Switch indicator lights dead? Here's a fix.

Got an electrical switch with an indicator light in it? These little lights illuminate to tell you that say, your water heater is on or your door step is "locked." The problem is, sometimes these little tell-tales die, leaving you "in the dark." Finding a replacement switch can be a costly (if not impossible) task. Here's how to do an inexpensive work-around: Add an LED indicator.

First, you'll need to match up your voltage need. Most stuff in our RVs is 12-volt powered, but you may run into some "shore power" switches. Once you know what the voltage is, visit in person (or on the web) and LED supplier. A handy size indicator is typically about a quarter-inch in diameter. We found some on the web for less than $3 each.

It's best to turn off the power before starting--especially when working with shore power devices. On the switch panel (or nearby) drill an appropriately sized hole and push the LED barrel, leads first, into the hole. Using a similar sized flat push-on speed nut, push the nut over the leads and flush up against the back side of the panel, firmly holding the new indicator in place. Connect the leads of the LED to the switch contacts where the existing wires connect up, in "parallel" with the existing dead indicator lamps.