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RamblinAnne's avatar
RamblinAnne
Explorer
Jan 30, 2017

New Ceiling Light Fixture

Okay guys.. hoping someone can help me out here..

I'm in the middle of a remodel on my Bigfoot Truck Camper. I've successfully replaced all the old "dome style" ceiling lights with flush mount 12V LED ceiling lights (I ordered the Dream Lighting from Amazon). I also replaced the dome lights under the cabinet with light bars (again, I used Dream Lighting + a longer bar from a company called Glowback LED).

Now.. I would really like to replace one of the dome lights above my dinette with a nicer chandelier type of lighting fixture, as this is the focal light in the camper. I also want to replace the bedroom sconces with something nicer. I'm having a very difficult time finding nice 12V lighting fixtures. The selection is limited, expensive, and UGLY!

My question is.. is there any way to replace the lights with a regular house chandelier like the type sold at lamps plus, etc... I realize those lights are built for homes (120V AC) and my camper is wired for 12V DC. But surely there is a way I can make it work. I've seen it done in other campers.. I just have no idea how. Do I need some kind of converter? Do I need a special bulb adapter? I'm so confused. Hoping someone can answer this.
  • Gdetrailer's avatar
    Gdetrailer
    Explorer III
    Jan 31, 2017
    guthriez wrote:
    We replaced our ugly old dining table fixture with a nice modern-looking LED 12V one from a marine-supply store. Worked like a charm, looked far better, and was much more sleek. As I recall, it was about $95.00 a couple of years ago. We loved it.


    Not everyone has a "marine" store handy AND anything that has the word "marine" and is sold at a marine store tends to be pretty expensive..

    $95 for ONE fixture is pretty darn expensive.

    Glad it works for you, but I outfitted my entire TT with small under counter "puck" 12V Brass look G4 base Halogen lights for less than $40 and they look stunning.. Retrofitted the pucks with LEDs.. The LEDs cost $25 for six, bought three packs of those and have spares..

    So for a bit more than the price of your one marine fixture I replaced all of my lights with much better looking fixtures than a standard RV fixture.

    Home fixtures come in far more variety with price points from $10 and up, many sizes and finishes and are extremely easy to find anywhere there is a hardware store or electrical supply store..

    Marine, not so much.
  • guthriez's avatar
    guthriez
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2017
    We replaced our ugly old dining table fixture with a nice modern-looking LED 12V one from a marine-supply store. Worked like a charm, looked far better, and was much more sleek. As I recall, it was about $95.00 a couple of years ago. We loved it.
  • Gdetrailer's avatar
    Gdetrailer
    Explorer III
    Jan 30, 2017
    RamblinAnne wrote:
    Gdetrailer wrote:


    Typical home fixtures have "Edison" sockets, standard size is "E27".. There are some 12V LED bulbs which are designed for use in E27 sockets..

    One example HERE (note, I have NEVER tried or used this brand, it is what came up in my search so I cannot guarantee quality)..

    The smaller sockets used in home lighting you may run into are "candelabra" size, they are "E12" size..

    You might have a difficult time finding these in 12V, pretty limited from what I can tell..

    HERE is one example I found..

    I did find an interesting E27 adapter to G4 pin style bulb that might be helpful..

    E27 to G4 PINwith this adapter you can find a lot of 12V LED bulbs..

    Good luck!


    Thanks so much for responding. So it seems that the issue is not so much the wiring as it is the bulb. Am I correct on that? As long as I get a bulb that works (I do want to use LED) then I can install whatever lighting fixture I can find?


    Correct.

    120V A/C home light fixtures can be used on 12V provided you can find a bulb that matches the socket or some adapter which matches the 12V bulb to the socket.

    The problem is, not as many 12V bulbs that are made for directly fitting a 120V fixture socket.. And the ones you do find you will have a very limited selection in color temp (IE soft white (2700K, yellow incadescent color) Bright white (3000K-4000K)or Daylight (5000K and higher, blueish white)..

    Not to mention the brightness in wattage/lumens selection will be limited.. That 7W led I linked would be equivalent brightness to about 25W incadescent or perhaps a bit more (40W?) but no where near say 60W incadescent as that link says.. I have some 10W 120V LEDs which are rated to replace 60W incadescents and they just barely do that.

