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Old 11-01-2002, 05:52 PM   #1
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LED lighting

Posted by Mike Sanders, Webguy

I have been working on low watt lighting.

(posted image lost)

Morgan,

What do you think about using say 10 LEDs to light the inside of the trailer?



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Old 11-01-2002, 05:59 PM   #2
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Posted by Morgan, Member
Quote:
Orginally posted by Michael Sanders

I have been working on low watt lighting.

Morgan,

What do you think about using say 10 LEDs to light the inside of the trailer?
I think it's a great idea, Michael. You might need more than 10 LEDs to replace each incandescent lamp, though. If you need a beta tester, send it over here.

When you put it on the market, I'll be the first customer if I can afford it.



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Old 11-01-2002, 06:19 PM   #3
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Posted by Mike Sanders, Webguy
Morgan,

What I was thinking about was to space the LEDs around the edge of the upper cabinets. Neatly poking out through the fiberglass, invisible until turned on. If each one is spaced about 2 feet apart, wouldn't that give you enough lighting for soft “house” lights? One standard 12v lamp is 3 watts. I believe each LED is .02 watts. So 10 LEDs would be about .2 watts. (150 LEDs = 1 12v lamp)

To read by, I think you're right, you would need a cluster of 7 to 10 LEDs. At the retail level, LEDs cost $4.99 each. My friend is paying much less then that.



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Old 11-01-2002, 06:37 PM   #4
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Led Lights

Posted by pjanits, Member
Michael,
There are high intensity LED's but they're not cheap.
Its the same ones they use for those really cool super bright school bus stoplights.

There are also those rope lights they sell for vans, they would give a nice glow in the trailer.

We tend to use those jar candles with two wicks in them. Nice light, cheap, and the bugs do not seem to "see" it.



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Old 11-01-2002, 07:18 PM   #5
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Posted by Morgan, Member

Quote:
Orginally posted by Michael Sanders

Morgan,

What I was thinking about was to space the LEDs around the edge of the upper cabinets. Neatly poking out through the fiberglass, invisible until turned on. If each one is spaced about 2 feet apart, wouldn't that give you enough lighting for soft “house” lights? One standard 12v lamp is 3 watts. I believe each LED is .02 watts. So 10 LEDs would be about .2 watts. (150 LEDs = 1 12v lamp)

To read by, I think you're right, you would need a cluster of 7 to 10 LEDs. At the retail level, LEDs cost $4.99 each. My friend is paying much less then that.
Michael,

You're comparing power consumption in watts. The bright white LEDs have a much higher light output per watt of input than incandescent. It's the same with flourescents; more light output per watt of input. The light output is measured in lumens.

LEDs also have a narrow beam, so a diffuser of some sort would be required.

I'd like to have LED lamps to replace the two over the side dinette. Those two are used most. Much of it is for reading, though, so the light output needs to be at least equal to the incandescents. I use them for reading (Lee reads tapes).

I've tried to find replacement flourescents for those two.



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Old 11-01-2002, 07:39 PM   #6
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Michael

Posted by Morgan, Member

Why don't you build up a test lamp with sockets, a prototype, for about 20 LEDs. Put on a diffuser and use your light meter to compare the light output at table top level to the light output of the incandescents.

You can change the number of LEDs easily with the sockets.

You should be able to get 20 LEDs cheap if your friend has a commercial account.

If you're after mood lighting, Pete's idea of the rope lights is the way to go.



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Old 11-02-2002, 01:45 AM   #7
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Flourescent

Posted by Pete Dumbleton, Member

I browsed a Boater's World store today and came away with an 8watt fixture (says 0.5A) for about $13. I'd like some LEDs, but I couldn't pass that one up.

Pete and Rats



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Old 11-02-2002, 07:24 AM   #8
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Mood lighting

Michael, are you thinking of running these off the 12 volt?

I'm not sure that it matters, since when we are boondocking, we use a separate, D-cell powered lantern for ambient light (and use the kitchen lights when-and-only-when we need them, to conserve power).

The rope lights are 120VAC, though... at least all I have seen are. It would be nice to have an alternative that were DC. (The ropes could be modified?)

Either way, I agree, at least in the Casita, you turn on a bunch of the lights we have now, and it's glaring.

I'm definitely interested in what you come up with...



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Old 11-02-2002, 01:38 PM   #9
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Flourescent

Sad to say, I tried my new flourescent light last nite, and its light output is too low for bed reading compared with a #93 bulb in factor fixture (8W f draws approx 0.5 A, #93 draws approx 1.0 A).

OTOH, it makes a fine area light.

Pete, still looking for an inexpensive right-angle LED bulb for the Bargman light fixture, and RatLadies who get along fine in the dark



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Old 11-02-2002, 03:39 PM   #10
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interior lights

Check out JC Whitney online- look up interior lights.

