Forum Discussion

BobsYourUncle's avatar
Jun 10, 2013

Good LED companies to buy from online?

I am researching info to convert to LED's in my TT so I can get longer life out of my batteries when boondocking.

After reading a lot of info here and other places, I have found a company that offers the 1141 / 1156 replacements for ten bucks each.

The ones I looked at from M4Products.com are product 1156-24-5050-CW, with a rating of 360 lumen and 5500 Kelvin for color. Seems like they would do the task well.

My own personal preference is the bright, white light as opposed to the softer yellow looking light.

Has anyone dealt with M4Products.com? I was thinking of going ahead and ordering some of these but thought I would check here first for anyone who may have experience with these folks. They are based in California.

Ten bucks each seems decent.

Any thoughts?

18 Replies

  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    BobsYourUncle wrote:

    After reading a lot of info here and other places, I have found a company that offers the 1141 / 1156 replacements for ten bucks each.

    The ones I looked at from M4Products.com are product 1156-24-5050-CW, with a rating of 360 lumen and 5500 Kelvin for color. Seems like they would do the task well.

    My own personal preference is the bright, white light as opposed to the softer yellow looking light.

    For kitchen work I prefer whiter color 4500-5000 like in luminescent tubes, to yellowish light of incandescent 3000. 5500 would be on the bluish end of the white. Not sure that I would want this.

    One more thing: This form is same inefficient as an old incandescent because half the light is lost - it illuminates the ceiling. What you need for those trailer domes is the "LED board", with an array of down-firing LEDs.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Bob - I just heard back from STEVE from M4 LED... He says they are using the same as the other manufacturers for the regulator components. He said I would probably still get RFI signals the same as the other manf boards would produce... Not enough demand for the few Ham radio guys to make it worth their effort to change things...

    Was nice to get a prompt response however...

    Roy Ken
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Bob - I am always interested in looking at other LED sources but seems like this one is following the course as the others have for their regulator circuit to allow their units to operate in 7VDC to 30VDC range. I have written the M4LED company to find out more information on their regulator circuits being used.

    Be curious if they have researched any other method other than BUCK BOOST to give them their DC Operating range. Altho most people will find these unit working very good for them we guys that sort of push the envelope will most likely find them producing the same amount of RFI interference to our high sensitive two way radio units as well as the HDTV and NOAH WX alert radioes.

    I have only tried a couple of different manf and they all gave me the same RFI radio interference.

    This interference really shows up when one is using the OTA BATWING type antennas when camping off the power grid. Those folks that use cable hookup and other modes of radio/TV reception seem to be able to live with the RFI signals being emitted by the various LED manufactures. OF Course many say they don't get the RFI interference at all. So who knows...

    All I know is my sensitive radio systems doesn't do well using regulated type LED circuits with my trailer setup when running off the power grids...

    If you get a couple of these REGULATED TYPE LED retrofit lights let me know how well they work out for you...

    I am doing just fine now with the $4.99 abay/china non-regulated 36 LED SMD boards that have a DC voltage range of 12V-14VDC.

    just my thoughts
    Roy Ken
  • I've spent a bunch with m4. Very good and quick service. Easy to get ahold of for questions. Products are exactly as described. I will suggest that you look at the 14.99 COB light plates. The are incredibly bright, much more so than the "regular" lights.
  • I wonder if the generic Taiwan/Chinese ebay dealers are still around. I bought a number of bulbs for a buck each, and they are still working for me. The color temperature is a bit cold, but I don't really mind since it saves me a lot of battery power.
  • I bought from LEDWHOLESALERS.com, very satisfied... not the cheapest by far, but I have had good results with no DOA bulbs or any premature failures..