    There is one other issue to look at, the size.. Most home fixtures are considerably larger and may not physically fit where a RV fixture fit and or may look out of proportion in size to your RVs space..
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2017
    RamblinAnne wrote:


    Thanks so much for responding. So it seems that the issue is not so much the wiring as it is the bulb. Am I correct on that? As long as I get a bulb that works (I do want to use LED) then I can install whatever lighting fixture I can find?


    Absolutely correct, it is only the lamps that are important.
  • RamblinAnne's avatar
    RamblinAnne
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2017
    Gdetrailer wrote:


    Typical home fixtures have "Edison" sockets, standard size is "E27".. There are some 12V LED bulbs which are designed for use in E27 sockets..

    One example HERE (note, I have NEVER tried or used this brand, it is what came up in my search so I cannot guarantee quality)..

    The smaller sockets used in home lighting you may run into are "candelabra" size, they are "E12" size..

    You might have a difficult time finding these in 12V, pretty limited from what I can tell..

    HERE is one example I found..

    I did find an interesting E27 adapter to G4 pin style bulb that might be helpful..

    E27 to G4 PINwith this adapter you can find a lot of 12V LED bulbs..

    Good luck!


    Thanks so much for responding. So it seems that the issue is not so much the wiring as it is the bulb. Am I correct on that? As long as I get a bulb that works (I do want to use LED) then I can install whatever lighting fixture I can find?
  • Gdetrailer's avatar
    Gdetrailer
    Explorer III
    Jan 30, 2017
    RamblinAnne wrote:
    Okay guys.. hoping someone can help me out here..

    I'm in the middle of a remodel on my Bigfoot Truck Camper. I've successfully replaced all the old "dome style" ceiling lights with flush mount 12V LED ceiling lights (I ordered the Dream Lighting from Amazon). I also replaced the dome lights under the cabinet with light bars (again, I used Dream Lighting + a longer bar from a company called Glowback LED).

    Now.. I would really like to replace one of the dome lights above my dinette with a nicer chandelier type of lighting fixture, as this is the focal light in the camper. I also want to replace the bedroom sconces with something nicer. I'm having a very difficult time finding nice 12V lighting fixtures. The selection is limited, expensive, and UGLY!

    My question is.. is there any way to replace the lights with a regular house chandelier like the type sold at lamps plus, etc... I realize those lights are built for homes (120V AC) and my camper is wired for 12V DC. But surely there is a way I can make it work. I've seen it done in other campers.. I just have no idea how. Do I need some kind of converter? Do I need a special bulb adapter? I'm so confused. Hoping someone can answer this.


    Typical home fixtures have "Edison" sockets, standard size is "E27".. There are some 12V LED bulbs which are designed for use in E27 sockets..

    One example HERE (note, I have NEVER tried or used this brand, it is what came up in my search so I cannot guarantee quality)..

    The smaller sockets used in home lighting you may run into are "candelabra" size, they are "E12" size..

    You might have a difficult time finding these in 12V, pretty limited from what I can tell..

    HERE is one example I found..

    I did find an interesting E27 adapter to G4 pin style bulb that might be helpful..

    E27 to G4 PINwith this adapter you can find a lot of 12V LED bulbs..

    Good luck!
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2017
    there are standard based (120) fixtures and 12 volt lights with that base.
    bumpy
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jan 30, 2017
    I would stick with 12V fixtures Anne. There is a way to use tradition light fixtures in a 12V setting but it involves using expensive light bulbs that gulp power and often dont last long. Very old RV's used them.
    Have you checked eBay? There are quite a few there but any kind of chandelier will be difficult - mostly because of its instability. There are some nice surface mounted fixtures though.
  • Rog___Nan's avatar
    Rog___Nan
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2017
    We replaced 2 sconces in living room and replaced dinette light with matching chandelier. Got them at RV surplus in Elkhart In. We live in northern Indiana so a short trip to Elkhart or White Pigeon MI to Brontregers where they also have lights at really reasonable prices. Also replaced bedroom sconces.

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