How Much Power Savings using LED's?

[otrfun]

Just purchased 4 warm white LED panels with 20 5050 LED's. Wanted to experiment with these on my TT before purchasing more.

Anyhow, one 20 5050 LED panel wasn't nearly as bright as the original 921 bulb in my TT. Tried two panels and it was as bright, or maybe slightly brighter than the 921. Noticed there was pretty significant heat being produced by the two LED panels, so I became very curious about the amount of current these puppies were drawing. The two 20 5050 LED panels (total 40 5050 LED's) were drawing .59 amps total. For comparison sake, I also measured the current draw for one 921 bulb--1.3 amps. Wow, unless my eyes are misreading the light output of the 2 panels, using LED's only cut my current draw in half vs. using the original 921 bulb! A 50% reduction is still fairly significant, but not nearly the savings I expected.

Curious what other have experienced. How many 5050 LED's have you needed to replicate the same light output as one 921 bulb?

[Dakzuki]

In the ceiling I had halogens and one cannot tell the difference between the warm white LEDs I installed and the halogen bulbs. Exact same intensity and color is almost identical. I have since replaced every bulb that runs off the house batteries. For the same light output I am at about 15% of the power I used to be using based on specs for the bulbs and LEDs.

[Tom_M1]

I just replaced several incandescent bulbs with LED and am quite impressed with the results. I posted my project on the DIY forum here.

[69_Avion]

When I rebuilt my 1969 Avion last year, I changed out all interior and exterior lights with LEDs. I haven't measured the before and after current draw but what I remember about using the camper several decades ago was that the battery in the winter would last one day with the furnace fan going and using the incandescent lights. Today, with the same furnace, and LED lights, one battery will last all weekend. There is a significant and noticable difference.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

Replaced all my 1156 bulbs with starlight 300 lumen rotating bulbs.
Stock incandacent bulb uses 1.60 amps at 13.42v = 21.4 watts.
Starlight 300LM bulb uses .25 amp at 13.42v = 3.3 watts

They use 6.5 times less power.

Now the heat.....
Trailer AC at 79 degrees,
Incandacent bulbs with cover on , 150 degrees F.
LED with cover, 92 degrees.

Measured with Fluke dvom and Fluke infrared gun.

[beemerphile1]

I haven't felt the need to replace all the lamps with LEDs. I put in two of the Command 510 lm replacements and they are very bright. They are our primary lights and any other light is only on briefly. The draw of a light that is infrequently used for short periods isn't a power usage concern.

I also used a lower output Command LED in one porch light. The other four outside lights are still incandescent but we limit the usage when on battery.

[westend]

I have only used one variety of the -5050 LED's so can't speak to Lumen output but the SMD 48-3528 Asian panels put out very close in Lumens to a 921, possibly more. It may be that the greater count of diodes on individual dies or the spread of light off the die'e total area produces more light output.

[mena661]

otrfun wrote:
Until I can find an LED bulb/panel/array that can put out the same or more light as a 921 bulb (not advertised lumens, but real world illumination), that draws 425 ma or less (1/3 of the current of an old school 921 bulb), then I'm out.

I wish I had kept the current draws of the LEDs in my old 5er. I'm almost certain the Command Electronics 510 lumen panels beat that 450mA. They were definitely brighter than the 921's I took out. I just don't remember the current draw on them.

[Snowman9000]

I replaced 1141s with 24-5050 cob LEDs. Measured on the bench with a 12v battery:
1141 1.3a
921 1.0a
24-5050 .18 a

The 1141s are brighter than the 24-5050 but not by enough to matter in most of the fixtures we have. Well, at first, I thought the lower output was a big deal. But in real life it wasn't at all. I guess it depends if you need to have your cake and eat it too. In our case, we are fine with the fewer lumens and think it is still plenty bright. So we are using .18/1.3 or 14% of what we used to consume.

Oh yeah, we bought ours from the ebay seller 2011 led, in warm white. He's treated me very well and has great feedback. And good lights.

[John___Angela]

otrfun wrote:
Some good, interesting reading in this thread! Thanks to everyone!

