NetBoy
Explorer
Joined 22 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: How to convert to LED lighting
Golden_HVAC wrote: After that, I might change my 26W florescent from 18" tube to a bunch of 12 or 24 LED panels, and see how that works out. Here is a florescent to LED conversion I did: This is my main ceiling light, and it works GREAT! I added a push-on push-off switch for the light's main power, and am using the original rocker switch to select the brightness level (rocker selects 3 panels, or all 6 panels). The blue goop you see in the photo is silicone adhesive - I found that the double sided foam tape that comes on the LED panels often fails in warm conditions, so I have just been forcing a little silicone under the sides or corners of the panels and that solved the problem (the original double sided foam tape is still under there). The silicone is fairly easy to remove if needed. Others have talked about adding screws to the sides of the panels, but the silicone has been working great for me - fast and easy. I also have a boat which has about a half dozen florescent lights fixtures, several of which are flickering and dim.... so I have begun converting them too. I am starting to use LED panels with 24 each 5050 SMDs (each 5050 SMD actually is a package containing 3 individual LEDs). Have fun.....592Views0likes0CommentsRe: Adding a Digital Volt Meter to show battery state of charge
1rosario wrote: What local store might have a digital meter? We're leaving Sunday, too soon to order off eBay. Camping world carries a little digital volt meter that plugs into a cigarette lighter socket... they work fine, and cost less than $20. Click HERE.820Views0likes0CommentsRe: Adding a Digital Volt Meter to show battery state of charge
1995brave wrote: Did anyone else notice, but the OP (NetBoy) is using a pen that states Stolen From: "the Racer's Store":) I was wondering if anyone was going to catch that - I made sure the label on the pen was up before I too the photo. :)680Views0likes0CommentsRe: Adding a Digital Volt Meter to show battery state of charge
Norm, nope, I like the Stanley tape. ;) helperzack wrote: Are there any special requirements on the 120VAC meter? What gage wire and any special requirement for a switch, or is the 120v meter always on if you have 120v power? You can leave the meter on all the time, or include a switch to turn it on only when you want to view it. In my case I am just using a momentary contract switch that I will push when I want to read the voltage. For either 12v or 120v, it doesn't matter what gauge wire you use.... the meter uses virtually no power, so very small gauge wire is just fine. You can also use just about any switch for the same reason. You will want to connect the wires near the power source (ie, near the battery or near your 120v circuit breaker box) and not at the end of a circuit which has other devices hooked to it, as those devices may pull the voltage down a little. If you dry camp, having a good 12v meter and that voltage chart in my original posting is quite important -- those will let you know when you are getting in trouble.568Views0likes0CommentsAdding a Digital Volt Meter to show battery state of charge
Hi, I decided to add a digital volt meter to my motorhome to show the state of charge of the batteries - it will be handy when dry camping. Here is a table from the web site "The 12 Volt Side of Life" that shows voltage vs state of charge (a great web site to learn about living on 12 volts): I ordered a digital volt meter from eBay for $5 including shipping: I mounted the meter, and a momentary contact switch, in a piece of plastic from an old car litter basket: I will mount the meter in some convenient location in the motorhome tomorrow. And I'll include a printout of the above voltage chart. Pretty cool for five bucks! Note that battery voltage should be read when the batteries are at "rest" -- that is, wait a half hour after any big discharge (for example, such as running a microwave on an inverter).37KViews0likes42CommentsRe: How to convert to LED lighting
mikebo wrote: I have 13 recessed lights that have 20 watt g4 bulbs, they are small and the panels that most of the posters are using won't fit. They are much brighter than necessary, so I'm willing to accept a dimmer bulb. I have found bulbs that are disks with 12 5050 leds on them that will fit in my lights. My question is that for what looks like the same item I see different sellers on ebay give the the lumens for these bulbs ranging from 80 to 220. Are they really that different or are the listings bogus? No matter what the ebay ad says, all 5050 SMD LEDs are the same brightness, and each 5050 device contains 3 individual LEDs. So a G4 disk with 12 5050's on it is the same light output as a 36 single LED rectangular panel. I converted some under-counter halogen puck lights to the disks you are considering (SEE HERE), and they are wonderful.... lots of light, no heat, low electricity use. You probably can't go wrong.593Views0likes0CommentsRe: How to convert to LED lighting
RFOneWatt wrote: Beware of some those cheap LED panels. I have had several fail after a few hours (or be DOA on arrival.) While I hear your comment, my experience has been different. I have used literally dozens of 36 and 48 LED panels, and over 2 dozen of the round panels with 12 each 5050 LEDs, and have only had one failure of 3 LEDs on one of the 48 LED panels (the LED are wired 3 in a series, so if they fail, they fail in 3's). You don't even notice 3 LEDs being out. Some of my panels have hundreds of hours on them. So spending $25 for a single bulb from that company, compared to $1 to $3 each on eBay with free shipping, is a no brainer to me. Cheers....592Views0likes0CommentsRe: How to convert to LED lighting
Thanks for the kind words about starting this thread.... much appreciated. I had an extra 2-bulb fixture laying around. Got to thinking it would be nice to add some "mood" lighting, so I ordered a couple of 48 LED colored panels - one red and one blue. The switch on the original fixture was a slider that had 3 positions: off, one light on, both lights on. I figured out how to modify the switch by clipping a couple of existing jumpers, and adding one new one, so it now has these functions: off, red LED panel only on, blue LED panel only on. I mounted this fixture over the sofa next to a fixture with a white light. So now I can either use the normal white light, or for mood I can reach up and switch on either a red or a blue light. It is really pretty cool. By the way the blue LED panel is much brighter that the red one. It turns out that the red one makes a really nice night light -- plenty of light to find the bathroom, but it is not so bright that it blinds you or others. Photos below showing White, Red, and Blue LED lighting: I also added a string of mixed color LED Christmas lights around the ceiling of the cab-over area. They are 120v instead of 12v so will just be used when hooked to shore power (which is most of the time for me). They also make a great mood light and are quite festive. Plus they are perfect as a background light while watching TV. The red LED panel gave me an idea for another project. I think I will add an extra porch light, mount it near the existing one, and put a red LED panel in it.... it will be nice to have an alternate porch light that would give enough light to find my step and insert my key, yet not blind the neighbors. Hummmmm, if I add a red porch light, maybe I will have to recruit a string of young ladies to hire out. :W Best wishes.... On Edit: Added Photos (taken with cell phone)382Views0likes0CommentsRe: How to convert to LED lighting
Dog Trainer wrote: Now I need to replace the 1141 bulbs in the reading lights on each side of the bed. Any sugestions there. Just get on eBay and search for: (1141,1156,ba15s) led That will find all LED items that have either 1141 or 1156 or ba15s in the title.317Views0likes0Comments
Groups
