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Ductape_Dave's avatar
Ductape_Dave
Explorer
Dec 02, 2014

12 volt CFL bulbs blowing, how are LED's?

I installed the Harbor Freight 45 watt solar panel kit on my trailer, after finding a better system I sold the HF kit but kept the 2 Edison base light fixtures. I bought a couple of CFL bulbs to use in the base's, but after a while the bulbs go out. I think when the converter is on it supplies a higher voltage (to charge the battery) and burns out the filament in the CFL bulbs. After some research I am considering using LED bulbs. My question is, would the LED Edison style base bulbs handle the converter's higher voltage without burning out?
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Dec 02, 2014
    Many LED replacements are voltage& current regulated and can stand a wider range of voltage, typically 8v~30v for RV applications

    I'm curious..I've never seen a 12vdc CFL lamp
    I have a few 120v CFL, that I have replaced with 120 vac residential LED lamps
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Dec 02, 2014
    Edison base? Is that 120 vac?

    Otherwise a quality LED will last the life of the RV.
  • JiminDenver's avatar
    JiminDenver
    Explorer II
    Dec 02, 2014
    I've ran my ebay LED panels above 17v without issues. That is higher than I ever expect to see my trailers systems.
  • SCVJeff's avatar
    SCVJeff
    Explorer
    Dec 02, 2014
    They exist, Camping World sells them for $10. I have 2 installed in small table lamps (and the proper 12v cig connector to make it idiot proof), and they have been running fine for years.

    If there were a 12v Edison WW LED replacement I might think about replacing them.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Dec 02, 2014
    Filament in a CFL? I too have never seen a 12 volt CFL, though I have seen 12 volt Edison Based lamps they were incandescent. (in fact I have one or two in stock)

    I would go with LED One LED item I have found is from Radio Shack 21.95 for a meter of LED's and you can cut it into 5cM strips, there is a 5cM test strip on the package with batteries, you can see how bright it is. Do not yet know how well it will work.. Waiting for a pair of tubes to fail before I install, but sure looks promising.

    http://www.radioshack.com/radioshack-led-waterproof-flexi-strip-60-led-1m-white/2760329.html

    Also comes in red and tri-color but you want white.
  • Ductape_Dave's avatar
    Ductape_Dave
    Explorer
    Dec 02, 2014
    Thanks for the replies. 2-5 watt Edison base bulbs come with the Harbor Freight 45 watt solar panel kit. Also altestore.com has a nice selection of 12 volt bulbs and the ones that blew were from batteriesplus.com but they only carry 13 watt 12 volt Edison base cfl spiral bulbs. I will try the led's next.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Dec 02, 2014
    Performance wise, what turned me against CFL is when the switch is thrown a 26 watt lamp emits 10 watts of light until it feels good and ready to work...
  • NinerBikes's avatar
    NinerBikes
    Explorer
    Dec 02, 2014
    MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
    Performance wise, what turned me against CFL is when the switch is thrown a 26 watt lamp emits 10 watts of light until it feels good and ready to work...


    Ditto, and it's worse as the temperatures drops, taking even longer.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Dec 02, 2014
    i have some 3.5w 180 lumen 120vac LEDS..marked as equivalent to 25w..
    with edison std base
    got these by mistake..was shopping for 5w eq=40w ...candelabra base lamps
    these are from Phillips

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