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04-05-2020, 02:25 PM
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#1
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Eartha
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 5
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Replacing Flourescent tubes with LEDS
I'm looking at replacing my 18" flourescent tubes with LEDs in my "63 Overlander. I found some on Amazon that had a little re-wiring required.
On ebay I found some LED 18" bulbs described as "plug and play"
I'm inexperienced and not handy- Is it really that easy? Since the price is comparable ( tho expensive) , it seems too good to be true. Thanks, everyone!
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04-05-2020, 03:36 PM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 194
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At home I have a fluorescent light above the kitchen sink that stays on all of the time. The ballast in the light fixture died. I too found an LED that would replace the old tube one for one.
The LED runs on straight 110 volts AC. I had to rewire the fixture (with the instructions that came with the LED) so that the LED was fed 110 volts directly. That took about 5 minutes.
I am assuming that your existing light fixtures are 12 volts DC. Just make sure that new LED’s use the same voltage as the existing tubes. 110 volt LED’s won’t work in a 12 volt fixture.
Cheers,
John
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04-05-2020, 04:13 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2002 19' Bambi
Lafayette
, California
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,559
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We had 12" fluorescent tube fixtures (installed by us years ago) in our Airstream. Replaced the fluorescent tubes with exact physical match LED tubes (12v). The fixtures had electronic ballast which we took out of the circuit for the LED tubes. That rewiring was easy.
Tim
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04-05-2020, 04:24 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,085
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we use the LED strip from http://www.leevalley.ca
beware of cheap Chinese knock off LED as the often fail soon , flicker, burn out, catch fire have other issues.
only use CREE certified LED lights
also look for natural 4000k lights and not warm 3000k or cold 5000k+
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04-05-2020, 04:27 PM
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#6
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Got our's here...many to choose from.
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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04-05-2020, 04:44 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1994 34' Excella
Warren
, Manitoba
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,248
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We bought our LED lights from LED4RV. The owner is very knowledgable and great to work with. Good quality products at competative prices. He also is very familiar with Airstream, as he told me he worked for Out of Doors Mart for many years. Highly recommend this vendor. JMHO
__________________
ACI #7394
2012 GMC 2500 HD Duramax Denali
1994 Excella 34'
1987 Limited 34', 1976 31', 1976 Argosy 22' Gone to new homes
Hensley Hitch
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04-05-2020, 06:07 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2001 30' Excella
Full-time traveling
, Hmmmm. what day of the week is it?
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 204
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Here are instructions
Here is how to replace fluorescent lights with LEDs in older Airstreams:
https://livinginbeauty.net/2016/02/1...there-be-leds/
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04-05-2020, 06:46 PM
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#9
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JBBeaubeaux
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DW hated the bright 'dots' showing thru.
I re-installed the tubes as diffusers, DW happy.😂
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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04-05-2020, 07:12 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2000 30' Excella
GTA
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS
DW hated the bright 'dots' showing thru.
I re-installed the tubes as diffusers, DW happy.[emoji23]
Bob
[emoji631]
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Good idea
__________________
#4286 Stella the 2000 30ft Excella/Classic - Tow Vehicle - 2020 GMC Denali 1500 Duramax 3.0l Diesel, ProPride3 WDH.
previous tow vehicles 2012 Mercedes Benz GL350d - CanAmRv.ca hitch Reinforcement, 2005 Ford F150 Lariat 5.4L
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04-06-2020, 09:33 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
1976 31' Excella 500
1974 31' Excella 500
1975 24' Argosy 24
Denver
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,106
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To answer your question, some fluorescent replacements require you to remove the ballast. Others allow direct use without removing the ballast, so it will depend on the replacement tube/bulb you buy. For a long time I was using rolled LED strips, but now I often salvage old fluorescent fixtures because the LED replacement tubes have come down in price, are easy to find, and diffuse the light a little nicer since the LEDs are inside a diffusion tube. They are also much easier to replace when they inevitably fail. You will read that LEDs have miraculous life spans, but the multi-thousand hour life of the actual diode will never be achieved because the soldering, etc., will fail long before then. This is why the current "20 year" household bulb replacements really only last a couple years on average.
EDIT: Though "direct replacement" might sound better, if you are able, removing the ballast is the best way to go, because there are then fewer things to go wrong in the future (it's also more efficient). Bypassing the ballast is a relatively simple job, but it *will* require a little mechanical savvy.
__________________
25' 1972 Airstream Trade Wind Land Yacht (heavily customized)
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD (diesel)
BeahmStream.com
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04-06-2020, 09:47 AM
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#12
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,403
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kidjedi
To answer your question, some fluorescent replacements require you to remove the ballast. Others allow direct use without removing the ballast, .
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I know on the home fluorescent fixtures there are a lot of replacements that allow the use of LED tubes without bypassing the ballast. And yes you don't get the same power savings as those LED's that operate without the ballast. But in my case it's easy and I don't have the nightmares of making a mistake or having to hire an electrician or replace the entire fixture.
