LED interior lights follow up

**KyDan** · 07-09-2013, 02:16 PM

Finally got my t10 base interior LED lights.
I bought a 10 pack for right at $10 including shipping from China.
NOTE- LEDs are polarity specific. If you plug in an LED and it does
not light, turn it around 180 deg and try it again.
When using in outside as landscape lights (on a 12v AC transformer)
polarity doesn't matter.)

They arrived today. I put 2 in a couple of my interior ceiling fixtures.
I also used 3 in outside tier landscape lights.
My landscape light bulbs typically last less than a year and cost about a
buck each at Home Debit.
These will work there also.

Time will tell about lifespan on the LEDs but they "should" last many
years.

Pulled out the fuse for the ceiling lights and stuck meter set on amps scale
in the place of the fuse to check amps.

2 normal incandescent bulbs in a ceiling fixture get HOT immediately
when turned on.
They draw 2.7 amps
2 LED in the same fixture draw .17 amps
That means normal bulbs draw 15 times MORE current than these LEDs.

The LEDs are cool white- slightly blue tint.
They are not as bright as the incandescent but plenty bright for moving
around, getting dressed, making the bed etc.....
I am not going to change them all but I am changing some.
When we are on battery power I'll use the fixtures with LEDs.
On shore power I won't care except the LEDs run cool and the incandescent
will burn your fingers after just a few seconds illumination.

As an aside, we also have a "thinlite" fluorescent fixture over our kitchen
table. It draws 1.5 amps. Slightly more than half the incandescent but
it puts out as much or more light. We use it for writing post cards, reading
the paper etc....

Here is the link for the LEDs I used--
10X T10 W5W 20 SMD LED 1206 Car Side Wedge Light Bulb 194 927 161 168 White Car Door Light Tail Lamp Backup Lighting-in Light Source from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com

Note they are now $9 for 10 "bulbs" incl mail from China.
Can take 3 to 7 weeks for shipping depending on how long customs
takes to scan and pass them.
Aliexpress do not share your credit card number and they don't pay the
seller until you receive your merchandise.
So far I have had no issues with buying this way.
YMMV.

Wildwood Danny · 07-10-2013, 10:12 AM

What lumen are these bulbs?

Sounds like a good deal.

lswartz · 07-10-2013, 10:45 AM

For $8.99 this is hard to beat. I can replace the rest of my interior lights for the price of one LED bulb that I have already used. Even if the color (a little blue) doesn't match I am sold. Now what do I do with 20 old HOT bulbs?

08flagvlite · 07-10-2013, 01:05 PM

From the research that I have done, those bulbs are 100 lumens for some, the best I have found are 180. The WARM white casts a more natural light color, sort of a yellow tint. I bought 20 bulbs that were cool white from a Chinese supplier on e bay (hong kong) for 22.95, free shipping. They are 180 lumens, and are bright enough, but have a bluish white tint to them.
921 T 10 W5W 24 1210 SMD LED cool white lamp. Next I got 10 of the 12 SMD 50 50 LED WARM white landscaping bulb- right color, not bright enough.
I am still searching on e bay for the right ones! All of the merchants on e bay must use Pay Pal. Very safe to use. Randy

**KyDan** · 07-10-2013, 03:18 PM

The one's I got are NOT as bright as the incandescent bulbs.
I'm gonna guess half maybe.....
I'm not changing all mine. I'll leave some ceiling lights with bright and hot
incandescent and change some so when we're on battery power I can
have decent light for just a tiny fraction of the power used by incandescent.

Remember if you plug one in and it doesn't light, turn it 180 and try again.
The super low amps on the LEDs means I could change them all and
turn on EVERY light in my trailer and it would not draw as much
current as a single ceiling fixture with 2 incandescent bulbs.

If you are keen on boondocking you need some of these or something
similar.

