17MKE Cargo Bay Lighting

[phalconfixer]

I noticed the right hand cargo bay door has a small, wired block attached to the bay opening. The pair of black wires attached to the block might be 22 gauge, they are thin wires. The cargo door also has an unwired block attached to it which aligns with the block on the opening when the door is closed. The off/on switch located inside the bay next to the left hand cargo door has 22 gauge wires attached to it, so I assume they lead to the right hand door block.

So, I thought these blocks might be magnetic switches to extinguish the LED cargo bay light when the right hand door is closed, however, the lights remain on with the door closed. Any ideas on the purpose of these blocks?

Jim

 

[Soundsailor]

I noticed the right hand cargo bay door has a small, wired block attached to the bay opening. The pair of black wires attached to the block might be 22 gauge, they are thin wires. The cargo door also has an unwired block attached to it which aligns with the block on the opening when the door is closed. The off/on switch located inside the bay next to the left hand cargo door has 22 gauge wires attached to it, so I assume they lead to the right hand door block.

So, I thought these blocks might be magnetic switches to extinguish the LED cargo bay light when the right hand door is closed, however, the lights remain on with the door closed. Any ideas on the purpose of these blocks?

Jim

Can't help you with that one, perhaps [MENTION=331]huntr70[/MENTION] could help.

 

[phalconfixer]

I'll get some pictures tomorrow, if the rain lets up.

Jim

 

[huntr70]

I noticed the right hand cargo bay door has a small, wired block attached to the bay opening. The pair of black wires attached to the block might be 22 gauge, they are thin wires. The cargo door also has an unwired block attached to it which aligns with the block on the opening when the door is closed. The off/on switch located inside the bay next to the left hand cargo door has 22 gauge wires attached to it, so I assume they lead to the right hand door block.

So, I thought these blocks might be magnetic switches to extinguish the LED cargo bay light when the right hand door is closed, however, the lights remain on with the door closed. Any ideas on the purpose of these blocks?

Jim

I went through every one of our XLS models on the lot and have no such thing on any of them.

Might be a newer feature, but I did check one that was built in March of this year....

 

[IBEW Sparky]

[MENTION=58739]phalconfixer[/MENTION]

With the doors open and the lights on try running a separate magnet across the contact blocks with the wires attached. If the lights go off it might just be your magnets aren't mounted close enough or lined up properly. That would be my first check, next would be tracing the wires and checking what they actually do.

 

[phalconfixer]

[MENTION=331]huntr70[/MENTION] [MENTION=27414]IBEW Sparky[/MENTION]

The rain let up a bit and I was able to get some pictures, please see the attachments. I'll get a magnet to run across the block to see if it applying it extinguishes the cargo lights. The wires from the block run behind the forward panel in the cargo bay which will take some time to trace so I'll defer that project for now.

By the way, left hand cargo bay door also has a wired block that is attached to the side panel, but its located some 6" from the door opening. The door has the target block attached in the same position as the right hand door but there is no possibility the block would make any type of contact with the door closed. I believe this allows the power for the lights to always be available to the switch.

Thanks for your responses.

Jim

 

[IBEW Sparky]

[MENTION=58739]phalconfixer[/MENTION]
Yeah those don't look like they are mounted correctly. They should be directly in line with each other and damn near touch when the door is closed. Unscrew one magnet from the door and hold it up against the wired switches to test them. You'll probably end up having to make your own little brackets to mount them correctly.

 

[phalconfixer]

@ IBEW Sparky
Sounds like a good idea, I'll unscrew the door target and hold it by the block and see if it has an effect on the lighting. Work is getting in the way so I might be delayed...

Jim

 

[phalconfixer]

@ IBEW Sparky
@ huntr70

I finally got around to positioning the left- and right-hand door targets next to the wired blocks and what do you know, the cargo lights went out even with the cargo light switch in the on position. I will be moving the left-hand door wired block to the door opening so it will be making contact. I have no idea why this was tacked to the cargo wall. I see this will be a nice convenance having the lights come on when one of the cargo doors is opened.

Thanks for your inputs, it was very helpful!

Jim

 

[IBEW Sparky]

@ IBEW Sparky
@ huntr70

I finally got around to positioning the left- and right-hand door targets next to the wired blocks and what do you know, the cargo lights went out even with the cargo light switch in the on position. I will be moving the left-hand door wired block to the door opening so it will be making contact. I have no idea why this was tacked to the cargo wall. I see this will be a nice convenance having the lights come on when one of the cargo doors is opened.

Thanks for your inputs, it was very helpful!

Jim

Glad to be of some help... this place is a wealth of knowledge!

 

[PeterAtt]

I'm not sure why they rigged it that way.
My 2021 17MKE has the lights with motion sensors and a three position switch on them. off, on and motion.

 

[huntr70]

I just checked in a brand new, fresh off the assembly line 17MKE.

No such thing on it. Maybe they were experimenting with different things for awhile.

 

[phalconfixer]

[MENTION=331]huntr70[/MENTION]
It would be too bad if later 17MKEs aren't fitted with the motion sensors, I find the feature to be quite handy.

Jim

 

[huntr70]

[MENTION=331]huntr70[/MENTION]
It would be too bad if later 17MKEs aren't fitted with the motion sensors, I find the feature to be quite handy.

Jim

The new one's have motion sensors, just no magnet switches.

 

[phalconfixer]

The new one's have motion sensors, just no magnet switches.

Copy that. Sensors have less moving parts, switches might need adjusting. Interesting how quickly GD changes a design.
Jim