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jerrypeterma · 08-02-2008, 05:59 PM

I was talking to my friend at CarQuest about replacing my running lights. He suggested LED that look exactly like my lights, excet when they light up.
What do ya'll think?
Jerry

blacksheep · 08-02-2008, 06:10 PM

Go for it! Less current draw than filament bulbs.

Godspeed,
Trent

Charlyf · 08-02-2008, 06:15 PM

LEDs seem to last forever

davidz71 · 08-02-2008, 06:38 PM

I went that route.

lewster · 08-02-2008, 07:15 PM

All '08 Airstreams now sport LED running lights. I'm very close to converting all of mine to the new style to go along with my all LED interior.

Silvertwinkie · 08-02-2008, 07:20 PM

A worthwhile idea. I went to LEDs this year. Power draw is near nill and there is no noticeable heat at all.

thecatsandi · 08-02-2008, 07:26 PM

I replaced all my running lights in my trailer. I burned out a few in under a year. I travel with them on all the time. I switched to LEDs. they look fine and are about 1/2 the current draw.

overlander63 · 08-02-2008, 07:32 PM

I put LED lights all around on our Argosy, and am now in the process of upgrading our Sovereign to LEDs.

**moosetags** · 08-02-2008, 07:39 PM

We just converted Lucy to all LED running lights. We we even did the step and patio lights. We didn't change any fixtures, just the bulbs. The 15 LED running lights are brighter than the old bulbs. The whole conversion cost about $100 and took 20 minutes.

Brian

Inland RV Center, In · 08-02-2008, 09:33 PM

As I see it, LED lights only have one basic problem.

Their life time, exceeds ours.

Seriously, they are brighter in the daylight than the incandescents are at night time.

Andy

overlander63 · 08-03-2008, 06:36 AM

LED's cost about twice as much as a comparable incandescent fixture, but last a hundred times longer with virtually no maintenance. If they last the first few trips (called infant mortality), they will last decades. You might have one unit fail. A friend installed LED running lights on his motorhome, and noticed almost no voltage drop with the LEDs, versus almost a volt and a half voltage drop with the standard lights.

Inland RV Center, In · 08-03-2008, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

LED's cost about twice as much as a comparable incandescent fixture, but last a hundred times longer with virtually no maintenance. If they last the first few trips (called infant mortality), they will last decades. You might have one unit fail. A friend installed LED running lights on his motorhome, and noticed almost no voltage drop with the LEDs, versus almost a volt and a half voltage drop with the standard lights.

Plus, the sealed LED's do not have any rust or corrosion problems.

Andy

jerrypeterma · 08-03-2008, 07:22 AM

Thanks everyone for the response. I'll change out as we are doing our upgrades.
One question I had was how did you measure the voltage drop before and after installing the LED lights. I can understand a amp drop but not volts.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE HELP. (some of us need it)
Jerry

Lumatic · 08-03-2008, 07:57 AM

My new LEDs did not come with gaskets so I had to make some from gasket material I got from an auto parts store. The gaskets are not necessary for a weather seal but for me were necessary to mount LEDs properly to the skin. No big deal.

Inland RV Center, In · 08-03-2008, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeterman

Thanks everyone for the response. I'll change out as we are doing our upgrades.
One question I had was how did you measure the voltage drop before and after installing the LED lights. I can understand a amp drop but not volts.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE HELP. (some of us need it)
Jerry

The ohms law formula is E=IR. E=voltage, I=current(amps), R=resistance. You can also use I=E over R, or R=E over I.

With a given resistance, when the voltage drops, the amps drop too.

Or you can say that with a given resistance, when the current (amps) drop, the voltage must also drop.

To measure a voltage drop is easy.

First you must have a DC voltmeter.

Then simply measure the applied voltage, in this case to a clearance light at the rear of the trailer, with the old type and then with the LEDS.

Several things can cause voltage drops, above normal.

1. Poor connections.
2. Excessive current draw.
3. Inadequate wire size.
4. Partial short circuit.
5. Corroded terminals.
6. Bad or poor grounds.

Electrical consumption can be related to water consumption.

The more water you require from a source requires that you increase the size of the hose and/or increase the water pressure.

Likewise with electricity. If you want more power, then you must increase the size of the wire (minimizing a voltage drop), or increase the voltage at the source.

This works for DC.

In the case of AC, things work a little different, since you would deal with resistance and impedance. That formula is E=IZ, Z being the resistance and impedance.

As an example, with RV air conditioners such as used by Airstream, when the voltage drops, the current draw will increase because the compressor and the fan motor must work harder.

That's why using a under rated extension cord on an RV, will cause air conditioners to not run properly, and/or become ruined, rather quickly.

Andy

jerrypeterma · 08-03-2008, 10:39 AM

Now that's a answer. Thanks and the tip on the extension cord is a good one, too.
One last thing, where do you set the multi meter, at the battary, the converter, or in the line? Thanks again
Jerry

Inland RV Center, In · 08-03-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeterman

Now that's a answer. Thanks and the tip on the extension cord is a good one, too.
One last thing, where do you set the multi meter, at the battary, the converter, or in the line? Thanks again
Jerry

Jerry.

To determine a voltage drop, you must make 2 measurements.

One is at the source of the power, and the other is at the end of the line, namely the load.

In the case of using a "Univolt", if the trailer is plugged into city power, then you would want to check the voltage at the fuse for a particular circuit, then at the load.

If the trailer "was not" plugged into city power, then you would check the voltage at the battery, and then at the load.

While your at it, see if you have a voltage drop between the battery "post" and the battery "clamp."

If you can measure any drop, then you best give the battery posts and clamps, a very good cleaning. Then to keep them clean, coat both of them with a good coating of grease. That keeps the oxygen from reaching the post and clamp, thereby stopping the corrosion from reappearing.

Andy

longdog · 08-21-2008, 07:27 AM

Where are you all finding LED bulbs for the interior lights? The online source that I know of (superbrightleds.com) is a bit difficult to navigate. AND, I can't find any LED equivalent for the halogen reading lights (bulb #TY-67)

overlander63 · 08-21-2008, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longdog

Where are you all finding LED bulbs for the interior lights? The online source that I know of (superbrightleds.com) is a bit difficult to navigate. AND, I can't find any LED equivalent for the halogen reading lights (bulb #TY-67)

http://led-r-us.com/