LED Light Fixtures

Normally all you do is replace the bulb. What # are your bulbs? The LEDs use 1/10th the power and very little heat. Plenty of posts on this subject, but helps to know which bulb. Assuming a 1156 they are not that expensive.

First question... are the worth the cost? Well, I don't know. The main advantage to LED over incandescent and/or florescent is the electrical usage. LEDs use MUCH less. However, since most of us don't pay for our electrical hookup by the amount of electricity we use, rather than by a flat fee.... I can't really say they are worth the cost. However...if you boondock a lot, then there would be much less drain on the batteries and in this case, probably would be worth the cost.

Second question...how difficult are they to change. Well, those that replace the incandescents are exactly the same type of connection...so really no more difficult to change out. Florescents, are totally different and do require some cutting and splicing in the fixture.

Me... I'm waiting until the cost of the LEDs come down....a whole bunch. I think they are just too expensive right now.

My two cents anyway..

Ron

We changed some of ours to LED, but just changed the bulbs. Got LEDs from Amazon. It was easy to do, and sure helps conserve battery power when dry camping.

We didn't want to spend the money to replace all the lights. We figured out what lights we would need to use while dry camping in conserve mode and changed some of them. Some are bright, and others are dim for just getting around. Some of the lights we just don't use while in conserve mode.

I've been replacing some of the florescent tube lighting in my coach as the ballast units have been burning out, Using "Ultra Bright 12 V Home Tri-Chip Led lighting tubes in both 9" and 20" tubes" from Oznium.com. Used their "Warm White" 3363 degree K Leds, but offers a much nicer color lighting that the old florescents did. And on top of that, they are much brighter, without the harshness. Liked the outcome so much, that we plan on doing more this summer!!!

I removed the ballast and florescent fixtures from the Thinline light housing and intalled the Led tubes in the same housing, without taking the housing down. Put the plastic light defusers back in place once the tubes were installed. Very happy with Oznium, a company from Pagosa Sprongs, Co., and their products!

Above is with new LED tubes.


this is with the old florescent tubes.
Both shots were taken without flash and standing in same spot.

I replaced all of the inside lights in my TT with the 15 LED 5050 warm white panels that you can get on eBay at 10 for 37.50. Slightly less light output than the 921 bulbs, but great. The lights come with different connectors to replace different bulbs. They attach with double sided 3M tape. A bit fiddly to install.

I mostly camp where there are no hookups,so this was definitely worthwhile for me. If I camped with full hookup only, I don't know if I would have bothered. It is nice to leave more than one light on at night.

Here is a post where I converted a Thin-Lite to LED using four (48/5050 warm white) panels at a cost of $24.

I've been buying 16' LED strips from Amazon for $13.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QQ1YOM/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They can be cut to various lengths. About every 2", there's a mark on the strip where it can be cut.



I put three 5' long strips under the cabinets in the garage to illuminate the workbench below. Works quite well. There's an adhesive strip on the back of the LED roll. Peel -n- stick.







LEDs tend to be very directional. Narrow field of view. If you want to use LEDs for general lighting, you might be disappointed with the result. They are excellent for task lighting.

You can find led's that have a 60 degree beam and 120 degree. Another item to check besides warm white/3000 temp.

I have replaced all my interior incandescent bulbs with bulbs I bought on eBay. Individual LEDs are directional but depending on the type of LED bulb, the bulb may not be. LED panels are directional but my fixtures are frosted so the resulting light is fine for overhead and/or task lighting.

Is it worth it? That depends on the type of RVing you do. It greatly reduces the current drain and the heat the lights produce.