Interior ceiling light swap out help

[DougZ]

For some reason I hate those lights around the vents on my 72 Overlander. Has anyone swapped them out for a different type of lighting? I would love some ideas and pictures.

Thanks,
DougZ

[wahoonc]

I upgraded mine from the incandescent to fluorescent tubes to gain more light and loose the power drain and heat. Kept the covers.

Aaron

[Jklep65]

How?

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Jklep65

How?

Took the old sockets off the backing plate and installed 8 watt thin line naked lights. They only have a ballast and the minimal fittings. I wired them into the old rotary switch so you get one or both lights. I will have to try and take pictures when I do the next set.

Aaron

[klattu]

Lots of ideas with LEDs...many here have swapped over

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by DougZ

For some reason I hate those lights around the vents on my 72 Overlander. Has anyone swapped them out for a different type of lighting? I would love some ideas and pictures.

Thanks,
DougZ

Airstream has some replacement flourescent fixture that are the same size.

The only problem is that they want over $200.00 for each one.

Andy

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Airstream has some replacement flourescent fixture that are the same size.

The only problem is that they want over $200.00 for each one.

Andy

Which is why I built my own.

I bought my 8 watt lights several years ago for ~$20 each, they currently run around $30 each. Sixty bucks and a couple of hours to rework each fixture works for me. I not only cut the heat coming off the fixtures I got more light and gained battery life.

Aaron

[wahoonc]

Just for a break down:

My OEM fixtures used six 1141 automotive style bulbs, they are nominally rated for 12v 1.44 amps 17.3 watts. Six of them suck down nearly 9 amps when on high. The two thinline fixtures are 8 watts a piece and only use 1.25 amps for the pair. And provide approximately 80 equivalent watts of light. FWIW the fluorescent gives 400 lumens of light per 8 watt fixture, for a total of 800 lumens the 1141 gives ~260 lumens per bulb total would be around 1560, so the fluorescent technically aren't as bright, but I think they give much more usable light.

I do still use incandescent bulbs in the front reading spot lights, but will consider putting LED replacements in those...eventually, if someone makes them.

I have not tried LED bulbs in this application so no comment on those.

Aaron

[Jklep65]

Ok speaking of lights the light over the counter/sink, the one around the ceiling in kitchen area the light over the door and the reading light over the goucho are all not working. Do I have a blown fuse, tripped breaker or a mouse chewed wire? Any thoughts??? Oh 77 overlander.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Jklep65

Ok speaking of lights the light over the counter/sink, the one around the ceiling in kitchen area the light over the door and the reading light over the goucho are all not working. Do I have a blown fuse, tripped breaker or a mouse chewed wire? Any thoughts??? Oh 77 overlander.

Check the fuses.

Andy

[DougZ]

Remove the fuses and check them with a continuity checker. Don't assume they are good because the element looks intact. I wasted a lot of time making that stupid assumption.

[TG Twinkie]

I relamped most of the original fixtures in our trailer. The original 1141 bulbs were too bright and too hot for my liking and consumed way too much power. The 1141 produce 200 lumens each (as I recall). The new bulbs produce between 69 and 90 lumens, depending on the part number. I bought the bulbs at NAPA. I can provide the part # if anyone is interested.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

~~
I do still use incandescent bulbs in the front reading spot lights, but will consider putting LED replacements in those...eventually, if someone makes them.

I have not tried LED bulbs in this application so no comment on those.
~~
Aaron

If your trailer uses the same 1383 bulb in those reading spots that my Argosy does, there are LED equivalents.

Here's a link to the ones that show up in Google Shopping. They ain't cheap! I haven't gotten that far yet, so I have no idea what the quality of the light is.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

If your trailer uses the same 1383 bulb in those reading spots that my Argosy does, there are LED equivalents.

Here's a link to the ones that show up in Google Shopping. They ain't cheap! I haven't gotten that far yet, so I have no idea what the quality of the light is.

I believe that is the number. Thanks for the link. I will stick with my $2 incandescent for now.

Aaron

[funkill]

Hey DougZ. I have a few pics of some alternatives forum members have built for *covering*, but still utilizing a configuration similar to the original lighting/vent placement. I'm attaching them here. The first one is from member Sneakinup, the second from Trevisgardne and I don't have the name of the member for the last. Hope it give you some ideas...

By the way, I found these by going to the Gallery and then using the Search function for lights, ceiling lights, overhead lights, etc.

Laura

[vswingfield]

I installed two single tube fixtures on either side of the vent when I installed a Fantastic Vent in the bedroom of my Excella, photos at http://www.airforums.com/forums/f314...tml#post721044, post 927. There are links to where I got them on ebay in post 926.

On edit, the links no longer work, but they came from:

R and P Carriages
431 N Main St.
Seneca, IL 61360
815/357-3292

e-mail: paul@NeedaTrailer.com

Searching for R and P Carriages on ebay will find their store.

[WUZENTME]

We went with these round lights from camping world. We paid 50.00 for each one. The round profile was the same as what we had
.Designer Lighting - Satin Nickel - Product - Camping World