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thunderbird · 03-18-2012, 04:51 AM

anyone knows what LEDs to use in a68 airstream ? I want to replace the STTlights (stop/turn/tail) . there are Grote lights mounted now and I think OEM . what is the replacement?
thanks in advance.

regards George

thunderbird · 03-23-2012, 03:40 PM

anyone????

louaxtjr · 03-23-2012, 03:45 PM

Check the bulbs in your current stt assemblies. Then google the bulb number and "led" as there are many sellers of direct replacement led bulbs.

Lou

65CV · 03-23-2012, 06:27 PM

LED Lights, Bulbs & Accessories - SUPER BRIGHT LEDS

Dan@LED4RV · 03-26-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderbird

anyone knows what LEDs to use in a68 airstream ? I want to replace the STTlights (stop/turn/tail) . there are Grote lights mounted now and I think OEM . what is the replacement?
thanks in advance.

regards George

The cluster bulbs don't work so well. Below is the reason why.

One of the main reasons why cluster bulbs don't work well is they produce about 1/3 as much light if the cluster bulb is about the same size as the incandescent bulb your replacing. The other reason is most of the STT fixtures are designed to refract and reflect light from one single location.

Below are two pictures which have a STT light and some markings that illustrate what happens when you use a cluster bulb in some STT lights.

The little blue marks on the red lens are to show how the lens is designed to refract light.

On the next picture ( below) is what a cluster bulb looks like ( as crude as it is :-) in the same light fixture.

Many points of light being refracted and reflected has a result of the light going in many different directions. In the event that your cluster bulb was to produce more light (they seldom do) than the incandescent bulb, it would not be as effective ( and safe) because the light does not all show up at the intended target, the guy behind you.

A pad type array is what will give more light. Most cars that have LEDs are designed where the light is projected in one direction which is out the back.

We are very close to having a light that does just that for the 65 to the first half of 74 Airstreams. In other words the round Lens now made by Grote. I will post back to this thread when we do.

TouringDan · 03-26-2012, 11:59 AM

Dan

Thanks for the education about why cluster bulbs do not work so well in this application.

Dan

TouringDan · 03-26-2012, 12:01 PM

George

Is there a reason why you want to change your exterior lights to LED lights? Just curious.

Dan

HHaase · 03-26-2012, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TouringDan

George

Is there a reason why you want to change your exterior lights to LED lights? Just curious.

Dan

If done right they give better light, lower power requirements, and better reliability.

That's assuming you're using good units. Bad ones don't give you any of the above.

-Hans

Rob&Julie · 03-26-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderbird

anyone knows what LEDs to use in a68 airstream ? I want to replace the STTlights (stop/turn/tail) . there are Grote lights mounted now and I think OEM . what is the replacement?
thanks in advance.

regards George

Does the 68 take the 4.25" Monarch style STT lights? If so, I saw this led kit just yesterday. The LED panel has a bulb base/screw that fits the original socket...it's a bit pricey though.

Sealed LED light kit for old 4.25 Monarch LED-kit2 [LED-kit2] - $169.95 : LEDs 4, Recreational Vehicles

thunderbird · 03-27-2012, 03:14 PM

the reason I want to change to LED is that they are so much brighter and I once had a jerk jam into my rearbumper

I will wait for the new lights to come out.
thanks
regards George

HHaase · 04-01-2012, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderbird

the reason I want to change to LED is that they are so much brighter and I once had a jerk jam into my rearbumper

I will wait for the new lights to come out.
thanks
regards George

Does your existing housing have a reflector in it? Or is the existing reflector dingy and dirty? If not, you can also spray the inside of the housing with a bright silver paint. This really does help a lot for making tail lights more efficient, and puts more light out the lens.

Here in the USA, most auto parts stores carry some kind of 'bumper chrome' style paint. These are the best choices, as they are the most reflective.

-Hans

marzboy · 04-01-2012, 06:52 PM

Inland RV has some nice ones these should match exactly.

Dan@LED4RV · 04-02-2012, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TouringDan

George

Is there a reason why you want to change your exterior lights to LED lights? Just curious.

Dan

Just like -Hans said, If done right

they give better light,>>>>>> Like the reason I stated above with the tail lights they do give better light. For the running lights and the STT (Stop, Tail, and Turn) the LED are spread out and are very bright. That makes you much more visible on the roads at night.

lower power requirements, >>>>>> As units get older there are a number of reasons why the " running lights and the STT lights" are not as bright as they were when they were new. Corrosion in the light fixture at the bulb contacts, and the inside of the fixtures as well as poor contacts on the wires inside of the unit are a few. With LED lights, the lower power draw allows you to get past much of the reasons listed here.

and better reliability>>>>>>> LEDs last much longer, and in the event you do have a failure on a single LED you will still have plenty of light un-like with a single filament incandescent bulb. If that single filament goes out, you have no light. That is a biggie when your on the road at night.

For the most part, the main reason why one would want to go to LED lights for their " running lights and the STT lights" is safety.

Dan@LED4RV · 04-02-2012, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob&Julie

Does the 68 take the 4.25" Monarch style STT lights? If so, I saw this led kit just yesterday. The LED panel has a bulb base/screw that fits the original socket...it's a bit pricey though.

Sealed LED light kit for old 4.25 Monarch LED-kit2 [LED-kit2] - $169.95 : LEDs 4, Recreational Vehicles

No the LED-kit2 will NOT work in a 1968. We hope to have one real soon that will allow a very quick and easy install. I will post back to this thread when we do. Thank you for asking.

Dan@LED4RV · 04-06-2012, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob&Julie

Does the 68 take the 4.25" Monarch style STT lights? If so, I saw this led kit just yesterday. The LED panel has a bulb base/screw that fits the original socket...it's a bit pricey though.

Sealed LED light kit for old 4.25 Monarch LED-kit2 [LED-kit2] - $169.95 : LEDs 4, Recreational Vehicles

As promised I said that I would post back to this thread when the new round LED tail light kit was ready.

The part number is LED-kit5 and there are some pictures in the commercial listings of this forum.

blkmagikca · 04-07-2012, 09:25 AM

Just adding my 2 cents . . .

Dan has supplied me with all the LED conversions for my last 2 campers and he's been most helpful, even to having specialty light bulbs made for the LY moho wardrobe.

BTW, Dan - the Excella is almost totally LED. What is still incandescent are the step light and waste valve light (they look like a licence plate light off a truck, the bulbs are not replaceable) and the light for the license plate.

thunderbird · 04-08-2012, 06:47 AM

cool those lights
but for my 68 I dont have the back-up lights next to the SSTlights .
I have different lights they are a little above the bumper, so are the SST Led lights seperately availlable??

grts George

Dan@LED4RV · 04-09-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blkmagikca

Just adding my 2 cents . . .

Dan has supplied me with all the LED conversions for my last 2 campers and he's been most helpful, even to having specialty light bulbs made for the LY moho wardrobe.

BTW, Dan - the Excella is almost totally LED. What is still incandescent are the step light and waste valve light (they look like a licence plate light off a truck, the bulbs are not replaceable) and the light for the license plate.

The one at the step is B1156-R13BW

And the one at the waste valve is B1156AL-BWSpot

For the waste valve it does pry apart. There is a very small bulb in there and this is one of the few LEDs that will fit into that fixture

Dan@LED4RV · 04-09-2012, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderbird

cool those lights
but for my 68 I dont have the back-up lights next to the SSTlights .
I have different lights they are a little above the bumper, so are the SST Led lights seperately availlable??

grts George

George,
We do not at the present time but we will very soon. I will let you know when we do.