So, it was raining today. I decided to fix one of my overhead florescent fixtures. The ballast had failed and I didn't want to spend the $$ for a new fixture. I purchased a roll of LED's and ends from Amazon for $19.90 including shipping. The roll of LEDs is 16.4 feet long and I used two strips, each 16" long, so I have tons left over. The ends came 10 to a pack so I have 9 left. Here's some pics:BEFOREAFTERBEFOREAFTERThe install was easy. Remove the plastic cover and the florescent tubes. Turn off power. Remove ballast cover by squeezing and pulling down. Snip the black and white wires and save. Snip all other wires and tube ends and discard. Using the ballast cover allows you to assemble the lights on your workbench. (I originally was going to use four strips but two is more than sufficient.) Measure the length of the LED strip and cut on the mark. Peel the backing off the LED strip and install. (I used double sided tape, cut lengthwise for extra holding power) For the second strip, use one of the 10 connectors. Attach both the red wires from the LED strips to the black wire from the fixture. Attach both the black wires from the LED strips to the white wire from the fixture. Reassemble and turn it on....DONE!Here's the parts list:10 Piece LED Strip ConnectorsLED strip lights

Executive wrote:So, it was raining today. I decided to fix one of my overhead florescent fixtures. The ballast had failed and I didn't want to spend the $$ for a new fixture. I purchased a roll of LED's and ends from Amazon for $19.90 including shipping. The roll of LEDs is 16.4 feet long and I used two strips, each 16" long, so I have tons left over. The ends came 10 to a pack so I have 9 left. Here's some pics:BEFOREAFTERBEFOREAFTERThe install was easy. Remove the plastic cover and the florescent tubes. Turn off power. Remove ballast cover by squeezing and pulling down. Snip the black and white wires and save. Snip all other wires and tube ends and discard. Using the ballast cover allows you to assemble the lights on your workbench. (I originally was going to use four strips but two is more than sufficient.) Measure the length of the LED strip and cut on the mark. Peel the backing off the LED strip and install. (I used double sided tape, cut lengthwise for extra holding power) For the second strip, use one of the 10 connectors. Attach both the red wires from the LED strips to the black wire from the fixture. Attach both the black wires from the LED strips to the white wire from the fixture. Reassemble and turn it on....DONE!Here's the parts list:10 Piece LED Strip ConnectorsLED strip lightsHey Exec, I've done a lot of LED conversions in and on our coach and, one of the last ones that I've not messed with is the ones you just changed, the center, florescent ones. One of the reasons I've not messed with them is because of all the ones I've seen in demos, all over the place, including the ones at the Quartszite RV event held every Jan-Feb, while are BRIGHT when you look directly at them, they DO NOT BROADCAST the light out, when and where you need it. So, my question to you is, are you really satisfied with the light output, at a given distance, in comparison to the original florescent ones you replaced?Scott

Nice conversion.When I did my florescent lights. It took 4 strips to equal the light of 2 bulbs. Your pictures look good with just the 2 strips. I did add a voltage regulator to each fixture to keep voltage at 12 volts. Over 2 years of use I have not had a problem.Here is a picture of the lights. From left to right. Original bulbs. 4000K LED's and 6000K LED's. The 4000K LED's are used in bathroom and over 3 reading chairs.Here is a picture looking down MH with all lights on. 2 of the 4000K fixtures can be seen on right side.

I did mine similar to yours using the roll of LED's. One thing that I did find out is that the adhesive did not hold that long, even tho I did clean the light fixture before attaching them. I ended up putting a few dabs of clear silicone on each strip to hold them in place. Nice job.

FireUp, et al...I am satisfied with the light output with just the two strips. I was going to use four which is why I started with the two on the ballast cover. It's over the sink in the main bath so I wanted the brightness there. After testing with the two strips, the output was brighter than the two tubes I removed. I did place double sided tape on the metal first and then added the LED strips. I think the extra holding power of the DST will keep them secure. Be sure to use alcohol to clean the surface before adhesion. (Not the drinking kind either):W.......Dennis

These LED installs are very cool!One thing I found about LED's years ago when I had a project at work I had to study up on, was that the light is very directional. Even diffusers don't always help enough. Great for spot lighting and flashlights, but harder to make work for lighting a room. The bulbs they have available now have addressed some of that. LED's and RV's go together for obvious reasons.

