Author Topic: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights  (Read 9731 times)

Bill Stireman

  • Guest
LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« on: May 05, 2013, 05:45:32 PM »
I recently replaced all of my 18" fluorescent bulbs with LEDs which I purchased on ebay six for $99.95 including shipping.  6 x LED T8 Tube Replacement Light 18" 380 LUM RV Marine 8-30v 12v  the link to the seller's ebay store is:  http://stores.ebay.com/Best-Everyday-4-U?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Bill Stireman
'04 Monterey Laguna
400 hp C-9 Cat

Joel Ashley

  • BAC Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2449
  • Thanked: 770 times
  • OSU Class of '73, Oregon Native. RVing 40 years
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2013, 01:07:06 AM »
But they didn't come with instructions, right Bill?
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat

William Brosam

  • Guest
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2013, 03:58:23 AM »
its very simple locate the white gorund wire, cut it strip it back un plug the power side from switch, plug new harness into switch and slide LED bulb into ballast done.

Bill Stireman

  • Guest
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2013, 11:02:21 AM »
No, they did not come with instructions but Joel was good enough to scan and email the instructions to me.  Jerry Carr also called and sent info.  It turned out as William said, to be very easy to install.  They provide great light with no heat.

Bill Stireman
'04 Monterey Laguna

William Brosam

  • Guest
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2013, 02:01:31 AM »
yes i have 6 more to install in the box just havent got to it quite yet,

Jim Shaw

  • Guest
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2013, 12:15:38 AM »
Bill I found them on amazon for 19.95. Did you use two tubes in each light or just put in one tube. If you used just one, is it enough light?
Jim

William Brosam

  • Guest
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2013, 12:33:00 AM »
I put a LED tube in the place of each t5 or t8 bulb before i like it bright when the lights are on.

Joel Ashley

  • BAC Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2449
  • Thanked: 770 times
  • OSU Class of '73, Oregon Native. RVing 40 years
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2013, 10:19:19 AM »
I also put two in the one fixture I converted.  One lamp was adequate, but just a smidgen shy of the output of the original two fluorescents, and two LEDs kick out noticeably more.  That one fixture over the kitchen area and central to the coach is obviously brighter than the others forward and to the rear of it.  Though more expensive to do it that way, like William I preferred the increased total lumens.  Using only one LED per fixture is okay though, and will certainly use significantly less battery resources during times of conservation.

Given the cost involved, one might consider alternating fixtures as a compromise, two LEDs in one and one LED in the next.  In my case, I did just the one centrally located fixture for now, and will do the rest as lamp costs become more affordable with respect to their ability to save money in the long run.

Joel
« Last Edit: May 08, 2013, 10:30:16 AM by 77 »
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat

Dick Simonis

  • Guest
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2013, 03:22:50 PM »
I would seem to be a simple mod to replace the rocker switch in each fixture with a 3-way and have 0ne/Off/Two bulb operation.  At least that is what I'm contemplating.

Jerry Carr

  • Guest
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2013, 04:40:19 PM »
I did consider just adding a rheostat but the tubes are designed to turn so you can reduce or add the light by rotating the bulb

Joel Ashley

  • BAC Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2449
  • Thanked: 770 times
  • OSU Class of '73, Oregon Native. RVing 40 years
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2013, 08:51:17 PM »
But rotating the bulb won't use less energy.
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat

Dick Simonis

  • Guest
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2013, 02:03:09 AM »
Quote from: Jerry Carr
I did consider just adding a rheostat but the tubes are designed to turn so you can reduce or add the light by rotating the bulb

Rotating the light bulb??  How does that work?

Dick

Joel Ashley

  • BAC Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2449
  • Thanked: 770 times
  • OSU Class of '73, Oregon Native. RVing 40 years
Re: LED replacements for Fluorescent lights
« Reply #12 on: May 09, 2013, 06:00:50 AM »
The middle lamp section of the "bulb", if that's what you want to call it, rotates on the end pieces.  That middle section is just a long flat plate with rows of LEDs along its length, all inside a clear tube.  The end pieces have pins that fit in the existing fixture sockets much as fluorescents do.

Joel
« Last Edit: May 09, 2013, 06:11:35 AM by 77 »
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat