MEXICOWANDERER
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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Joined: 06/01/2007
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BFL13, I simply will not operate a CFL on anything but sine wave power anymore. MSW usually cuts light output substantially.
I saw a demonstration of a beta LED class flood lamp that consumed 110 watts. It was much much brighter than a Hubbell 100 watt Metal Halide stadium lamp. I am not sure that a dozen standard 500 watt quartz flood lamps could equal that lamp. I could compare it to a 400 watt metal halide fixture I suppose.
New technology is on the way. That talk I gave to the Chinese engineers back in 2002 seemed to have added my two cents worth to the issue. I claimed then that the market would support the manufacture of "trillions" of white LEDs in the coming decade.
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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A factor in all this must be the cover for the lamp. eg, the Rv 1141s have plastic covers with lenses in them to diffuse the light in a certain way. Replace the 1141 bulb with a flat LED and it doesn't necessarily interact the same with the lens in the cover.
So side-by-side comparisons of lamps in different covers are useful; it is not just equivalent watts at play.
2003 Chev 2500HD Gas, 2003 Komfort 26FS 5er
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mena661
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2009
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BFL13 wrote:A factor in all this must be the cover for the lamp. eg, the Rv 1141s have plastic covers with lenses in them to diffuse the light in a certain way. Replace the 1141 bulb with a flat LED and it doesn't necessarily interact the same with the lens in the cover.
So side-by-side comparisons of lamps in different covers are useful; it is not just equivalent watts at play. Exactly. Which is why I favor bulbs over panels. My Command Electronics panels worked out but some RV's covers aren't panel friendly. Definitely should test and see which works best in your own situation. Thanks for that link on CFL's.
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Harvey51
Alberta
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Joined: 12/11/2006
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I know what you mean about LEDs not being good enough. I bought one bulb last year for $15 at an auto supply store. It was not as bright as the 1141 beside it and my wife hated the bluish colour. But this spring I found some panels that are noticeably brighter than the 1141, the same warm white colour, and they come with an adapter that plugs right into the 1141 socket. Got them here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-BA15S-1156-1141-Dome-bulb-36-1210-SMD-LED-Warm-White-/180700180305?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1291ef51
They draw 200 ma compared to 1500 for the 1141 bulb, so quite a saving in power.
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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Tried out one new CFL bulb ,as reported above, in a single sconce lamp when camping after dark a few days ago. It lit up the whole barn. It was almost too bright! Phooey on LEDs. This one CFL bulb gave more (warm, soft) light than a whole bunch of 1141 LED substitutes and even though on inverter, and using 120v, it hardly used any amps/AHs.(see report above) Great way to go.
CFLs eat LEDs.
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mena661
Southern California
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BFL13 wrote:
CFLs eat LEDs. Now I challenge you to throw that CFL in the garbage. CFL's suck. 
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kab449
PA
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Joined: 11/27/2010
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A lot for people who are active on the Montana Owners Club site have replaced their bulbs with LED's sourced by a member from a source from China. All I can tell you is they are priced right and the only way I can tell they are LED is by looking at the fixtures and seeing the multiple light points on the LED bulbs. The color is really close and they push into the same holder. I replaced 48 bulbs. I used a clamp on amp meter at the breaker that supplied my RV plug. With all 48 incandescent bulbs on the convertor drew 8.3 amps on the 120 volt side after adjustment for the base draw. After replacement the draw went down to 1.1 amp. Quite a difference. Of course we never use all 48 lights so the power draw for lighting becomes a non issue.
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MEXICOWANDERER
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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Joined: 06/01/2007
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I still emphasize that 9 watt General Electric CFL in the blue box. Their light output is truly astonishing. I am trying here to get anyone with an LED fixture they really love to put it up against that 9 watt CFL. It would help me get some orientation and perspective on this. Yeah I know inverter losses et al. But hanging four 9 watt fixtures under an awning ought to light up a 30' long area more than you'd ever believe. I sure would like to go the twelve volt route, but every LED I've seen on the market has been disappointing in light output.
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howardwheeler
West, Texas
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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Is a 12v CF different in output from the normal tubes you get from homedepot? I have all 12v fluorescents. They are the two tube Thinlites. They came from the factory and I replace the tubes with ones from Homedepot that go into a regular 120v fixture. I am probably missing something but I thought the ballast converted the 120 to some other voltage for the light tube. So what is the difference in a 12 v setup. I guess it's because the ballast is part of the CF whereas my tubes are different from the ballast in the fixture. I think I may have answered my own question. But do my 2 tube fluorescent fixtures compare okay with your experience with the 12v I've never known what kind of draw on amps they require.
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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Joined: 07/28/2006
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mexbungalows wrote:I still emphasize that 9 watt General Electric CFL in the blue box. Their light output is truly astonishing. I am trying here to get anyone with an LED fixture they really love to put it up against that 9 watt CFL. It would help me get some orientation and perspective on this. Yeah I know inverter losses et al. But hanging four 9 watt fixtures under an awning ought to light up a 30' long area more than you'd ever believe. I sure would like to go the twelve volt route, but every LED I've seen on the market has been disappointing in light output. Have you looked at the 12V CFL's? It's a 15W CFL, so all you need is 2. And from Camping World no less..
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
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