just made 'em. Specifically rating them "12 volt" was like advertising the truck came with "a steering wheel"

Again, NAME BRAND sources, with proper DOT ratings, etc etc.

All bets are off with internet sourced, unknown source, white box, inexpensive, counterfeit, unrated, foreign, unregulated, unknown quality assurance...

Do I recall that the MCI clearance lights were somewhat unique in size? MC 8-9-early 102? I remember busnuts making up little mounting plates for their acquired upgrades to fill the space/adapt the mount? And MCI used to be very proud of their LED kits, perhaps that has changed?

Believe me when I tell you a failed LED clearance marker can burn your bus to the ground in ways an old tungsten light bulb cannot.
Do NOT foam them into place, some space around the back of them is a good idea, so they can merrily smoke away.

But we all have name brand, working and tested, smoke and CO2 alarms on our coaches?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[HudsonMarine]

I've read in a few places that most LED lights are ratedc to work between 5V and 32V.
IF this is true, it would cover many applications such as our 24V systems.

[lostagain]

A lot of LED bulbs are cheap crap. I have had LED bulbs from Super Bright LED, and from street vendors in Quartzsite, that burn out in a short time. How do you know what to look for to get quality?

JC

[Billysurf]

.70 each:  https://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ryder/

[peterbylt]

I had thought that Grote was a pretty good name brand?

The Grote 47732 Red and the Grote 47732 amber, look like they will fit, the measurements for the length width and mounting screw holes is correct, they are rated for 24 volts, the original lights on my bus have a hole through the roof for the wires and protruding light socket underneath in the center as well as a metal bracket on the inside of the roof for the screws to bite into.

I have ordered one of the lights to see if it works, if it fits and works, I will order the remaining 15 and swap them all out and report back here.

One of the reasons for going with a name like Grote is to hopefully get a light that will remain in production for a while in case I need to replace any.

Hopefully these lights will work forever 

Peter 

[buswarrior]

Yes, Grote is a reputable name brand.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Dave5Cs]

O Reilly's carries a socket rebuilt kit for 1.50 Aprox cost. When I have one go I take it out and wire up the new socket and inner disk that comes with it. I stretch out the spring a little put in Dielectric grease and back in she goes. They work well.

[peterbylt]

I got one of the Grote 47732 lights.

I removed the worst one of the original marker lights, Back center.

The rivets on the backing plate (and all the backing plates) just broke off.

The mounting screws for the new light would not bite into the old backing plate so I made a new backing plate and riveted it in place, this is necessary if you want to be able to easily replace the lights after the new ceiling is in place, I also added female bullet connectors to the bus wiring harness after I cut off the old light, the new light comes preinstalled with male bullet connectors.
 
Using the provided gasket and some new stainless screws I mounted the new light.

It makes a good watertight seal against the roof, it is much brighter than the original, easy to see in bright sunlight.

If you look in the bottom two pictures, the new light in the center and the old light to the left are on, you can barely see the light to the left.

I have noticed since I install this marker light that all the new MCI busses use this exact same marker light.

I have ordered the remaining 15 lights to replace them all, there will be 7 Red and 9 amber lights in all.











Peter

[Oonrahnjay]

I got one of the Grote 47732 lights. ...

   Neat work and good photos clearly showing what/how you did it.  Thanks.