OPRA LIGHTS OPERATION

[lakidd135]

I have 1982 OLDS 98 REGENCY BROUGHAM with floresent lights on the B pillar between front and rear doors, does anyone know anything about where the power supply is located and does it have a fuse or a fuseable link or ? or even how they turn on or a wiring diagram of these lights. thanks

[Oldsguy]

Sounds like you are talking about the exterior ones on late seventies C body sedans. I think they are on the same circuit as the parking lights.

[Oldsguy]

Al,
I merged your two threads. Posting in multiple sub-forums really doesn't help much here as we are still pretty small.

[BILL DEMMER]

if they are like the buick regals of the day, the had an inverter in the trunk under the center of the package shelf.


bill

[Allan R]

Originally Posted by BILL DEMMER

if they are like the buick regals of the day, the had an inverter in the trunk under the center of the package shelf.


bill

Hey Bill,
Yes, there is an inverter. I had the opera lights on my 1983 Olds Regency Brougham. But the inverter isn't under the package shelf. It's on the drivers side behind the trunk liner close to the trunk wheel well housing.

[lakidd135]

Allan do you know what usually cause them not to work most of the time? any ideas? thanks for your info
AL

[lakidd135]

Thanks Dan

[Allan R]

Originally Posted by lakidd135

Allan do you know what usually cause them not to work most of the time? any ideas? thanks for your info
AL

I don't know what causes them to fail. I know it's not the fluorescent tubes. I suspect its the inverter that goes bad. Since I'm not an electrician I can only guess, but I think it's this: Flourescent lights need a special ballast to operate. So I think the inverter is just a fancy term for a power transformer. If the transformer craps out, then it won't feed the lights. I replaced the inverter in my car when the opera lights went out and that solved the problem. Different system than a regular incandescent bulb. Anyway, just to be on the safe side when you're working on electrical circuits, it's a good idea to disconnect the battery before you do anything.

[BILL DEMMER]

an inverter(in this application) takes the 12 volts dc, switches it on and off, creating a sort of ac voltage, which is fed to the primary side of a step-up transformer. the transformer increases the voltage and lowers the current to feed the lights. i don't know if this particular system rectifies the ac back to dc for the lights. but the circuit voltage is a significantly higher voltage than 12 volts, so the battery caution(above) is a very good one. from what i recall seeing on a regal of this vintage, the lamp drive voltage is around 130 volts. there should be a warning tag on the wiring.

my first guess is the inverter(provided power is reaching it).


bill

[lakidd135]

Hello thanks guys for the information about the opera lights ,at least now i have some idea about what I am looking for because I have the original GM manufacture service and repair and also electrical manuals for these cars but it does not show that circuit for those kind of lights it only show for the lights on the c pillar which of course is the incundesent light behind the back door.

[Olds64]

it does not show that circuit for those kind of lights

That sucks! I was going to suggest picking up an electrical manual or Chilton's manual at the very least. They are usually more useful than that.

[lakidd135]

Well guys I have looked all over the trunk under the liner in each side but not sure what I was looking for but the only thing i saw was a little small box in each corner next to the the tail lights but i do not think that they have anything to do with these post lights. they are about 2inch by 2 inch in size.i think theu have something to do with the tail lights. So if there is anyone out there that has actually worked on an 82 olds 98 with these lights i would really like some advice on these.lights if anyone can help. thanks

[lakidd135]

Ok guys I have found the power inverter is what i call it and it seems to be bad as far as I can tell. can anyone tell me where I can find the inverter box and maybe the lights on the side also? It has a number on it that says 8205E and it is a little blue box with 3 three terminals close together and one on the other end of the box. the lights just unscrew from the outside of the car not hard to remove. thanks for helping.

[Allan R]

Originally Posted by lakidd135

Ok guys I have found the power inverter is what i call it and it seems to be bad as far as I can tell. can anyone tell me where I can find the inverter box and maybe the lights on the side also? It has a number on it that says 8205E and it is a little blue box with 3 three terminals close together and one on the other end of the box. the lights just unscrew from the outside of the car not hard to remove. thanks for helping.

Try the web and search for automotive power inverters.

The B pillar lights are held on by an allen screw that you get to by opening the front door. the screw is on the bottom of the opera light. Replacement fluorescent lights shouldn't be that hard to get.

So, where did you find the inverter? Mine (1983) was on the drivers side close to the seat divider. It was bracket mounted. Can't remember much more than that because I sold the car back in 2002.

[lakidd135]

Yes Allan R it was exactly in that same place, they really have it tucked under there i had to pull the light off and check the wires and found the blue and white wires in the trunk and found the inverter so I came up with this idea since the lights are 110 volts i wired a lighter plug in inverter and use the same wire coming from the headlight switch and turned them on but when the engine is off they come on and off but when i start the engine the lights stay on study but at least i know the lights work so now i have to try to find and inverter that will power them all the time steady. the one i used was 75 watts but not sure if that had anything to do with the lights going off and on but maybe its just the design of those type of units. well if you happen to run across one or two of those little inverters please drop me a line.