Warm up your LED Lights -- A "no tools" modification using lighting gels

[thiel]

Hey Gang

I know people sometimes ask how to get rid of that bluish tone to the lights in the trailer, but I could not find a really detailed video explainer out there, so I made one.

Here's the how to:
https://youtu.be/PeghmvHoJ18


I hope that helps!

[centennialman]

Thanks for your video! I really like the look of the warm light much more.

[Mollysdad]

Excellent!

[abqdor]

This topic has been covered many times, but not as thorough as your video demonstrates. Ordering the gel from Amazon, B&H or theater supply company is the trickiest part and can be confusing to the layman because they make a variety of "warmer" gels.

You are looking for CTO gels (which means color temperature orange). These gels convert daylight color temp to tungsten, basically cold daylight blue to warm incandescent.

CTO comes in different densities. It starts with 1/8, then 1/4, 1/2, all the way up to full CTO. I didn't want to go too warm, so I went with 1/4 CTO. You could even go 1/8 CTO and stack the gels to fine tune the color temperature you're looking for. Since your buying a full sheet, you have plenty of material to work with.

[thiel]

Originally Posted by abqdor

This topic has been covered many times, but not as thorough as your video demonstrates. Ordering the gel from Amazon, B&H or theater supply company is the trickiest part and can be confusing to the layman because they make a variety of "warmer" gels.

You are looking for CTO gels (which means color temperature orange). These gels convert daylight color temp to tungsten, basically cold daylight blue to warm incandescent.

CTO comes in different densities. It starts with 1/8, then 1/4, 1/2, all the way up to full CTO. I didn't want to go too warm, so I went with 1/4 CTO. You could even go 1/8 CTO and stack the gels to fine tune the color temperature you're looking for. Since your buying a full sheet, you have plenty of material to work with.

Thanks!

Yes, I agree the gel thing can be a little bit trial and error. (Even for folks who know color temperature and such, it's hard to see how it's going to react in your own trailer.)

One thing I should have put in the video: you can use a hole punch to perforate the gels and get just the right mix of light. Maybe I'll do a followup at some point covering that and going over the gel thing in more detail...

[cwf]

PWM is the way we went. I adjust lumens rather than temp

[Zybane]

Pulse width modulation (flicker) is bad for your eyes. That is why basically every computer manufacturer has gotten rid of PWM in computer monitors.

[kpm]

Thanks for the nice video.

Does anyone know the color temperature of the existing lights? From your video and description I would imagine it is above 5000K.

For us, a warm white around 2700K looks too orange. We prefer a more neutral white around 4000K.

[abqdor]

3200 seems to be the sweet spot for us, both at home and in the AS.

[batman]

very nice video. Clever idea, but.
Why not just change the LED to the temp you want?


-Dennis

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by batman

very nice video. Clever idea, but.
Why not just change the LED to the temp you want?


-Dennis

Cost?

[pcskier]

Because you can do the whole trailer, even the larger galley and bath lights (stick this stuff on to the plastic covers on the inside with tack spray) for under $10.) Plus no cutting/reattaching wires.

Originally Posted by batman

very nice video. Clever idea, but.
Why not just change the LED to the temp you want?


-Dennis

[batman]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

Cost?

Originally Posted by pcskier

Because you can do the whole trailer, even the larger galley and bath lights (stick this stuff on to the plastic covers on the inside with tack spray) for under $10.) Plus no cutting/reattaching wires.

That is a huge saving and you get to do AS projects. Win, win.

[cwf]

I agree.. ‘puter guy for a loooong time. For some reason, tho, ours seems to be pretty stable.. the monitors used to give me migraines and balance issues...or was it the cheap booze was all I could afford...??

Point taken.

[skitger]

I got the idea/fix from this thread, love the new warm look:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f447...-168004-2.html

I got LEE FILTERS 807 ZIRCON WARM AMBER 4 (SIZE: 24" X 24" SHEET) from PNTA.com

Makes a nice art project (and easy), cutting out the shapes, now we can play cards while not being in the operating room. Did keep the super bright LED look over the sink...

[thiel]

Originally Posted by skitger

I got the idea/fix from this thread, love the new warm look:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f447...-168004-2.html

I got LEE FILTERS 807 ZIRCON WARM AMBER 4 (SIZE: 24" X 24" SHEET) from PNTA.com

Makes a nice art project (and easy), cutting out the shapes, now we can play cards while not being in the operating room. Did keep the super bright LED look over the sink...

Funny you mention that. I did not gel the LEDs in the kitchen. The bluer light felt right in there.

[Posse96]

Thanks for posting this because in September of 2020, it's still coming up.

Why can't Airstream simply make the bulb replaceable? I did a lot of footwork on converting the past two days I should be issued an honorary degree.

I found my cool LED recessed light at http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...oducts_id=1682, part # 513936.

It's the same part number listed in the 2016 Airstream Part Catalog (all 550 pages) at High Sky RV Parts. At High Sky, they have the version of the fixture with warm white, part #512718 https://highskyrvparts.com/new-airst...ght-led-512463 Thus, both are a match, just color variations.

Then found threads about the gel, along with this one. i have since ordered the gel (and one other variation in tone - was a dancer for 20 years and worked lighting to death, so understand how the variations work). Then found this thread with the precuts, so ordered those too.

I agree with those who note the benefits of a thinner gel, allowing you to add a layer to play with the overall tone/color.

Thanks all, appreciate the information