Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » LED lights (interior lights)
| LED lights (interior lights) [message #197080] |
Fri, 01 February 2013 13:25  |
bronevaya
Messages: 63
Registered: May 2011
Location: birmingham al
Karma: 0
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So I bought an LED light and mounted it to the ceiling above the couch. I wired it to a switch and it would turn on and off. I then turned on the RV and let the engine run for a bit and I turned the light on again. This time the lights were really bright for a moment and then shut off. I am afraid I burnt out the LEDs but the question is, why does the LED light I have installed in the kitchen work but the others fry? Am I over looking something? In both cases the lights came with little transformer box which needed to be removed before the lights would come on.
1977 Palm beach
Bham AL
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| Re: LED lights (interior lights) [message #197083 is a reply to message #197080] |
Fri, 01 February 2013 13:34  |
Coelli
Messages: 136
Registered: July 2012
Location: Los Angeles
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I'll let someone else with more knowledge answer your question since it's probably unrelated to what happened with us, but we had to reverse the polarity on our fixtures to get our new LED bulbs to work. They did not burn out though.
I also highly recommend just replacing the bulbs with LED bulbs rather than the whole fixture, or buy a fixture that uses BA15S base bulbs (the kind that are throughout the coach anyway) and adding LED bulbs of that type. Our cost per new LED fixture was about $20, as opposed to the $60 Camping World wanted for basically the same thing.  We only need to replace the reading lights in the back now.
Meghan
1976 Eleganza II, Los Angeles, CA
Classic GMC Motorhomes Group on Facebook
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| Re: LED lights (interior lights) [message #197088 is a reply to message #197084] |
Fri, 01 February 2013 14:57 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Current kills them ASAP. Incandescent bulbs current does not matter, LEDs die.
Where these LED replacement bulbs, or whole assembleys?
Could be that 12v connection is getting more voltage, depending upon where it is in the chain of 12v power generation, since at every point, it varies. From highest directly from the alternator to a nominal 12v at the battery. No telling the current or voltage level at that point without test measurements.
Description of the burnout leads me to suspect over the current limit for that LED.
Interesting problem.
Tom, MS II
387 miles to Dothan
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: LED lights (interior lights) [message #197094 is a reply to message #197080] |
Fri, 01 February 2013 16:01 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Just to add some anecdotal experience... I bought one of about six or seven different types of LED lights to find one I'd really like (hey, they were dirt cheap). The one I settled on was a nine-SMD panel that put out a warm light, just a little less yellow than the incandescent bulbs they replaced (but not at ALL "blue" like some LEDs). So I ordered twenty more of those, and swapped out every incandescent light in the coach with the exception of the ones in the cockpit (which I almost never use). They came with double-sided tape already mounted on the panels, and a tiny little connectorized socket that plugs in in place of the original 12V bulb.
I've got to use these for quite a while now, and couldn't be happier with the outcome. Not a single failure, seconds to install. In fact, the only glitch of any kind was that one of the bits of double-sided tape fell down in one of the bedroom light fixtures (which is no doubt from some sort of contamination on the fixture, and will be a dead easy fix).
My total investment in the whole project was under $40, and my lighting power amperage is a small fraction of what it was. I fully expect the LED lights will outlast the coach (and me).
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: LED lights (interior lights) [message #197265 is a reply to message #197220] |
Sun, 03 February 2013 22:46 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Wow... how bright are those? It appears each of your LED panels have 24 of the same SMD devices my lights do, but mine have only 9, and (to my eye) seem to put out the same light as the incandescent bulbs they replaced. Could yours be almost 3x brighter?
Smokin' deal though!
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: [GMCnet] LED lights (interior lights) [message #197288 is a reply to message #197265] |
Mon, 04 February 2013 06:53 |
John Wright
Messages: 118
Registered: September 2008
Karma: 0
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I used units like this when I converted to all LED lighting for the enclosed overhead light fixtures. The lights themselves work great but none of the adapter fit the bulb sockets.
the regular bulb base shown is for the smaller sockets and not the 1056 or 1099 bulbs used in the lights. That said, I used the larger base and converted the the adapter to the larger bulb socket base. I am on the road right now and do not have access to the extras and photos on how to do it. These bulbs do get hot and will soften the adhesive on the back, you will need to add an additional adhesive square to the back to make sure they stick in the fixtures.
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
Newsletter Editor/Publisher
78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
On the road in Florida
On Feb 3, 2013, at 11:46 PM, Mark <mark@habcycles.com> wrote:
>
>
> Robert Mueller wrote on Sun, 03 February 2013 16:25
>> G'day,
>>
>> Gordon (who got tossed) told me he bought a bunch of these:
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/bbffcoj
>>
>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/251170105485?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
>>
>> And was happy with them.
