Visit our Popular Forums

Gene · 07-13-2011, 10:02 PM

We installed LED's well over 2 years ago and 25,000 miles or so and none have failed. I spent more for better quality and it has paid off. We boondock sometimes and they use very, very little power and we have one as a night light and it takes so little battery that we can leave it on all night. The halogens in the main cabin were so bright I replaced them with LED's with fewer lumens and now the lights are strong enough to see well and not so bright as to be garish. Then we replaced every other light but the main wardrobe and the step light.

Gene

ddstech · 07-13-2011, 11:09 PM

This is what I did... In the 58 flying cloud...

Scott J-24 · 07-13-2011, 11:11 PM

We replaced our inside lights with LEDs and could not be happier with the results. Most of the camp sites Becky and I like to stay at don't have hookups and the lower power drain minimizes the amount we need to run the generator to recharge the batteries. We got ours from Dan at Led4rv.com. Service was great and shipping was free.

ddstech · 07-13-2011, 11:12 PM

I am considering a new career as a hand model, but also you may notice the lights I used. Brand is lumatec. I like the name because it sounds like lunatic, which is what I am for spending so much on led lights for a trailer.

Matt

captmatt · 07-14-2011, 06:37 PM

Yeah Dan! led4rv.com rocks!
He even has a section for LED's for AS.

batt · 08-01-2011, 09:59 PM

hi,
I am doing over a 71 trade wind and want to change to led. I do not like the center plastic light cover , vent combo set up ( plastic is now degraded) and want to change to something else using led. Does anyone have any clever ideas or dealt with this in a attractive way? I am not really interested in keeping the original items, more in getting a clean look with good lighting and venting.

GetOutDoors · 08-02-2011, 05:34 AM

I like the idea of saving my batteries when out and about without services, and I do like to get away from the crowds from time to time. But LEDs hurt my eyes. I have replaced my tail lights with them, but haven't replaced my backup or marker lights yet because of cost and discoloration with the light through the amber lenses. I have no intent to go LED with reading lights. Would not be surprised if they come out with some study about how bad they are on your eyes - somebody will sue, and some kind of regulation will result. Seems to be the American way today ....

erock53 · 08-02-2011, 06:44 AM

I would go with LED's. I posted what I did a few weeks ago on another thread. Here is what I did. Previous Post I made some wooden frames to go around my fantastic vents.

tkasten · 08-02-2011, 08:04 AM

I installed under-cabinet LED's (from VTS) and replaced all original lights w/LED's.

Ahab · 08-02-2011, 09:40 AM

Replaced interior Halogens with LED's 4 years ago. They still are going strong with no failures. Earlier in this thread someone mentioned LED's put out significant heat, pure bull.

68 TWind · 08-02-2011, 09:59 AM

Michael,

I kept my original light fixtures because I wanted to retain the look. I installed an LED bulb (got them from PPL in Houston) in each fixture in the first position. If I am on batteries I just click the switch once and have only the LED come on. Because of the high cost of the LED bulbs I kept the cheap 1141 incandescent bulbs in the other 3 sockets in each fixture. This arrangement works well. I would like to have LED bulbs in all the sockets but the cost was too much right now. The newer LED bulbs I got from PPL are very bright and we have plenty of light when using only the LED's.

SilverHoot · 08-02-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68 TWind

Michael,

I kept my original light fixtures because I wanted to retain the look. I installed an LED bulb (got them from PPL in Houston) in each fixture in the first position. If I am on batteries I just click the switch once and have only the LED come on. Because of the high cost of the LED bulbs I kept the cheap 1141 incandescent bulbs in the other 3 sockets in each fixture. This arrangement works well. I would like to have LED bulbs in all the sockets but the cost was too much right now. The newer LED bulbs I got from PPL are very bright and we have plenty of light when using only the LED's.

Thanks Bruce,

I just ordered the last of my LED lights a few hours ago. I need the fixtures too. Wanted metal fixtures and we found some we liked at Boat supply dealers online. Actually ordered a individually switched lights as halogen to save on $$. Can upgrade to LED if needed.

SilverHoot · 08-02-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkasten

I installed under-cabinet LED's (from VTS) and replaced all original lights w/LED's.