LED Mod wih pics | Good Sam Community

ronfisherman
Moderator
Oct 14, 2014
bsport wrote:
Going to replace lights in kitchen, what did you use (cool bright, soft bright)? What is the difference in the amount of light.

Led's usually come Warm White or Cool White.
The ones link in first post of this thread are Warm White. Close to a Soft White color.
krivanj
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
Thank you Mr Wizard for the regulator info. Just what I needed!
We had some LED lights that evidentally fried because the converter made more than 12v (13.3v) so I think this is needed.
bsport
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
Going to replace lights in kitchen, what did you use (cool bright, soft bright)? What is the difference in the amount of light.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 09, 2014
Something like this

2.2 amp 12v regulator

The one amp version will work for the 18 watt fixture

But the 18" tube , 30 watt fixture will need either the 2.2 amp version
Or two of the 1 amp version l.p.
One for each strip
Technically two strips 10 watts would be 800 milliamps at 12.5v, but at 14+ volts from converter or solar etc..The difference will be absorbed by the regulator, 1 amp 12 volt is 12 watts
The heavier version regulator is a safety, to keep the regulator from over heating, built in a safety margin and not worry about it
We off grid most of the time, ,so nighttime and lights are quiet time for us, no generator no solar, strictly battery power 12+ volts
I'm going to add the regulators but they are not a big worry for me
krivanj
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
Would one of you be so kind as to list what to but for a regulator chip?
Thanks in advance
ronfisherman
Moderator
Oct 09, 2014
The original ones I put in had 4 tabs. That contributed to the connection problems.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 09, 2014
I thought about soldering when I run out of connectors

I noticed right away, with the first strip
That cutting exactly on the marked center, of the copper connector , it came up short when placing it in the connector

I solved that by cutting it to the outside, leaving all the copper contact area on one end of the strip, none on the other end, long end placed into connector, makes a better, connection
ronfisherman
Moderator
Oct 09, 2014
MrWizard wrote:

i think i will need another connector kit

You could just solder 20 gauge wire to the strips. Works very well after tinning tabs on strips. Then put a piece of shrink over the connections. I originally did my connections with the snap connectors. A few days later some of the strips did not work. Found it was bad connection with tabs. Went to soldering with no more problems.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 09, 2014
the two replacement strips in place of the two 9w tubes
are an almost perfect match,
same amount of light, but a slight difference in color, not as white
its a slight shading difference mainly noticed when holding a hand under the different lights and doing a comparison

on the 30w fixture, same color difference, but two strips are NOT QUITE the same amount of light
close, but it is s little less, my reflectors are shaped difference and im sure this has some effect
i'm going to add one more strip to the 30w above my left shoulder , that should be more than equal to the previous amount of light
I love the lower power drain, 10w vs 30w

i think i will install 12v regulator chips so that the LEDS are never over driven with too much voltage
pictures coming soon

my calculations say the small 18w fixture is now using 7w
and the 30w fixture is now using 10w, this will go up to 15w when i add the third strip tomorrow
i want the extra output, as this is the light i sit under when reading a book
the rest of the 18w and 30w fixtures will be converted with two strips each, like the current configuration

i think i will need another connector kit
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 08, 2014
my kit arrived
i'm going to do a test with two strips( 42 leds ) in the 30w fixture over my desk entertainment area
and two strips ( 30 leds ) in one of the small bathroom Fl that use the 9w tubes
yeah i've already measured and started cutting

my reflectors are shaped different than the ones in Dennis's fixtures
the center is flat and the bends make the other surfaces almost right angle vertical, aiming the light sideways, i will most likely have to use the flat surface aiming the LEDS straight down

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