I replaced all the 10w halogens in the fixtures with LEDs a couple of weeks ago. Gottem on Amazon. Not cheap, but we dry camp almost exclusively and often don't move the rig for several days. So, the power consumption factor was important for us.
Amazon has a large assortment of LED possibilities.
Thin light fluorescent tubes are about 1 watt per 100 lumens and so are the led units.
In short, if the tube lights are working well and the ballasts are good there is no energy savings to be had for the amount of light produced. If the ballast dies it may be a good time to change over to led technology.
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edited 03/31/12 06:15am by pianotuna *
Another reason to get LED's is heat. Especially with Puck and Spot lights. Changing to LED's gets rid of almost all the heat.
Puck lights ussually use G4 lights. Halogen spot lights can be replaced with 1141 and 1156 bulbs.
I light the whiter LEDs usually in the 5000 to 6000. Here is a example EWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649">G4 LED .
Spot light replacement should have all the LED's on end of light. Here is a replacemnt example. 1156 LED light.
I have not replaced my florescent lights yet.
US sellers are faster but more expensive. Chain sellers are cheaper. May take longer to receive bulbs. When I had a problem, respond quickly and solve to my favor.
Do some studying here on RV.net. Some good info here.
Thin light fluorescent tubes are about 1 watt per 100 lumens and so are the led units.
In short, if the tube lights are working well and the ballasts are good there is no energy savings to be had for the amount of light produced. If the ballast dies it may be a good time to change over to led technology.
Dear pianotuna,
Your link referenced does not even deal with LED! The lumens per watt for most 12 volt LED's are from 100 to 120 (230 max.) and for most 12 volt fluorescent's it is from 50 to 80 (100 max., not your typical 12 volt unit) and if you use a standart 8 watt 12v tube then it is probably 50 lumens. So, in short, LED's generally use less energy to produce the same lumens. You are correct about a change over as the "savings" (less generator run) would be small but with solar it could make a difference.
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edited 03/31/12 12:20pm by WilliamKorn *
I suggest you read the document at the link I posted more carefully. The fourth item down is led.
I've been using led's for over ten years. I'm a proponent of using them instead of incandescent, but the typical thin light fluorescent tubes are just as efficient as led technology. This may change in the future.
I suggest you read the document at the link I posted more carefully. The fourth item down is led.
I've been using led's for over ten years. I'm a proponent of using them instead of incandescent, but the typical thin light fluorescent tubes are just as efficient as led technology. This may change in the future.
Don't obfusticate, and attack folks.
Sorry about that error on my part. But we all obfusticate!
But, most 12 volt LED's are 100 -120 lumens per watt and most 12 volt fluorescent are 50-80. that is a difference that could add up to more generator time or a larger solar array needed.
A standard 8-watt fluorescent tube produces about 50 lumens per watt No electronic magic can significantly change that. In addition, all ballasts consume some power, generally 15% to 25%. Therefore a light advertised as using .4 amp (4.8 watts) uses at least .8 watts for the ballast, leaving 4 watts for the bulb. So it isn't an 8-watt light at all. It's a 4-watt light and there's no way that it can give more than 200 lumens. This is an actual example, and that particular light is advertised as an 8-watt light with an output of 400 lumens. Tests show that it is about 200 lumens and power used is .52 amp. So it gives 1/2 the light output and uses 30% more power than claimed. This is not an extreme example. There are some better and some worse. When you figure the ballast energy consumption then the energy savings can be demonstrated even more. A true 8 watt tube will use closer to 10 watts when the ballast is considered.
Again, sorry about missing the LED reference. The link you provided is more than 3 years old and therefore the confusing LED numbers. LED's have increased in efficiency considerably in the last three years. I,ve purchased both types of units and the LED's, and for the same lumens produced, generally show a measurable reduction in energy consumption. It is usually between 20 and 30 percent.
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edited 03/31/12 12:59pm by WilliamKorn *
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My Thinlite tubes are T8 and do 89 to 95 lumens per watt. At least according to the thinlite folks (*grin* is this salesman speak???). I was most disappointed when my "new to me" RV had the thinlite fixtures as they don't work well below about 10C (49 F). They take some time to "warm up" and flicker a lot.
My Thinlite tubes are T8 and do 89 to 95 lumens per watt. At least according to the thinlite folks (*grin* is this salesman speak???). I was most disappointed when my "new to me" RV had the thinlite fixtures as they don't work well below about 10C (49 F). They take some time to "warm up" and flicker a lot.
I can't justify changing them out til they "give up the ghost".
I'd love to see your source for more modern led lumens per watt for "warm white" (3500k range).
I'll take some pictures of the new "warms" next to the cold white. I'll also take a pic of the "old" 48 LED panel next to the new one. You will be as shocked as I was. Also a pic of a 12 volt fluorescent next to a new LED with the same ampere draw. Unfortunately it will be a week as we ski at Squaw all week so next weekend will be the time for that. I'll post them on skydrive and send a link to you via private message. The supply source is just plain old eBay. Actually these are one generation removed from the latest readily available stuff, but still amazing.
The fluorescent guys tout lumens that just don’t exist and the ballast issue just adds another 15% to 25% to their fantasies. 12 volt fluorescent jobs are notorious for bringing out the efficacy B.S. from those who sell them. By the way, green people just turn me off, oh no, cause me to turn off the 12 volt fluorescents so people don’t look green I still have the old fluorescents in my RV (lazy) so that will make it easy for a real world comparison photo.
I did a test of the fluorescent compared to one of the new LED’s today and my volt meter dropped from 12.59 to 12.55 with the fluorescent and from 12.59 to 12.57 with the LED. The LED is so much brighter! That photo will also be on the skydrive link.
* This post was
edited 03/31/12 10:54pm by WilliamKorn *
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