Tim,

Looks to be plenty of light...nice. Thanks for posting pics.

triplenet · 08-02-2011, 06:02 PM

I bought a few LED replacements at AS store last year. They put out good light and no heat.

Yesterday, I rec'd 2 LEDs that I bought on Ebay and installed them yesterday.

The AS store bulbs are a little warmer color, but pricey.

I lit up the coach last nite to get a good impression, and ordered 20 more on Ebay to replace all ($60 del'd). At that price, I didn't figure I could go too far wrong.

The heat output of the halogens is my main negative.

captmatt · 08-03-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batt

hi,
I am doing over a 71 trade wind and want to change to led. I do not like the center plastic light cover , vent combo set up ( plastic is now degraded) and want to change to something else using led. Does anyone have any clever ideas or dealt with this in a attractive way? I am not really interested in keeping the original items, more in getting a clean look with good lighting and venting.

There are lots of options but a great place to start LEDs 4, Recreational Vehicles! The LED pads just replace the bulbs in what ever you want to put in. I used the pads in most of the original fixtures in our AS. We like the light even for reading, and the lack of heat and power savings is very nice.

mojo · 08-03-2011, 06:18 PM

I just got a couple of LED's from Cyber Tech in Hong Kong off of Ebay to try out. $1 a piece plus $1.50 shipping each (?). They seem to be bright enough but time will tell if they hold up. Meanwhile, I replaced all of the 10W halogens with 5W halogen bulbs. Plenty bright and maybe half the power usage. (But that's up to the electro-hex heads to figure out)

Quote:

Originally Posted by triplenet

Yesterday, I rec'd 2 LEDs that I bought on Ebay and installed them yesterday.

TouringDan · 08-14-2011, 10:47 PM

I have been wanting to install LED lights in my Tradewind for a while now, but have not due to the cost for 20 bulbs and I just was not sure which ones to buy. The link provided by dpe01 pushed me over the edge. I ordered 10 bulbs (36 LED SMD warm white interior room dome door car light) for less than $40. I had not idea of how they would work in my fixtures, how I would install them, light output or current and heat output. I will say that the transplant was successful. Each fixture had 4 1156 bulbs. I replaced the four 1156 bulbs with 2 LED light pads. The light output appears to be at least as much as the 1156 bulbs and the quality looks the same, so I am quite happy. The LED's also use about 1/10th the current of the 1156 bulbs and therefore put out 1/10th the heat. This is critical when boondocking. Here are some measurements I took: 2 1156 bulbs- 2.8 amps, 1 LED pad- 0.30 amps. Initial battery voltage- 12.88, voltage when 4 1156 bulbs turned on- 12.18, voltage when 2 LED pads turned on- 12.84. Here are some photos of the work I did:

SilverHoot · 08-15-2011, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TouringDan

I have been wanting to install LED lights in my Tradewind for a while now, but have not due to the cost for 20 bulbs and I just was not sure which ones to buy. The link provided by dpe01 pushed me over the edge. I ordered 10 bulbs (36 LED SMD warm white interior room dome door car light) for less than $40. I had not idea of how they would work in my fixtures, how I would install them, light output or current and heat output. I will say that the transplant was successful. Each fixture had 4 1156 bulbs. I replaced the four 1156 bulbs with 2 LED light pads. The light output appears to be at least as much as the 1156 bulbs and the quality looks the same, so I am quite happy. The LED's also use about 1/10th the current of the 1156 bulbs and therefore put out 1/10th the heat. This is critical when boondocking. Here are some measurements I took: 2 1156 bulbs- 2.8 amps, 1 LED pad- 0.30 amps. Initial battery voltage- 12.88, voltage when 4 1156 bulbs turned on- 12.18, voltage when 2 LED pads turned on- 12.84. Here are some photos of the work I did:

Nice! Thanks for the pics.

TouringDan · 08-16-2011, 09:20 AM

I previously replaced all 20 of the overhead 1156 bulbs in my Tradewind with 10 LED pads (see post above). I had one LED left since I ordered 11 LEDs assuming that possibly only 10 would work since they were so cheap. All LEDs worked, so I decided to replace the exterior flood light with an LED pad. As with the interior lights, I removed the 1156 base, installed a grommet in the hole and connected the 12v wiring directly to the LED wiring. It all worked great! Now I have twice as much light (I think) and I am only using about 1/5 of the current. Photos to follow.