Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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I have yet to see somebody post a picture of LED lighting that I would consider to be acceptable for general use. every one posted has shown glare, hot spots, harsh, etc.
somebody proudly posted a picture of his lights over his bed and it seemed dreadful to me. JMHO
If you do extensive boon docking and need to conserve a bunch of electricity, I would consider them, but for general use, not for me.
and the reports of the cost, burning out, etc.???
bumpy
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi Bumpy,
Leave an 1156 on for a week and see what it does to your battery bank?
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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atreis
IN
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Joined: 08/29/2005
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The fluorescents will use only marginally less power than the incandescents but will produce more light. There are direct LED replacements available for the incandescents. You could go that route and keep the same amount of light while using less power. It really depends on your goal.
I got my LED lights from superbrightleds.com. BTW - when buying LEDs the color temperature is very important. For a nice warm light similar to the incandescents you want the color temperature to be in the 3-4K range. For similar brightness you want around 120-150 lumens. If you're trying to save power you can generally go with less light in certain areas, such as over the bunks, and just buy the bright ones for the main lights. If I don't point them out, I've yet to have anyone notice that I'm using LED lights. I've also not had any fail.
* This post was
edited 07/17/10 10:24am by atreis *
2009 Trail-Sport TS21RBH
2008 Toyota Sienna
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pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
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Joined: 04/26/2005
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I'm 100% LED in the interior now.
Warm white LEDs provide for a very natural light - much more pleasing than flourescent bulbs - which I'd never consider. The LED's lumen output do match or exceed stock incandescent bulbs now if you are careful to buy the high output ones. LED lights are of course cooler in your interior in hot weather and do not yellow the plastic lens covers. Their big plus is they just sip battery power for dry camping.
You want to buy the LED lights that are made up of the multiple flat yellow colored small circular modules mounted on a flat "PC board" surface - these are called SMT (Surface Mount Technology) LEDs. Buy good ones with the voltage protection circuitry included so variations in your 12V system voltage don't harm them.
I spent some $$ to go 100% interior LED lighting instead of messing with more batteries and/or punching holes in the roof for solar panels. For us, the outcome has been the same ... extending the time that battery energy lasts between charges.
Phil, 2005 E450 Itasca 324V Spirit
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tpi
Southern CA.
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Joined: 02/22/2005
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Warm white LEDs and fluorescents have something in common-they both use phosphor excited by UV light. The light quality is similar. Not as nice as incandescent but pretty good, considering the energy savings.
I recently converted some of the incandescents to LEDs. The light is similar to 3000K fluorescent and retrofitting the bulbs is much easier than changing the fixture. Many people would not notice the difference unless it was pointed out.
If you're wary of the quality of the LEDs available, just wait a little longer. There will be more reports on longevity and very possibly at some point major manufacturers will step in.
But at this point I wouldn't rip out the incandescent fixtures and replace with fluorescents.
* This post was
edited 07/17/10 10:45am by tpi *
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tpi
Southern CA.
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dupe please delete
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kincade
salt lake city, utah
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Joined: 03/19/2007
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I've tried the Superbrightled, ledwholesaler, and led trailer light interior lights. Our rig is now 100% outfitted with lights from LEDtrailerlights and we are both 100% happy. In face, unless you look right at the bulb neither of us can tell the difference between these and the stock incandescent bulbs. Unless that is when it comes time to recharge the batteries.
We used the 921 bulbs.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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kincade wrote: In face, unless you look right at the bulb neither of us can tell the difference between these and the stock incandescent bulbs.
you have confirmed my opinion since I believe that incandescents suck as a light source. yep, if you do a lot of boondocking and absolutely have to conserve juice, LEDs are wonderful.
bumpy
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jcthorne
Houston, TX
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Joined: 06/13/2005
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I replaced all my interior incondesent lamps with LEDs from Superbright and LEDwarehouse. Very pleased with the results but did makes a few upgrades to the lighting along the way. I replaced the 2 bulb fixture above the kitchen counter (actually it was above the sink, undercabinet) with a 22" flouresent fixture with warm white lamps. Much more light and no dark space on the couter. I cook a lot in the RV and having proper lighting in the kitchen was a real plus.
I then replaced the single lamp fixture in the toilet room with the dual lamp from the kitchen. I installed a low output LED lamp on one side and a high output on the other. We leave the low output one on all the time 24/7 as a night light. With the overhead vent bringing light in during the day, we mostly never use the bright one unless reading on the john or cleaning.
The color temperature is very nice and no one has noticed they are not normal incondesents unless you touch the fixture. They do not get warm. They are also brigher than the bayonet incondesent lamps they replaced. I no longer need to add a second pair of batteries.
We had thin-lite flouresents throughout our last coach, LEDs were not available 10 years ago. They work ok. They are electricaly noisy. They are expensive and they are not as efficient as the LED replacement bulbs.
2008 Damon 3575 (38ft, forward kitchen)on Ford 22k chassis
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Harry Havasu
Lake Havasu City, Az.
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Joined: 02/27/2004
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I have to agree with Bumpy. Not seen an LEDs yet that aren't too harsh for mellow inside lighting ....
They may exist but I haven't seen them yet. Just turn off the incandescants when not in use,
Am I old fashioned .. Well, I'm willing to learn and will keep reading on this topic.
Harry Havasu
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