Taylorgso · 07-10-2013, 03:37 PM

I'm sold on the idea of the LED bulbs. However, I'm disappointed in the "el-cheapo" bulbs from China

. I ordered a package of 10 a few weeks ago, and replaced Halogen bulbs throughout the camper. So far, I've had to throw away one because it started blinking (bright/dim/bright/dim); another went out entirely - when I pulled that bulb one of the segments apparently had a cold solder joint which had separated

. I've ordered replacements, and spent a little more on bulbs through Amazon, so I hope they'll be better quality. I'm planning on going solar, and the difference in current draw will make the solar more effective. My little class C doesn't have room for more than two batteries, so current draw is going to be critical.

Wildwood Danny · 07-20-2013, 12:03 PM

Just replaced 20 wedge base 921 bulbls with 250 lumen Natural Light tower style bubls for less than $9.00 each, no shipping charg. Ordered on a Friday and received on the following Monday. All worked and really enjoying the LED bulbs. Bought at RV LED Bulbs (Ocala Hitch). Great service and nice people.

08flagvlite · 07-20-2013, 03:59 PM

The thing that concerned me more than the power usage of the standard bulbs, was the extremely excessive HEAT that they produce- on my light fixtures that I use the most, the plastic lens covers are actually melted from those HOT bulbs. With enough time ON, I worry about a fire, mine get so hot. That is my main reason for replacing them to LED. Randy

garbonz · 07-20-2013, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyDan

Finally got my t10 base interior LED lights.
I bought a 10 pack for right at $10 including shipping from China.
NOTE- LEDs are polarity specific. If you plug in an LED and it does
not light, turn it around 180 deg and try it again.
When using in outside as landscape lights (on a 12v AC transformer)
polarity doesn't matter.)

They arrived today. I put 2 in a couple of my interior ceiling fixtures.
I also used 3 in outside tier landscape lights.
My landscape light bulbs typically last less than a year and cost about a
buck each at Home Debit.
These will work there also.

Time will tell about lifespan on the LEDs but they "should" last many
years.

Pulled out the fuse for the ceiling lights and stuck meter set on amps scale
in the place of the fuse to check amps.

2 normal incandescent bulbs in a ceiling fixture get HOT immediately
when turned on.
They draw 2.7 amps
2 LED in the same fixture draw .17 amps
That means normal bulbs draw 15 times MORE current than these LEDs.

The LEDs are cool white- slightly blue tint.
They are not as bright as the incandescent but plenty bright for moving
around, getting dressed, making the bed etc.....
I am not going to change them all but I am changing some.
When we are on battery power I'll use the fixtures with LEDs.
On shore power I won't care except the LEDs run cool and the incandescent
will burn your fingers after just a few seconds illumination.

As an aside, we also have a "thinlite" fluorescent fixture over our kitchen
table. It draws 1.5 amps. Slightly more than half the incandescent but
it puts out as much or more light. We use it for writing post cards, reading
the paper etc....

Here is the link for the LEDs I used--
10X T10 W5W 20 SMD LED 1206 Car Side Wedge Light Bulb 194 927 161 168 White Car Door Light Tail Lamp Backup Lighting-in Light Source from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com

Note they are now $9 for 10 "bulbs" incl mail from China.
Can take 3 to 7 weeks for shipping depending on how long customs
takes to scan and pass them.
Aliexpress do not share your credit card number and they don't pay the
seller until you receive your merchandise.
So far I have had no issues with buying this way.
YMMV.

some are poarity specific and some arn't. At Superbrightled's they tell you right in the spec.

detheridge · 07-23-2013, 07:49 AM

Hey guys, how do you remove the covers of the interior flat lights in the pop-outs. I have a couple burned out. I thought they would just twist and pop off but it looked like the entire light fixture was trying to turn. Do I use a flat-tip and pry the cover off? Before I damage it, I just wanted to check the best way to remove the cover so I can replace the bulb. Thanks

BarryD0706 · 07-23-2013, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detheridge

Hey guys, how do you remove the covers of the interior flat lights in the pop-outs. I have a couple burned out. I thought they would just twist and pop off but it looked like the entire light fixture was trying to turn. Do I use a flat-tip and pry the cover off? Before I damage it, I just wanted to check the best way to remove the cover so I can replace the bulb. Thanks

Please post a picture of what the light looks like. Also, which RV do you have? (It's probably best to just put that information into your "profile" and/or signature so it's always available.)

