fluorescent light

[Linda M R]

I want to remove the old fluorescent light above the sink in my 13' Scamp and replace it with under cabinet LEDs. However, I don't see how to get the old light out of there. Can anyone give me direction, please?

[sokhapkin]

Most likely the light is riveted to the cabinet. Just drill the rivet heads out.

[Paul O.]

I replaced that fluorescent a few weeks ago. Some of the internal wiring, related to the starting circuit, was solid wire and it broke due to vibration. The fixture was attached to the underside of the storage cabinets by screws. I used screws to mount the new LED light, but first drove them in, then took them out, shortened and replaced, so they do not stick inside through the wood, but have maximum thread engagement.

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by Linda M R

I want to remove the old fluorescent light above the sink in my 13' Scamp and replace it with under cabinet LEDs. However, I don't see how to get the old light out of there. Can anyone give me direction, please?

Be sure to match voltages, old and new.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by AC0GV

Be sure to match voltages, old and new.

And the frequency! (Either 60 Hz or no Hz)

But you don't need to match the old power source and I would not.

In other words, you can choose a 12 volt DC light or a 120 volt AC light. The fluorescent is the latter. I would not use a 120 VAC light... it limits your option and why Scamp used them years ago I can't understand. So a nice new 12 VDC light is in order, and LED much prefered. That means you will need to secure the old 120 VAC wire and make it safe. Then find a good place to get 12 VDC power (maybe the nearest 12 VDC light), and run some more wire. A little more work but you end up with a more efficient light that works on battery or shore power.

[Linda M R]

Thanks for the information!
Love this site - for an inexperienced camper owner, I learn so much from you experienced owners.

[Bonnie RB]

Originally Posted by gordon2

A little more work but you end up with a more efficient light that works on battery or shore power.

I was surprised to find that the florescent and l.e.d. efficiencies (lumens output per watt input) was quite close and why I'm not scrapping my florescent bulbs until they fail. Efficiency is not improved enough to justify the switch from florescent to l.e.d.
There are a myriad of other reasons to switch from florescent to l.e.d., mainly the elimination of glass breakage and the trace amounts of mercury, but efficiency improvement as a primary reason? nope.
Jon MB

[David Tilston]

I had an argument about LEDs vs. florescent some years ago. I told a co-worker that florescent was more efficient then LEDs. He looked at me like my hair was on fire. After some back and forth, I just said, "Google it", which he did. He was very surprised.

Now, there has been development on LEDs since, and they have improved in their efficiency. Like Bonnie said, they are slightly more efficient now. The big theoretical advantage is their life span, though there is no guarantee on that.

[gordon2]

Yes LEDS usually last much longer and cost less than fluorescent... hence more efficient.
But the main reason for the switch in the camper is so that you dont need to be on shore power for the light to work.

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by Linda M R

I want to remove the old fluorescent light above the sink in my 13' Scamp and replace it with under cabinet LEDs. However, I don't see how to get the old light out of there. Can anyone give me direction, please?

There is a replacement 12 volt DC LED that will fit that fixture.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by gordon2

Yes LEDS usually last much longer and cost less than fluorescent... hence more efficient.
But the main reason for the switch in the camper is so that you dont need to be on shore power for the light to work.

There are 12VDC fluorescent fixtures.

[Lynn Eberhardt]

Our '06 Scamp had the fluorescent light fastened with rivets from the outside. I replaced it with a 12volt fluorescent at the time so we could always have a bright kitchen light. I carry a spare tube which I haven't yet used so I imagine it will be in place for the rest of our camping days.

[tweistar]

I was able to replace mine with an led and also run the ac line up to the pantry cabinet and wire an ac plug to the side that faces the bed.

[Rick L. Harrison]

Use that fixture. You can buy led tubes From www.m4ledproducts.com in Chatsworth CA.
Follow the instructions. You by pass the ballast using led bulbs. I put them in a 92 Toyota awesome light. Lots of other led lights for old fixtures.