>
> Wow... how bright are those? It appears each of your LED panels have 24 of the same SMD devices my lights do, but mine have only 9, and (to my eye) seem to put out the same light as the incandescent bulbs they replaced. Could yours be almost 3x brighter?
>
> Smokin' deal though!
> --
> Mark Hickey
> Mesa, AZ
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: [GMCnet] LED lights (interior lights) [message #197422 is a reply to message #197359] |
Tue, 05 February 2013 08:49 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
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LED's are kind of like light bulbs as they can come in many different brightness levels. (Kind of like the wattage of screw in light bulbs at home.) BUT wattage alone doesn't tell the story for LEDs. Just because they use a set amount of power doesn't mean that is made into light that you can see and use. Filament bulbs put out a wide spectrum on light, LEDs for the most part put out a narrow spectrum. that is why they can look a bit different to our eyes.
This can get into a very long post, but just the number a LED "panels" doesn't mean it'll put out a set amount of light. You would have to know how much light each LED (or "panel") puts out. (Quality of the light is a whole nother issue.... )
Bottom line: Some single LED's can put out more light than a dozens of "common" LED's.
| Robert Mueller wrote on Mon, 04 February 2013 13:44 |
According to the ex-GMCer I got this info from they are as bright or brighter than a 1041 bulb.
-----Original Message-----
Wow... how bright are those? It appears each of your LED panels have 24 of the same SMD devices my lights do, but mine have only 9, and (to my eye) seem to put out the same light as the incandescent bulbs they replaced. Could yours be almost 3x brighter?
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Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: LED lights (interior lights) [message #197426 is a reply to message #197080] |
Tue, 05 February 2013 09:21 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Mike, Yep! The reason I was wondering about those 24-element LED panels is that it appears that each of them is the same SMD device that's on my 9-element LED panels. And my 9-element LED panels produce about the same amount of light as the 1141 bulbs I replaced. I checked this because all my light fixtures are double fixtures, and I compared the various LED options against the 1141 bulb in the other half of the fixture.
That does lead me to believe that those 24-SMD panels are really (!) bright, which is OK, but in my coach (since there are so many fixtures, and they're all doubles), it would be serious overkill... when I turn on all the lights inside, it's like an office building. 
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: LED lights (interior lights) [message #197427 is a reply to message #197080] |
Tue, 05 February 2013 09:28 |
Cadillackeeper
Messages: 464
Registered: October 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Karma: 1
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We are going a little different!I have one of these in the dinette and over the sink.We don't use the inside lights for
any long durations so when you turn one on it is blastin bright.
To me everytime you turn one on its like like leaving the car door open.I do have small Harbor Freight AA powered Led's scattered strategically all over the place as well.We have 110v
lights also front,middle and back.I have these also in the back up lights of the Eldo.Lucky they only are on for a few moments as they do get HOT!!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HALOGEN-1156-BULBS-50w-REVERSE-BACKUP-LIGHTS-50-WATT-/150500493220
77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
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| Re: LED lights (interior lights) [message #197499 is a reply to message #197080] |
Tue, 05 February 2013 19:19 |
Coelli
Messages: 136
Registered: July 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Karma: 0
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On Mark/habbyguy's recommendation several months ago I bought a bunch of LED board/base units from the same eBay seller. I have since ordered from them a few times and haven't had a single failure or issue on any of them.
I am using 6-LED boards in each of the 6 bathroom lights, 15-LED boards above the kitchen sink, 9-LED boards in the range hood and in the overhead light by the bed, and 12-LED boards above the dinette. I believe the one above the couch has 15-LED boards. The coach originally had fluorescent fixtures over the sink, dinette, couch, and rear hallway so I replaced them with these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/330792137780?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
They can also be found for $10.99 at Camping World. All told each fixture cost about $20 with LED bulbs.
Also replaced the floor lights with a 3-LED strip light wired to the same base as the boards. If you have a Facebook account you can see the photos here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.186674578123754&type=1 (I haven't uploaded to GMC Photos but will get around to that eventually).
Meghan
1976 Eleganza II, Los Angeles, CA
Classic GMC Motorhomes Group on Facebook
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| Re: LED lights (interior lights) [message #197530 is a reply to message #197080] |
Tue, 05 February 2013 23:42 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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So Meghan, you're uniquely qualified to answer the age... errrr, hours-old question... are the 24-SMD panels a whole lot brighter than the 9-SMD panels? I think it's very cool that you were able to fine-tune the lighting in the various parts of your coach. In mine, the PO just installed a LOT of light fixtures. As I recall, I counted (and replaced) almost 30 1141 bulbs (which would have drawn about 50 amps of 12VDC power if I turned 'em all on at once).
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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