Rewiring 110v fixtures for Airstream

[bganso]

IMHO opinion the selection of interior lighting fixtures is rather pathetic, with only a couple of maunfacturers out there. You're stuck purchasing either standard RV items or going to 12v yacht fixtures that can be pretty pricey. I'm planning on purchasing standard residential fixtures and rewiring them with 12v light sockets. Does anyone have experience with this? Do you have a good source for light sockets or other supplies? Right now, I'm planning on using the sockets from my existing fixtures and modifying the mounting brackets to work with the new fixtures. Your thoughts, comments or pictures are very welcome.

Bruce

[barts]

I'd figure out your use cases.... do you boon dock? Do you camp in places w/o 110V where running generators is frowned upon or have restrictions in hours? If so, consider designing in LEDs rather than regular 12V bulbs. LEDs are more expensive, but... we used to have three overhead light fixtures in our 1971 Tradewind, with 4 single filament bulbs each. Each draws 1.5 amps, so with all the lights on we drew about 18 amps. We replaced these central fixtures with task lighting (so you're not always standing in your own shadow) and indirect LED strip lighting; two original elevator bulb fixtures received LED conversions since LED floods are a good match there... we can now turn on all the LEDs in the trailer and use much less juice than one of the original overhead lights - and the trailer is far better lit. Parts cost has been around $250 or so for all the LEDs... and now our solar panels can easily keep up with all our electrical needs.

LedWholesalers.com is where we bought the strip LEDs and the MR16 flood lights for task lighting.

Halco 1383/3WW/LED LED LED R12 2.6W FL 2700K BA15S PROLED Lamp Bulb [Halco_1383/3WW/LED] - $25.21 : Divine Lighting, Discount Lamps, and Lighting Supplies, LED, and Professional Lighting was our source for the elevator bulb replacements.

- Bart