I've decided against changing out any more 921 bulbs with LED's for the time being. I tried out another 5050 LED panel from another manufacturer and it had similar light and current characteristics. For my needs, a 50% reduction in current is not enough savings to justify switching over my whole TT to LED's. Until I can find an LED bulb/panel/array that can put out the same or more light as a 921 bulb (not advertised lumens, but real world illumination), that draws 425 ma or less (1/3 of the current of an old school 921 bulb), then I'm out.

I think a third is doable and we are getting that but I know what you mean. These puppy's are pricey. We have replaced anything not on a dimmer in the big motorhome but are leaving our flourescents as flouresents...for now. We have 8 batteries and 800 watts of solar. The little 22 foot Moho is different. We are power hungry with Kusrig coffee maker, TV, laptop. Juicer etc etc etc. We only have two 31 AGM's and 320 watts of solar so the LED's help out a bit. We are full timers so these are
our House/cottage.

[otrfun]

Some good, interesting reading in this thread! Thanks to everyone!

I've decided against changing out any more 921 bulbs with LED's for the time being. I tried out another 5050 LED panel from another manufacturer and it had similar light and current characteristics. For my needs, a 50% reduction in current is not enough savings to justify switching over my whole TT to LED's. Until I can find an LED bulb/panel/array that can put out the same or more light as a 921 bulb (not advertised lumens, but real world illumination), that draws 425 ma or less (1/3 of the current of an old school 921 bulb), then I'm out.

[westend]

John & Angela wrote:

westend wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
We did a little testing as well. After all is said and done using quality 27 Led single contact bulbs, we found we draw about 1/3 to a 1/4 of the power getting about the same amount of light. No where near the claimed 80 percent less power but substantial enough to justify the change.

Do the LED bulbs you used have a regulator on them? Some of the "quality" bulbs from stateside sellers have a small regulation board attached. This may draw off a bit of current and that may explain some of the disparity between different user's reports on current drawn.

Yes and as a result they also produce a little more heat. But they work well and have good colour temperature. We use outside lights a lot and also tend to leave a few lights on inside so they are on when we walk in (switch position etc). We don't worry about it as much as when we used the incandescents. Probably a little wasteful but its how we role. The energy we save negates the need for another solar panel. 🙂

Understood. Yes, the LED's draw very little, I don't worry about leaving one on, also. Even at home, I rationalize leaving a light on versus the cost of a broken ankle, leg, or hip.;)

To the original topic, I think the bulbs with a regulator board are drawing and dissipating just a bit more current. This is reflected in the reports of the savings ratios going from incandescent to LED. It wouldn't be hard to skew 75% savings ratio at 250 milliamps to 60% savings at 400 milliamps. That is an increased draw of only 150 milliamps, in the range of connectivity differences.

[mena661]

docj wrote:

We tried the Cree bulbs in our MH (yes, we have 120V light fixtures) but they don't stand up to the vibration of traveling even with air suspension.

Good to know! Are you willing to try out Philips ad let us know how they stand up? I have no 120V fixtures or I'd test it myself.

westend wrote:
Do the LED bulbs you used have a regulator on them?

I know this question wasn't for me but the one's listed in my earlier post all had regulators.

[John___Angela]

westend wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
We did a little testing as well. After all is said and done using quality 27 Led single contact bulbs, we found we draw about 1/3 to a 1/4 of the power getting about the same amount of light. No where near the claimed 80 percent less power but substantial enough to justify the change.

Do the LED bulbs you used have a regulator on them? Some of the "quality" bulbs from stateside sellers have a small regulation board attached. This may draw off a bit of current and that may explain some of the disparity between different user's reports on current drawn.

Yes and as a result they also produce a little more heat. But they work well and have good colour temperature. We use outside lights a lot and also tend to leave a few lights on inside so they are on when we walk in (switch position etc). We don't worry about it as much as when we used the incandescents. Probably a little wasteful but its how we role. The energy we save negates the need for another solar panel. 🙂

[sjholt]

My experience with 5050 leds is for the equivalent light out is about 40% of the current of the fluorescent lights I replaced.