Light fixtures

Geeez, who pushed your grumpy button this morning? I didn't say they didn't have problems, I said MINE didn't. If you want to run an inverter to power a few lights and take all those inefficiencies, that's up to you. But really? You're gonna gripe about a one-time $9 difference to do that? You also might wanna go research LED technology too. Again, just because you have had issues and shy away doesn't mean the technology isn't sound. The entire industry has reinvented itself in the last year. This ain't LED land of 3 years ago.

BTW- Every socket in the house not on a dimmer has had CFL installed for over 20 years when they were $25+ each, so I know full well what problems are and are not. I have also had 3 catastrophically fail and one caught fire. But I will continue to use them.

SCVJeff wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
Camping World also sells a CFL lamp with a std. Edison E27 base for $10. It's WW and looks exactly like an incandescent.

Yep, it is possible but many 12V CFLs have a POOR track record for life not to mention expensive. I can buy a 5 pack of 14W CFLs in nearly any color temperature at any home center or even Wally World for $5-$6.

You can't find them that are 12V at Home Depot. I've had two of the CW 12V lamps for 5+ years and they're doing fine. When dropping from 4A to 900ma, they've paid for themselves in fuel alone NOT having to use the gen.

:R

Just because YOU have not had any "problems" with 12V CFLs DOESN'T mean that your experience with then that ALL are of good quality.

The RE folks have had issues with 12V CFLs not lasting, these are folks who are running their ENTIRE HOMES OFF GRID. Instead MANY opt to use inverters AND 120V CFLs. Not just for compatibility sake but for longevity.

I personally have been badly "bit" by poor quality LEDs both 120V and 12V, I won't try them again and I certainly will not consider 12V CFLs.

So far I have 120V CFLs that have lasted 20 YEARS, granted I have had a few that have been less than 10 yrs but keep in mind those are run dusk to dawn 365 days a year OUTDOORS.

120V CFL track record IS better and the cost is MUCH, MUCH lower.

I am willing to take a small "hit" on the Ahr for convenience of 120V CFLs (get them anywhere), low price ($1 or less EACH compared to $10 EACH :E for 12V and the long lasting track record.. :B

But you are fine to do things YOUR way if you "like"... :h

Gdetrailer wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
Camping World also sells a CFL lamp with a std. Edison E27 base for $10. It's WW and looks exactly like an incandescent.

Yep, it is possible but many 12V CFLs have a POOR track record for life not to mention expensive. I can buy a 5 pack of 14W CFLs in nearly any color temperature at any home center or even Wally World for $5-$6.

You can't find them that are 12V at Home Depot. I've had two of the CW 12V lamps for 5+ years and they're doing fine. When dropping from 4A to 900ma, they've paid for themselves in fuel alone NOT having to use the gen.

SCVJeff wrote:
Camping World also sells a CFL lamp with a std. Edison E27 base for $10. It's WW and looks exactly like an incandescent.

Yep, it is possible but many 12V CFLs have a POOR track record for life not to mention expensive. I can buy a 5 pack of 14W CFLs in nearly any color temperature at any home center or even Wally World for $5-$6.

Francesca Knowles wrote:
I'm in the stone ages in my trailer so don't have an inverter- please excuse if this is a stupid question, but:

If one does have an inverter, can't any/all 110v fixtures be hooked up to operate through that when on 12v power?

There is no such thing as a stupid question.

Yes, you could power 120V lights via inverter.

However there are several issues in doing so.

If you want to light using 120V by changing to 120V fixtures in the ceiling and walls you would HAVE to "pull" new wiring rated for 120V usage. Really hard to do in most cases without having to cut some holes in the paneling and ceiling.

12V wiring used in RVs for lighting is not rated for use at 120V, it is low voltage wire. With low voltage wiring the wire is not required to be terminated in any work or junction boxes (unlike 120V electrical junctions). Not to mention there is no ground wire provisions.

Proper electrical boxes would need to be installed and the wiring would need to be done just as if you were doing it for your home to meet electric code standards.

If you didn't want to go to the hassle of running new wiring you CAN simply use some portable 120V lighting like floor and table top lamps. Then use CFL bulbs in those fixtures. The downside to this is you would need to find a way to "secure" the fixtures for traveling.

Using an inverter also introduces some power losses so you have to account for these losses concerning how much battery capacity you need. CFLs ARE more efficient than incadescents and I have to say.. LEDs, BUT adding in the inverter losses it does make LEDs rather close runner up in efficiency.

Camping World also sells a CFL lamp with a std. Edison E27 base for $10. It's WW and looks exactly like an incandescent.

I'm in the stone ages in my trailer so don't have an inverter- please excuse if this is a stupid question, but:

If one does have an inverter, can't any/all 110v fixtures be hooked up to operate through that when on 12v power?

Naturist...I have looked at Camping world and other outlets. They only have the basic types of fixtures. Some are different than the plastic ones but still are very generic.

I will try the lighting store and see what they have in smaller fixtures.

Thanks!

Gdetrailer...I proposed my idea to hubby shortly after I made the post. He informed me that yes it could be done, exactly as you mention. He looked at me rather oddly when I said I had asked for instructions on the forum and asked if I didn't think he could do it, LOL I just told him that more than one idea on doing this would be good.

Hubby and I thank you both for your ideas. We appreciate your comments about checking the size of the fixture.

Unless you have a particular need for a 120 volt light, I'd stick to 12 volt RV fixtures. There is a fairly wide selection of them to be found either at a Camping World Store near you, or online, at various RV supply houses.

Otherwise, you are going to have to either wire that light to BE a 120 volt light, or jury-rig an adapter of some sort.