I changed to all LED's so I could use the heater all night without worrying about having enough battery to last until morning. We like it very warm at night.
You have to put a price on your ability to boondock without running the generator. If that is important, get LEDs. If not, you don't need them. I am very happy we switched over -- I can really tell the difference in battery life.
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components) Our trips -- pix and text About our trailer
So on the eternal quest for making life easier/cheaper, as well as attempting to satisfy my light fetish...I dive back into the land of LEDs. This time for the main lights inside the camper.
Here is what I used
ebay specials, came out to roughly $1 each shipped. 140 lumens and a "warm white" color, so none of that lousy/harsh blueish light.
I kicked around a number of different ways to do it, but this seemed like the easiest way. Being the packrat that I am, I had some of the old bulbs that had burned out, and decided to use those as the "adapter/plug" for the system. Broke the glass from the bulb and wired the leads from the LEDs directly to the prongs from the old bulb.
I decided to go with 2 LEDs on each side, better safe than sorry, I like it bright. SO from there a small harness was made.
and then attached to the fixture with double sided tape
TAAADAAAA!!!
I only bought 10, so I haven't completed the camper by any means, I'm ordering 20 more to go ahead and finish them off.
My findings are this.
*The color is a tad bit yellower than the stock incandescent lights.(keep in mind my 1976 inverter is running about 15 volts with just the lights on, so the higher voltage also keeps them brighter/whiter), but either way, the light is still far better than the hospital look of the cool white bulbs.
*Two bulbs on each side is comparable in output to the single stock bulb. Price wise, it's a wash, so for cost and long life the LEDs obviously take the nod.
*no more melted lenses. I ran the bulbs with the covers on for 2 days, according to the temp probe I used, the lights were at about 95* with it being 80* inside the camper.
*Current draw-The main reason these were purchased , was to increase my dry camping time. The old bulbs had a draw of roughly 1.3-1.5 amps each when lit. The LEDs are .02amps each. Not counting the 2 florescent fixtures and the stove lights(which will be done as well) I have knocked back the power amazingly. Before with all the lights on(not that , I was looking at a current draw of roughly 17amps. My 36 yr old converter didn't like that. Now with all fixtures on, and dual bulbs in each section, I'm looking at a total of around .5 amp..I can deal with that.
Future locations will be step lights, I think I will be adding a few underneath, and of course replacing the porch light and the light over the storage box on the tongue.
As said, the cheapest place to buy Quality LED Lights are on E-Bay.
We replaced every light bulb in our Motorhome. And that includes all the Storage Compartments as well.
Yes, Yes, Yes, they will save your Battery Bank. And I think over time, Recharging your Battery Bank even less, and making your Battries last even longer will pay for your LED Lights.
Trust us, your Battery Bank will really appriciate your replacing your lights with LED Lightss. You can go longer between Battery recharges.
While you at it, if you haven't already, replace your OLD CRT TV's as well. The Newer LED TV's use very little Power also.
Between LED Lights, and LED TV's, your Battery Bank will last you longer, espically if you like Boondocking. They are almost a must have item. Good Luck. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill
What the others said. It's 1/10 of the power consumption (as measured, for us). We love that we can keep all the lights on and not have to worry about any kind of significant drain.
If you don't boondock alot it won't matter, but if you love to dry-camp it is a really nice upgrade.
bcrewcaptain wrote: So on the eternal quest for making life easier/cheaper, as well as attempting to satisfy my light fetish...I dive back into the land of LEDs. This time for the main lights inside the camper.
Here is what I used
ebay specials, came out to roughly $1 each shipped. 140 lumens and a "warm white" color, so none of that lousy/harsh blueish light.
I kicked around a number of different ways to do it, but this seemed like the easiest way. Being the packrat that I am, I had some of the old bulbs that had burned out, and decided to use those as the "adapter/plug" for the system. Broke the glass from the bulb and wired the leads from the LEDs directly to the prongs from the old bulb.
I decided to go with 2 LEDs on each side, better safe than sorry, I like it bright. SO from there a small harness was made.
and then attached to the fixture with double sided tape
TAAADAAAA!!!
I only bought 10, so I haven't completed the camper by any means, I'm ordering 20 more to go ahead and finish them off.
My findings are this.
*The color is a tad bit yellower than the stock incandescent lights.(keep in mind my 1976 inverter is running about 15 volts with just the lights on, so the higher voltage also keeps them brighter/whiter), but either way, the light is still far better than the hospital look of the cool white bulbs.
*Two bulbs on each side is comparable in output to the single stock bulb. Price wise, it's a wash, so for cost and long life the LEDs obviously take the nod.
*no more melted lenses. I ran the bulbs with the covers on for 2 days, according to the temp probe I used, the lights were at about 95* with it being 80* inside the camper.
*Current draw-The main reason these were purchased , was to increase my dry camping time. The old bulbs had a draw of roughly 1.3-1.5 amps each when lit. The LEDs are .02amps each. Not counting the 2 florescent fixtures and the stove lights(which will be done as well) I have knocked back the power amazingly. Before with all the lights on(not that , I was looking at a current draw of roughly 17amps. My 36 yr old converter didn't like that. Now with all fixtures on, and dual bulbs in each section, I'm looking at a total of around .5 amp..I can deal with that.
Future locations will be step lights, I think I will be adding a few underneath, and of course replacing the porch light and the light over the storage box on the tongue.
Hey bcrewcaptian, that's a slick way to wire them in! I've got enough 48's to do my whole camper, some are done already but the rest, I will give your method a shot since I'm replacing 1156 bulbs. Real happy about your measured amp draw too. I'm a dry camper, rarely on shore power so every little bit helps, and these led's save more than a little.
Changing my lights to LEDs was worth the cost to me. Whether or not it is worth it to you only you can determine. I did it to reduce the current drain and thus greatly increase the time between running the generator when camping without an electric hookup. As others have said, the place to buy LED lights is on eBay. Of course there are other power hogs you can reduce or eliminate as ryanallie1 said. There are several threads on here that are excellent intros to LEDs. Do your homework before you buy and then buy only a couple to make sure you like the result before buying a bunch.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory
My new LED's came in this week. We'll be setting up the test run this weekend. Main reason is to reduce battery drain so the DW and kids can run the furnace overnight. I will not run the generator overnight, even when boondocking!
2004 Toyota Tundra SR5 (V8, 4WD, TP, TRD)
2005 Fleetwod Allegance with axle flip
Honeywell 2000i Generator
Me, DW, DS, DD, Dog & Camping Kitty
JLTN_James wrote: My new LED's came in this week. We'll be setting up the test run this weekend. Main reason is to reduce battery drain so the DW and kids can run the furnace overnight. I will not run the generator overnight, even when boondocking!
Best thing I did on my little old Sunline was to pull the furnace and install an old truck camper furnace that doesn't have a blower. Now none of my appliances needs power at all. I think I will be able to stay indefinitely with just one battery and solar panel.
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