Rope lights!!! 12v
Also many choices of sexy mood lights.......you could get arrested tho.....



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Old 11-03-2002, 06:27 AM   #11
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LED rope lights

I've seen the 12 volt rope lights in Wal-Mart, Auto Zone, And I believe in JC Whitney. :) I've also seen decorative LED lights at Meijers.
Steve



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Old 11-03-2002, 09:28 AM   #12
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Oh, Cool!

Quote:
Orginally posted by Steve DeWeese

I've seen the 12 volt rope lights in Wal-Mart, Auto Zone, And I believe in JC Whitney. :) I've also seen decorative LED lights at Meijers.
Steve
Thanks Pete and Steve! :wub

I'm actually also interested in the 12 volt rope lights for decorating our gazebo in the back yard. (It's far enough from the house that we have it set up with a little 12v system - tunes, ceiling fan, little xmas lights that I got a few years ago from that California outfit, Reals Goods, a.k.a. Real Expensive. We use our solar panel to charge the batt'ry, when we're not boondocking with the Casita. And the Real Expensive lights will need to be replaced one day - even though they are hanging away from direct sunlight, they won't last forever, outside!)

But, I'd still like to know, Michael, if you're planning to power your LEDs off the AC or the DC?



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Old 11-04-2002, 11:25 AM   #13
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Steve

Ah man, Steve, how long are you going to keep that duck all taped up like that?

Should I call the Animal Protection group?

Man, talk about mean!:) :) :) :)



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Old 11-04-2002, 11:28 AM   #14
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Michael

Michael, I agree with Pete ... if you want to make a mint ... come up with a "cheap" plug-n-play, right angle LED bulb for the Bargman fixtures we (and most other RV's) have inside our trailers.

I really don't want to drill holes, string wires, etc. As you know, I like my trailers "stock" .... factory-mint-fresh.

If I start making improvements and alterations, Pam will come up with a honey do list that will take me months to crawl out from under.

Nope, like Pete says, come up with an LED bulb for the standard fixture.



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Old 11-04-2002, 11:51 AM   #15
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Quote:
Orginally posted by Mary F
But, I'd still like to know, Michael, if you're planning to power your LEDs off the AC or the DC?
I plan to use 12v. which will work either way - plugged in or not. LEDs only require 3.6 volts so you need to step it down anyway.

I'm hoping to set up two systems.
1. LED room lights for just sitting around playing games.
2. Very bright white light for reading.

The advantage of LED is that they use so little electricity, that when you are boondocking you don't run down your battery. LEDs will last for 100,000 hours. They can take bouncing around. They are techy, OK I like that one the most.

I want to be able to go any way I want. Full RV power or 12 volt solar. Just part of my way of wanting to do it all. I like combat camping in the right situation and I like 4 wheel drive desert boon docking and everything in the middle.

When I was a Scout Master, my troop went back packing, sailing squared rig ships through the channel islands, conoeing 50 miles down the Kalamath river, tail gate mountain man camping with Tipis, straight up “Boy Scout” little tents, sand dune camping, ultra Lite camping - tracking coyotes (everything you need for a weekend in a 5 lb pack) just to name a few.

LEDs are not for everyone. They are pricey.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3dc6b3a2a0f4dvlx1.jpg/>



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Old 11-04-2002, 02:08 PM   #16
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Michael-Consider using blue LEDs. As we age, apparently our eyes respond better to blue tint than pure white esp for reading, which is prolly why those darned blue headlights are so blinding despite claims that they are not measurably brighter than the white one...

Pete and Rats



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Old 11-04-2002, 02:11 PM   #17
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Interesting. I think blue is cheaper too.



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Old 11-04-2002, 02:31 PM   #18
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LED

Michael:

Here's one for ya:

http://www.theledlight.com/led-fixtures.html

and after considering candlepower, lumens, watts etc.:

'White' or 'blue'??.......... for a good reading light look into the color temperature or 'kelvin' rating (if available). Mabe this is getting too picky, but it makes a difference to folks with 'marginal' eyesight.

Me, I can't read, just look at the pictures anyway.:wave



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Old 11-04-2002, 02:47 PM   #19
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White LEDs are 5000k.

I've been to that website Don. That is a good site. More money then I want to spend though.



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Old 11-04-2002, 02:53 PM   #20
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lighting

Quote:
Orginally posted by Mary F

Either way, I agree, at least in the Casita, you turn on a bunch of the lights we have now, and it's glaring.
The #1141 bulbs in the Casita fixtures can be switched out for lower wattage bulbs. I don't have any numbers handy, but was looking em over at wal-mart yesterday. A bulb with the same base thats marked 'dome light' or 'license light' will fit, not so glaring. :spin



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