I bought 28 "48SMD LED Light panels)to convert the 12 Volt lights to LEDs. So far I have converted two florescent fixtures, removing all the florescent components, circuit board, etc., and sticking the LED panels to the fixture housing and then replacing the fixture lens cover. Everything works fine except that the LEDs are giving off a great deal of heat. I thought that the LEDs would be extremely efficient since all the consumed energy converts to light, not heat. That does not appear to be the case as there is a lot of heat being produced. Removing the lens cover from one of the fixtures I cannot keep my hand on the 48 LED panel because it is too hot. I bought these LEDs on E-Bay for $2.75 each. Are these just cheap (crummy) LEDs or are they supposed to be that hot? At this point I'm not sure I want to convert the rest of my fixtures.Thanks in advance for whatever comments or suggestions you might offer me.

If you bouight the water proofed ones they have a rubbe coating and do get warm to the touch. If you run your fingers over uncovered ones you can feel the sharpness of the lens. The rubber coated ones are smooth but as you say get hot.

Heat is not good for any LED. They will last longer when htey run cooler.Yet to get more brightness, sometimes the manufacture sets up the LED to run more amperage, and that will also cause more heat, thus lower lifespan. Fred.

Sounds like the ones I have. Mine are cool up to 12.6 Volts but get pretty hot at a volt or two higher. It isn't a problem for me because we always boondock without a generator. Otherwise I would need to regulate the voltage. You can get a magic box regulator for about $3 on ebay that holds the voltage at 12 for several amps or a small 12 V regulator component for one light for fifty cents.

I replaced all the florescent insides with LED strips. I like the outcome except for the heat. Put voltage regulators on the 12 volt wires feeding the the fixtures. Set the voltage a 12 volts. Stopped all the heat and did not change how much light the strips put out.I posted my experience on another forum. Inexpensive Fluorescent to LED Upgrade . Check out last few pages of thread for these mods.

LEDs and fluorescents actually have lumen/watt ratings that are similar. So for a given brightness, the LED lamp will put out as much heat as the fluorescent. The real payback is with converting incandescent to LED.

LEDs replaced florescents but get hot | Good Sam Community

YC_1
Nomad
Jun 14, 2013
If you bouight the water proofed ones they have a rubbe coating and do get warm to the touch. If you run your fingers over uncovered ones you can feel the sharpness of the lens. The rubber coated ones are smooth but as you say get hot.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013
Heat is not good for any LED. They will last longer when htey run cooler.

Yet to get more brightness, sometimes the manufacture sets up the LED to run more amperage, and that will also cause more heat, thus lower lifespan.

Fred.
Harvey51
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013
Sounds like the ones I have. Mine are cool up to 12.6 Volts but get pretty hot at a volt or two higher. It isn't a problem for me because we always boondock without a generator. Otherwise I would need to regulate the voltage. You can get a magic box regulator for about $3 on ebay that holds the voltage at 12 for several amps or a small 12 V regulator component for one light for fifty cents.
ronfisherman
Moderator
Jun 14, 2013
I replaced all the florescent insides with LED strips. I like the outcome except for the heat. Put voltage regulators on the 12 volt wires feeding the the fixtures. Set the voltage a 12 volts. Stopped all the heat and did not change how much light the strips put out.
I posted my experience on another forum. Inexpensive Fluorescent to LED Upgrade . Check out last few pages of thread for these mods.
frankwp
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013
LEDs and fluorescents actually have lumen/watt ratings that are similar. So for a given brightness, the LED lamp will put out as much heat as the fluorescent. The real payback is with converting incandescent to LED.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jun 14, 2013
tinstaafl wrote:
I bought 28 "48SMD LED Light panels)to convert the 12 Volt lights to LEDs. So far I have converted two florescent fixtures, removing all the florescent components, circuit board, etc., and sticking the LED panels to the fixture housing and then replacing the fixture lens cover.

Everything works fine except that the LEDs are giving off a great deal of heat. I thought that the LEDs would be extremely efficient since all the consumed energy converts to light, not heat. That does not appear to be the case as there is a lot of heat being produced. Removing the lens cover from one of the fixtures I cannot keep my hand on the 48 LED panel because it is too hot.

I bought these LEDs on E-Bay for $2.75 each. Are these just cheap (crummy) LEDs or are they supposed to be that hot? At this point I'm not sure I want to convert the rest of my fixtures.

Thanks in advance for whatever comments or suggestions you might offer me.

First, LED's are more efficient than incandescent lights but still VERY VERY inefficient, on the order of 15% of the energy is converted to visible light, the rest is heat. (incandesent lights are on the order of 1% efficient on light conversion) So, they will get warm. Second, many cheap LED arrays, use simple dropping resistors to set the voltage. Good as long as the voltage is constant. But in an RV when the charger is on, voltage can be as high as 14.6V, or as low as 11.5V with no charger and low batteries. These cheaper arrays are designed for a nominal 12V, 14.6 really increases the power and heat. enought that I've had the LED's get hot enough to melt the solder at 14.6V. Solution is to buy quality units that are regulated to supply a constant current to the LED's. Then they are warm to the touch and will last.
tvman44
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013
Depending on your converter your 12 volts could be 14 or so volts which will cause over heating. That is why I put a 12 volt regulator in each fixture so mine never get over 12 volts and increase the life of the LEDs. :)
PJMAX
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
here is a pic of my conversion
http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o720/PJDuramax/P4030023_zpsc1a9a464.jpg
http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o720/PJDuramax/P4030022_zps0a808e22.jpg
http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o720/PJDuramax/P4030024_zps78553ac2.jpg
PJMAX
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o720/PJDuramax/P4030023_zpsc1a9a464.jpg
tinstaafl
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
It seems that I must reduce my input to 12 volts. I am running about 13.6 to a little over 14. I have not had any luck finding a regulator like those being referred to. Can someone provide a link?

Thanks to all for solving my problem (now all I need are some regulators).