My LEDs
FYI: I have been posting updates for those of us who have already read the OP below. For anyone new to the thread, it might be best to skip down below all of these updates, read the body of the post...
Forum Discussion
I've installed a few of the Chinese LED panels, both 36 SMD and 48 SMD panels. I bought them through Asian sellers on EBay, choosing the least expensive panels I could find. IIRC, the sellers were linked in the first few posts of this thread. Since my vintage Starcraft's fixtures were in such tough shape (cracked or missing diffusers, rusty sockets, etc.), I housed the panels in card frames that I picked up at the Dollar store and wired them direct to the 12 v. system.
What I found is that color differs between sellers, choosing "warm white" may get a slight difference between the various panels. The 36 SMD panels are not enough light for task lighting, IMO but may be enough for some users. The 48 SMD panels are bright enough for any use and the color is generally indistinguishable from incandescent bulbs they replaced. Heat isn't an issue, I attached the 3M tape on the back of the panels onto aluminum sheet that either fit inside the small fixtures or, in one location, onto 1/8" aluminum plate. Judging from an infrared measurement of the glass diffuser, they are quite a bit cooler running than incandescents.
Hats off to Kendall for breaking ground on the LED's and posting about his use of them. They are certainly a savings in wattage and should prove to be a good replacement of the stock auto bulbs.
What I found is that color differs between sellers, choosing "warm white" may get a slight difference between the various panels. The 36 SMD panels are not enough light for task lighting, IMO but may be enough for some users. The 48 SMD panels are bright enough for any use and the color is generally indistinguishable from incandescent bulbs they replaced. Heat isn't an issue, I attached the 3M tape on the back of the panels onto aluminum sheet that either fit inside the small fixtures or, in one location, onto 1/8" aluminum plate. Judging from an infrared measurement of the glass diffuser, they are quite a bit cooler running than incandescents.
Hats off to Kendall for breaking ground on the LED's and posting about his use of them. They are certainly a savings in wattage and should prove to be a good replacement of the stock auto bulbs.