Taylorgso · 07-23-2013, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detheridge

Hey guys, how do you remove the covers of the interior flat lights in the pop-outs. I have a couple burned out. I thought they would just twist and pop off but it looked like the entire light fixture was trying to turn. Do I use a flat-tip and pry the cover off? Before I damage it, I just wanted to check the best way to remove the cover so I can replace the bulb. Thanks

If you're talking about the little lights with frosted lens and a metal rim around the lens, it is made in one piece, so don't try to pry the cover off.

You DO turn the whole thing - counterclockwise - and it will come off. They are a pain in the neck, though - and from my experience just as much problem to get back on! Helps to use a piece of the non-slip mat to get a grip on it to turn it!

detheridge · 07-24-2013, 07:30 AM

I have a 2012 Cedar Crest Silverback 29RE. Here are the flat lights I was talking about. Taylorgso, they are frosted but no metal rim around them. Hopefully they are still the type you discussed and can be removed by twisting them off counterclockwise. Thank you for your help. Dan

Taylorgso · 07-24-2013, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detheridge

I have a 2012 Cedar Crest Silverback 29RE. Here are the flat lights I was talking about. Taylorgso, they are frosted but no metal rim around them. Hopefully they are still the type you discussed and can be removed by twisting them off counterclockwise. Thank you for your help. Dan

Yep! I have some of that type, also. Just twist counterclockwise. First time, they are VERY tight.

Also, the whole assembly is held in by spring clips; if you pull them down, the clips may come off, and must be reinstalled in the correct orientation. They use a G4 base, if you plan on replacing the 20W Halogens. I used 2W LEDs, which give good light. There are some 3.5w LED's available also and they are very bright. These LEDs do not work on a dimmer circuit. Good luck with removal!

Oh, and thumbs up

on the photos. A good idea anytime you are describing a problem on the forum to show pics!

BarryD0706 · 07-24-2013, 07:48 AM

Mine look very similar and you just pull the lens down (and it takes a lot of force). It sounds like you should try a twist first, and if that doesn't work, just pull. (I wouldn't use a "pry tool" as that's might crack the glass.)

goin2drt · 07-24-2013, 08:30 AM

I have tried 3 different types and companies to find a replacement for my 921 bulbs. I can't find any LEDs that are even close to the same brightness of the stock bulbs. They are all much dimmer.

BarryD0706 · 07-24-2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goin2drt

I have tried 3 different types and companies to find a replacement for my 921 bulbs. I can't find any LEDs that are even close to the same brightness of the stock bulbs. They are all much dimmer.

I used these from rv-led.com and was very happy with them. I thought they seemed even brighter than the originals. (Note that these guys give a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser as well.)

Wildwood Danny · 07-24-2013, 12:45 PM

Frome trial and error and what I found online, you will need at least 250 lumen to be close to the 921 output brightness. We are using 250 lumen, Natural White,tower style bulbs, using around 3 watts +/-, purchased at RV LED Bulb (aka Ocala Hitch) for less than $9.00 delivered. Not the cheapest that are available, but had the output and color we wanted. They also had bubls with more lumen.

Benn using for almost 2 weeks and all are working fine, light lens gets slightly warm with these brighter bubs, but not like the old 921's.

The above statement is based on my opinion and actual usage.

Have a good day and Bye.

lswartz · 07-29-2013, 02:20 PM

I received my 10 LED's for $9 today - 19 days from reading about them on this thread. As stated they are not as bright & have a slight blue tint but they all worked & sure beat my previous purchase of $10 per LED. If you want reading lights then the $10 LED cool white works super. For everything else these 10 for $9 are perfect.

Maybe I'll get an LED for the outside amber door light too.

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