Whole trailer LED retrofit

[Caboose66]

All,
For anyone considering doing an LED lamp retrofit in your unit, I will tell you... It can be easy, relatively inexpensive and worthwhile.

We don't do much boondocking or running off our battery, but I did get tired of the heat generated from the typical 12V incandescent lamps in our RVs. I also liked the idea of using less power overall and the long life of LED lamps.

I looked through numerous threads in this and other forums and finally pulled the trigger on a bunch of LED lamps on EBay. I bought 20 each of the pillar type with 25 LED elements and the paddle type with 24 LED elements for about $1.82 each in bulk, shipped directly from the manufacturer/distributor in China.

I just replaced all of my standard lamps this morning (26 total). It was an easy job but remember, as many have said in threads like these, the lamps are polarity sensitive so if the lamp doesn't work when you first plug it in, flip it over and try again. Fortunately, all of the paddle types (which only have the LED elements on one side) worked the first time. If it hadn't worked, I could have just bent each wire to the opposite side of the base to reverse the way you insert the lamp. You may have to wiggle the lamp a bit to engage the wire elements with the terminal. Also, the pillar types went in fairly easily but the paddle types were a little tougher to push in. As someone else recommended grasp the base of the paddle type when inserting otherwise you will bend the plastic.

The LEDs may be just a hair dimmer than the regular ones, but not much. I got the warm white which are 3000-3500K color temperature. Those are the ones that most resemble the normal incandescent in their light quality and what I have been installing thoughout my house. The bluish-white ones (higher color temperature) may be a bit brighter, but I don't like the look as much.

Finally, when I used to enter the trailer and turn on 1 or 2 lights (3-4 bulbs), the inverter fan would come on. I had read someone else that did an LED retrofit say that they turned on ALL of their interior lights after replacing with LEDs and the inverter fan never came on. I had to see for myself and, to my surprise, I had the same experience. 26 or 27 lamps and the inverter fan never came on... Unbelievable!!

I will look up the link to the ones I purchased and post it in this thread. I am afraid to switch to EBay and lose everything I've typed...;).

In short I totally recommend this mod - particularly if you want to reduce your power consumption and/or production of extra heat in the trailer.

Dean

[tenbear]

I think I know what I am getting from 2011_led. I have bought most of my LED lights from him and not been disappointed. I can't say the same for other eBay sellers. BTW 24-1210 lights probably will not be as bright as a 921 bulb. You probably need to go to 36-1210 or 18-5050.

[Fisherguy]

I think you know what you're getting from a US dealer, you order from China you cross your fingers and hope what you get is what you want and that it will last.

Some of the descriptions for the Chinese ones for example "warm white (natural)", it can't be both.
Either way if I order now they won't be here in time for our next trip, it'll hafta wait.

[tenbear]

The main difference I see is price.

[Fisherguy]

Caboose66 wrote:
Paddle type LED

Turret type LED

Interesting neither one says how many lumens they put out.
I want to change all outs, what's the difference between these ones off Ebay and the ones sold by
M4
and Superbright

BTW, I prefer the natural daylight colour temp, 4500k elvin.

[DatacomGuy]

Agreed, great points. Will definitely keep all up to date.

[Caboose66]

DatacomGuy wrote:
I totally spaced, thank you for the kind reminder. Going to order a ton tonight, the price is perfect and your review helps me feel safer..

While they were inexpensive, easy to install, power-miserly and reasonably bright, I can't provide much of a review yet. I have a reasonable level of confidence that they will be just right, especially after some of the replies to this thread from people that have had similar lamps installed for some time. However, just wanted you to know that I have not tested them extensively yet.

Would be interested in hearing your experience after you receive and install them. Either in this thread or via a thread of your own. There is more an more info coming out on LED replacements in RVs and reading specifics is really helpful. It's really difficult to know exactly what you're dealing with when getting some of these products directly from China. You just never know if they are exactly the same lamps, produced in the same factory, being sold by or under various Ebay sellers' names. You also are taking a bit of a gamble on the QA/QC, but my guess is that it's minimal. Good news is you don't pay much up front for the lamps and can afford to keep a number of spares on hand.

Good luck.

Dean

[tenbear]

Here is a link to 921 LED warm white lights on eBay.

They call anything with the T10 base a 921 replacement. You probably want at least 36 1210 (3528) or 18 5050 LEDs, fewer will not be as bright as the 921. I would buy 1 or 2 from a vender, as a test, before I bought more.

[DatacomGuy]

I totally spaced, thank you for the kind reminder. Going to order a ton tonight, the price is perfect and your review helps me feel safer..

[Caboose66]

The LEDs I listed on page 1 are 921 replacements, I believe.

[DatacomGuy]

Looks like i'm all 921's. Having a hard time finding someone selling a reliable 921 thats not $20 a bulb. I need at least 20 of them.

[JiminDenver]

One thing I noticed about the panels was that I could get various emitters to blink if I squeezed or flexed the panel. None of the cob style have done this.

[Caboose66]

Thanks forthe info on the regulated vs. non-regulated. I hadn't really read much on that and it's totally different than what I expected. I will have to test the TV when I in an area that is supposed to get OTA channels. I think my LEDs are non regulated so it probably won't be an issue.

In addition to the extra paddle type and a couple extra pillar type LED lamps, I am keeping all of the old incandescent lamps in a bag in one of the drawers in my trailer. Assuming the LEDs work well no last anywhere near as long as is advertised, those extra lamps will probably not see much use.

Thanks for all the good and interesting info.

Dean

[tenbear]

DatacomGuy wrote:
Where would one find out what bulbs our TT uses?

For a starter remove a bulb and look at it. The number may be marked on it. If not, compare it to the bulbs listed here.

If that doesn't work, post a photo and see if anyone recognizes it.

[DatacomGuy]

Where would one find out what bulbs our TT uses?