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Old 10-26-2006, 06:20 PM   #1
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1972 Argosy 24
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Heart of Dixie , Alabama
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LED Conversions

It started with the need to get a couple of floresent back working.
Priced a few replacement...$60 and up!
Just the ballast was going to be $30 each! dang....

Then stumbled onto some LEDs...hummmm
Well heres is the results for the price of one ballast, many lights are now LEDs.
Almost zero amps... .03 or less
These will be perfect for reducing battery drain.
And should still be working into my next life.
The way it was...


Gutted light fixture,


Just peal and stick in place...




4 sections compared to flor...


Went all out and run 6 sections...


Some fun for Halloween...black light bulbs in the still working flor...


Back bedroom with only 2 sections...


Spots have LEDs, Lamp still has bulbs...


Now onto the tail lights...
A dab of silicone on each corner...




Set in center....


Drying for 1 hour...



Running lights...



Brake lights on....


LEDs off, back up lenses used in all three places...


Front turns converted to clear lens with amber LEDs
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Old 10-26-2006, 06:24 PM   #2
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Left these out...
6 sections...




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Old 10-26-2006, 06:37 PM   #3
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Nice conversion

klattu,

You pulled off a nice conversion. Are the linear LED strips 12 VDC? At 30 milliamp per LED, your battery charge life may exceed 100 hours running several fixtures.

John
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Old 10-26-2006, 06:44 PM   #4
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Where do you find those type of leds
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Old 10-26-2006, 07:38 PM   #5
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Source for LED spots??

I have been wanting to get LED spots, but couldn't figure out where or what to ask for. Please share!
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Old 10-26-2006, 08:08 PM   #6
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. , Illinois
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bill benton
Where do you find those type of leds
Here is a place:

http://superbriteleds.com/
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Old 10-26-2006, 08:14 PM   #7
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Heres the light bars...

http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/LB3.htm

They have lots of cool stuff.
Many more ways to have fun with LEDs.
Be sure to check out the auto section too.
You can get the Electronic flashers at Advance for about $6.
They flash 80 times a minute, reguardless of amp pull.
That meens no differance when pulling a toad, etc.
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Old 10-26-2006, 08:16 PM   #8
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In tail light photos...light is really very RED,
It looks kinda yellow in photo.

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Old 10-26-2006, 08:30 PM   #9
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These are the spots.
1156 is the one for spots.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/1157-x24.htm

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...gi?product=CAR
Scroll way down, and be sure to pick correct color.

I used the 24 LEDs, also tried the 30, 30 was to wide to fit.
Notice that 6 LEDs are point sideways, so on the 24, only 18 point straight out.
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Old 10-29-2006, 11:32 AM   #10
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Liberator gets a 3rd Brake Light added to the Spare Tire Cover...
Fit perfectly inside the star of the 8th Air Force.
The wings and star are reflective at night.





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Old 10-29-2006, 04:42 PM   #11
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This is what the "Liberator" looks like at night...

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Old 10-30-2006, 08:09 AM   #12
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OK...so many have asked for part numbers...
Tail/Stop lights with a Red lens use
#1157
LED #1157-PCB-W36 White LED Lamp
These are the square lights on a board

Front Turn Signal with Amber lens
#1157 Amber
LED #1157-W24 White LED bulb


Inside spot lights
LED #1156-W24 White LED bulb

Now...
If you use Clear lenses,
Tail/Stop
LED #1157-PCB-R36 Red LED lamp

Front Turn
LED #1157-A24 Amber LED bulb
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Old 11-10-2006, 12:02 PM   #13
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Klattu,
Now all we have to do is find LED headlights!

Great write-up, now I have to upgrade all my interior lights (I already did everything outside)

-Kevin
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Old 11-10-2006, 05:04 PM   #14
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For the spots...
Be sure to get the 24,
Not the 19 or 12, they are way to dim.

I have not tried the 3 watt, they look interesting, but dang $24 !
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Old 11-12-2006, 06:34 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klattu
OK...so many have asked for part numbers...
Tail/Stop lights with a Red lens use
#1157
LED #1157-PCB-W36 White LED Lamp
These are the square lights on a board
I was under the impression you should use red LEDs with red lenses rather than white LEDs with red lenses since the red lense would filter out the white LED leaving a dimmer light output? The rest of your choices seem to follow that line of thought.
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Old 11-18-2006, 05:37 PM   #16
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More LEDs for the bathroom...
Those dang fluorescent are too expensive!









And some for fun...
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Old 11-18-2006, 06:58 PM   #17
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Sweet
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Old 11-20-2006, 04:50 PM   #18
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White and Clear and Red all over

Quote:
Originally Posted by davidz71
I was under the impression you should use red LEDs with red lenses rather than white LEDs with red lenses since the red lense would filter out the white LED leaving a dimmer light output? The rest of your choices seem to follow that line of thought.
Dang....is tough to keep this straight without photo,
Red LEDs are much brighter than White at this time,
no matter which lense you use.
I'm really not sure if
White thru Red , or
Red thue Red is better.

I used Red thru White (center of backup lens) for a different look.
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Old 11-22-2006, 12:29 PM   #19
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Super Bright LEDs gives a good explaination of this:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm

But if you're getting creative, you can do whatever you want.

Red lights behind clear lenses are cool!
Keep up the experimentation - those blue interior lights look awesome.

-Kevin
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Old 11-24-2006, 09:40 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klattu
Dang....is tough to keep this straight without photo,
Red LEDs are much brighter than White at this time,
no matter which lense you use.
I'm really not sure if
White thru Red , or
Red thue Red is better.

I used Red thru White (center of backup lens) for a different look.
You are headed in the right direction.

Red LEDs are in general much brighter (more lumens per watt), and are available in different shades of red (wavelengths). The LED wavelength should match the color of the red lens cover to maximize the effect. A good red LED wavelenght to match the other red lamps is approximately 618nm. The lower the number the more red/orange and the higher the number the red/red. 590nm is amber or yellow/orange and 650nm is red/red.

White LEDs are actually Blue LEDs with a phospher coating to create white light. The coating does cause the color shift but also decreases the light in terms of perceived brightness. That is why some many white LEDs have a blue tinge to the eye.

Any colored lens decreases brightness, even when you match the colors like red LEDs and red lenses. At this time the most effecient set up is to use Red LEDs behind Clear Lenses. The optics in the lens is another area to be considered to stay legal in terms of how the light is ejected from the lamp assembly. Please be advised that many LED conversions are not legal in most states because they don't meet the standards related to either the brightness required, and more likely, the direction the light ejects. Just remember that even though the LED conersion may look 10 times brighter, it may not meet the standards. Of course this would only be a problem if you were rear ended and the persons insurance company who hit you was smart enough to inspect your lights.

I don't mean to discourage anyone from converting to LEDs, I just want to let you know that when you modify safety lighting on your AS or TV, it is important to remember that the original manufacturer followed guidelines that are important for safe traveling.

Interior lighting is another story, the standards inside are almost non-existent because it is low voltage. As an example, try and find a UL label on a standard light bulb...there isn't one.

Have fun experimenting and lighting up your Airstreams.

John
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