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02-09-2017, 11:31 AM
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#1
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Member
Name: Sandra
Trailer: Parkliner SOLD November 2017
South Carolina
Posts: 84
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Switching to LED light bulbs?
I need advise. I want to switch to LED light bulbs. Do I have to replace the entire light fixture or can I just swap out the incandescent bulb for the LED bulb?
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02-09-2017, 12:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: Lyle
Trailer: Scamp 16, previously Scamp 13
None
Posts: 739
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You can just switch out the bulbs. For each fixture, you need to check and see what type of base the bulb has. Some are twist in some are two wire pins that just plug in, and some are just push in. You have to make sure to get the proper base type. Beyond that, your next decision would be what "color, or temperature" you want. Higher the temperature, the more bluish the light will be. "Warm white" is usually close to what a normal incandescent bulb puts out.
One more thing that is critical for LED bulbs is polarity, the fixture needs to be wired correctly. Since this isn't an issue for incandescent bulbs, the manufacturers sometimes get a bit sloppy in this area. They do sell LED bulbs that internally correct this, they are termed "polarity neutral" or something similar.
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02-09-2017, 02:36 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: Paul
Trailer: '04 Scamp 19D, TV:Tacoma 3.5L 4door, SB
Colorado
Posts: 1,845
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Regarding the polarity, it is not very difficult to swap the wires that feed the fixtures, if needed. I had to do it on one of my fixtures.
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02-09-2017, 02:49 PM
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#4
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Member
Name: Sandra
Trailer: Parkliner SOLD November 2017
South Carolina
Posts: 84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LyleB
You can just switch out the bulbs. For each fixture, you need to check and see what type of base the bulb has. Some are twist in some are two wire pins that just plug in, and some are just push in. You have to make sure to get the proper base type. Beyond that, your next decision would be what "color, or temperature" you want. Higher the temperature, the more bluish the light will be. "Warm white" is usually close to what a normal incandescent bulb puts out.
One more thing that is critical for LED bulbs is polarity, the fixture needs to be wired correctly. Since this isn't an issue for incandescent bulbs, the manufacturers sometimes get a bit sloppy in this area. They do sell LED bulbs that internally correct this, they are termed "polarity neutral" or something similar.
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Thanks!
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02-09-2017, 06:33 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: Boler 13 ft / Casita FD
Posts: 2,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul O.
Regarding the polarity, it is not very difficult to swap the wires that feed the fixtures, if needed. I had to do it on one of my fixtures.
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I found most interior bulb sockets allow the bulb to be just turned over.
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02-10-2017, 10:10 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Walter
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17B
SW Virginia
Posts: 2,254
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You need to pay attention to the brightness as well. They should put out at least 300 lumens to have comparable brightness to the incandescents. Not all will meet that level.
Walt
__________________
Past owner of 1995 13' Casita, 1994 16' Casita, 2012 Parkliner, 2002 17' Bigfoot.
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02-10-2017, 10:10 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp 16 ft Side Dinette
Posts: 1,279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy54
I need advise. I want to switch to LED light bulbs. Do I have to replace the entire light fixture or can I just swap out the incandescent bulb for the LED bulb?
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How old is your Parkliner? We got ours in October, last year. I has all LED lamps on the inside and the side markers. Only the tail/stop/turn lamps at the rear are not.
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02-10-2017, 12:21 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: Michael
Trailer: Trail Cruiser
Alberta
Posts: 825
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You can replace incandescent with LED bulbs. Just make sure your LEDs have the same base as the bulbs you are replacing as there is more than one kind. Most incandescent bulbs produce a mid range frequency (warm) light. A mid range (temperature) LED will produce a similar light. Also match the output of the LED with the original bulb so you have enough light.
If the LED doesn't light when installed, remove it and turn it over as they are polarity sensitive, unlike incandescent bulks.
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02-10-2017, 01:08 PM
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#9
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Member
Name: Sandra
Trailer: Parkliner SOLD November 2017
South Carolina
Posts: 84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne Collins
How old is your Parkliner? We got ours in October, last year. I has all LED lamps on the inside and the side markers. Only the tail/stop/turn lamps at the rear are not.
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I picked it up on January 31st. I didn't order it with LED lamps. Thought I could replace them for less than the charged for LED's.
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02-10-2017, 07:28 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,017
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You can, and it's an easy process. Wise decision IMO. Don't worry if the new LEDs happen to be a little less bright. They use about 1/10 the power, so you can afford to run more of them at a time.
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02-11-2017, 04:36 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Trailer: Boler 13 ft / Casita FD
Posts: 2,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy54
I picked it up on January 31st. I didn't order it with LED lamps. Thought I could replace them for less than the charged for LED's.
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You do not need to replace all of them. In my large trailer I replace some where I know I would need them, Like over the easy chairs where I know I would be doing some reading and over the Kitchen counter were I would be cooking but in places where it's not too important, Over table and in bathroom, I didn't.
In my small Boler where there is only 4 lights in all I replaced them all.
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02-13-2017, 08:42 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: Gilles
Trailer: Bigfoot 25B21RB, 2004
Quebec
Posts: 693
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy54
I picked it up on January 31st. I didn't order it with LED lamps. Thought I could replace them for less than the charged for LED's.
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I replaced some with LEDs that I found less expensive, but it turned out that the lights were overheating and I had to replace them with better quality ones to fix the problem.
The little led lights went out, burning, one after the other.
After discussions on this site, I realized that the inexpensive lights I had bought, were able to receive 14 volts DC max, which is o.k. with the battery only.
But when connected on the 120 volts AC, the transformer provides up to 16 volts, which cheaper lights could not survive, they overheated ...
__________________
Gilles
Bigfoot 25B21RB.
Towed with Dodge RAM 1500 Echo-Diesel, 3.0 L., 8 speeds.
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02-13-2017, 09:03 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Gilles
Trailer: Bigfoot 25B21RB, 2004
Quebec
Posts: 693
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Also, studies show that when replacing our incandescent lights with led, it is better to replace them with warm white instead of white-blue (cold white).
The blue white led (cold white) would affect our brain, until we stop sleeping after a less prolonged exposure.
If you do a little research on the internet, you should easily find an article on these studies.
__________________
Gilles
Bigfoot 25B21RB.
Towed with Dodge RAM 1500 Echo-Diesel, 3.0 L., 8 speeds.
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