Simple LED conversion for low current.

[electronicx]

Heres a simple way to lower the power used by your lights. Perfect for those of you running solar or for camping where you cant plug your trailer in.

I started with some inexpensive RV dome lights from ebay. Search for rv dome light.



With the 12 volt bulbs they come with, they draw 1.348 amps.



The bulbs are held in by a plastic clip and can be removed without any modifications or damage. I also bought a universal LED dome light conversion from ebay. There are a lot of different sizes shapes and configurations of LED dome light replacements for cars. They are very inexpensive. Search for led dome light. The one I bought had foam backed tape on the back. It fit perfectly onto the metal heat shield for the original bulb.



With the LED panel installed it only draws 0.215 amps or 215mA



I don't have any scientific way to measure the actual light output but it is plenty bright. I installed one on each side of my teardrop but only need to turn on one to light up the whole inside. They work so well I had to make one for the deer camp outhouse. It should run forever on a half dead 12v UPS battery from work.

[Shadow Catcher]

Did that with MM #1 with cheep LED arrays from Hongkong.

[Snide61]

I saw similar LEDs at my local parts store. Do they have all of the resistors and all of that built in? If so that will help in my master plan to use an Edsel backup light housing as exterior lights wired w/ LEDs!!! YES!!!

[tartosuc]

best/cheapest place to buy LED light is dealextreme.com, lots of choices, just dont be in a rush to receive your order(usealy within 30 days but i've waited 2 months one time)

all the lighting in my trailer will be converted to LED

[bdosborn]

I played with the LED arrays and like Cree emitters better:



Its way brighter with better color for the same current draw:



You can get them from Deal Extreme

Bruce

[droid_ca]

This is a really good thread
Thanks for sharing the step by steppictures are excelent

[bdosborn]

One thing to look for when buying LEDs is lamp color. Blue light (cool) from an LED bothers some folks, especially if they're older. Try and find a "warm white" LED. I like LEDs that have a color temperature around 4100K (a touch on the blue side) , but a little lower or higher still works for me. Everyone has a different perception of light so it might not be a bad idea to only buy one LED in a certain color to decide if you like it before buying more. Here's a link to an eBay seller that has the LED array in warm white for $5. Note the different connectors for about any RV light and the 100% feedback rating. A lot of guys at the big RV forum like this LED.

eBay Linky

Bruce

[Nobody]

Thanks Bruce, for that link. I'm beginning interior 're-hab' of my 13' Scamp TTT & those lights just might work for me