So with all that in mind, does anyone have a link to a supplier, an outlet or LED tubes brand, that can replace our fluorescent tubes without monkeying with the ballast wiring? After over 16 years of use, I'd like to use LED tubs rather than replacing the tubes with the fluorescent technology as the old bulbs reach the end of their service life.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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04-06-2020, 10:02 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2006 30' Classic
1966 20' Globetrotter
Currently Looking...
Dover
, Delaware
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 78
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I have done several trailers by removing the flourescent parts and replacing them with LED strip lights from Superbright LEDs. They are self adhesive and cost about $19.00 for one meter. they are much brighter and can be cut with scissors at every three LEDs.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/clearance-led-strip-and-tape-lights/led-strip-lights-12v-led-tape-light-with-lc2-connector-375-lumensft/1465/4153/
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04-06-2020, 10:04 AM
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#14
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1 Rivet Member
2014 30' International
Delphi
, Indiana
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 14
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LED Conversion
I totally agree with waninae39, whether you like the final product or not will depend on the light frequency you choose. Go for the more natural light color. Above 5000k and the light is very harsh to the eyes. Much below 4000k and the light looks yellowish. Besides that, my experience with the cheap chinese LEDs is you have to purchase twice as many as you need and hope you get enough that work to complete your project, a good number of them will be DOA right out of the box. Also, some require attention to polarity, if it does not work then switch the "+" and "-", if it still doesn't work then it's DOA.
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04-06-2020, 10:38 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
1976 31' Excella 500
Chappell Hill
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 485
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My Excella flourescent bulb fixtures were 12v from the factory. Flourescent bulbs will work on a 110v fixture if you take the ballast out. However I made 12V led light fixtures from parts on Amazon. Wired right in to the 12v wiring.
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04-06-2020, 10:40 AM
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#16
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4 Rivet Member
1976 31' Excella 500
Chappell Hill
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 485
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drbob46923
I totally agree with waninae39, whether you like the final product or not will depend on the light frequency you choose. Go for the more natural light color. Above 5000k and the light is very harsh to the eyes. Much below 4000k and the light looks yellowish. Besides that, my experience with the cheap chinese LEDs is you have to purchase twice as many as you need and hope you get enough that work to complete your project, a good number of them will be DOA right out of the box. Also, some require attention to polarity, if it does not work then switch the "+" and "-", if it still doesn't work then it's DOA.
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Sorry to hear you had trouble with import LEDs. I've changed all my Airstream bulbs and my garage lights too, all with Amazon Chinese LEDs, and not one yet has failed.
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04-06-2020, 11:00 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1989 29' Land Yacht
Mesa
, Arizona
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,804
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When I replace mine with new LED light I got static on the radio when they are on.
__________________
Live every day as if it is your last one and one day your going to be right.
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04-06-2020, 09:04 PM
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#18
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:SPACE A" S/O 11 Air19745
2006 34' Classic S/O
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,766
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I bought a roll of LEDs. For, maybe $8 a 15m roll. All you do is cut the length you want on the mark. Gut the fixture of everything except the leads coming in from the TT. Then get a low heat soldering iron and connect some 20g wires to the strip being careful not to touch the bare wires or solder joints together. Don't worry about polarity. They won't work reversed, Just test them first. I did all of them in my Airstream after being unable to find 18" kits for the bathroom. The roll came with adhesive and of far, five years latter, they are still sticking even in the bathroom.
guskmg
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04-15-2020, 09:53 AM
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#19
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SilverFire
2007 19' Bambi
EUGENE
, OR
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 68
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Another Quality LED Source
This supplier has about every led bulb, tube, and fixture configuration available. Quality bulbs and as others have pointed out the more powerful natural light spectrum may be the best option between cool white light and warm light, depending on your personal preference. I find the cool, bright white light hard on my eyes for reading and some of the warmer diffused led light options to dim.
I changed out all the halogen light fixtures (too hot & energy thieves) in my 19' Winick, which has a darker custom walnut interior and no panoramic front window. Big difference. The M-4 elite natural light led bulbs made a huge difference. Unfortunately, this model has 24 fixtures! So a large number of bulbs to replace (a combination of side pins, rear pins, wedge bases, and traditional 1156 /1141 style bases). I'm guessing the Winick's had more fixtures per foot than all other AS ($$$)!
https://m4products.com/
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04-15-2020, 02:52 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
KW
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 996
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My only advice is measure the current draw on what you're installing. Some of the LED strips draw a lot of power and are far too bright. In the bathroom I ended up only using one strip of leds instead of the 2 since they were far to bright and far to heavy in power usage. I had a bunch left over from other projects so I just replaced different ones with different colours. Personally if they are too warm they don't look good either. You may want to experiment first before committing. Mind you I hated the florescent lights from day one. Their wavelength wasn't pleasant. BTW these led strips make great 3rd brake light replacements.
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