[Bob & Jackie C]

Originally Posted by Linda M R

I want to remove the old fluorescent light above the sink in my 13' Scamp and replace it with under cabinet LEDs. However, I don't see how to get the old light out of there. Can anyone give me direction, please?

We replaced the crazy fluorescent light with better light.

[Linda M R]

Well, we made the switch to LEDs but stayed with 120 volt so ended up putting in an outlet where the fluorescent wires came in. I love the new lighting - the old (from 1991) fixture had yellowed and was broken at one end. I would still like to replace the lights on the sides of the upper cabinet for the same reason - those will remain 12 volt.
Thanks for all the suggestions!

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by Rick L. Harrison

Use that fixture. You can buy led tubes From www.m4ledproducts.com in Chatsworth CA.
Follow the instructions. You by pass the ballast using led bulbs. I put them in a 92 Toyota awesome light. Lots of other led lights for old fixtures.

https://m4products.com/

[CharlesinGA]

Originally Posted by gordon2

Yes LEDS usually last much longer and cost less than fluorescent... hence more efficient.
But the main reason for the switch in the camper is so that you dont need to be on shore power for the light to work.

This has been a common theme throughout this thread, that the florescent lights the OP has are 120v AC. Linda (the OP) has a 1986 Trailer (according to her profile) and never told us whether the lights are 12v DC or 120v AC, they could be either one, and this sorta leaves me wondering why everyone is making the assumption that the florescent lights she has are 120v AC.

There have been lots of 12v DC flouescent lights made in the past, my '08 Bigfoot has a nice looking 12v DC two bulb fixture over the sink (on the bottom of the cabinet). Now, I took the fixture down, disassembled it and removed the ballast and rewired it for the replacement LED lamps I bought that fit in the original sockets. I could have just used the self adhesive LED strips or some other type of LED but the fixture has nice polished reflectors in it and the LED replacement tubes do a good job of emitting lots of light in all directions, so it was natural to use the replacement tubes, even though they were rather expensive. (cheap LEDs don't get it, I want an exact color of light and something that is durable, so I now buy all of my LEDs from M4Products.)

https://m4products.com/tube-lights/

This 18 inch replaement fixture would be a good undercabinet light fixture if you have a desire to replace the entire fixture. They do not have anything shorter, this is 18 inch long by 5 inches deep and only 3/4 inch thick, and has a rocker switch. My undercabinet light was 12 inches if I recall.

https://m4products.com/kw-294-460-rs...t-panel-light/

Originally Posted by Linda M R

Well, we made the switch to LEDs but stayed with 120 volt so ended up putting in an outlet where the fluorescent wires came in. I love the new lighting - the old (from 1991) fixture had yellowed and was broken at one end. I would still like to replace the lights on the sides of the upper cabinet for the same reason - those will remain 12 volt.
Thanks for all the suggestions!

Well, I failed to read all the way to the end before I posted. I had read this thread several days ago. As noted above, M$ Products is my go to for replacement lamps and fixtures. You pay for what you get, and I want LEDs with natural white light and I want them all to match, so I buy everything from them, as I am assured of the quality and the color of the LEDs. Most LED suppliers sell whatever the Chinese vendor pushes on them. M4 engineers the lights and has them made to their specifications, including the brand of LEDs to use, nothing is left to chance.

Charles

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

This has been a common theme throughout this thread, that the florescent lights the OP has are 120v AC.

OP has a Scamp , and that's what Scamp used.

[Shannon Thompson]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eberhardt

Our '06 Scamp had the fluorescent light fastened with rivets from the outside. I replaced it with a 12volt fluorescent at the time so we could always have a bright kitchen light. I carry a spare tube which I haven't yet used so I imagine it will be in place for the rest of our camping days.

Did you replace the light in same place? What did you do with the holes to the outside (why didn't Scamp put it under the cab instead of thru the wall???)
Thanks