LED Upgrade Question

rafatoy · 10-06-2012, 11:28 AM

Hello all,
newbie here,
Just bought a Sport295, two months ago, love it!!!
Ok so I wanted to replace my inside light as well as my turn signal ,stop lights on the sport with LEDs. I purchased some from a local store that carries all kinds of lights especially for the cars out there in the streets that kids modify to show off. Anyways when I tried them inside first, the bulbs began to smoke, (pulled them out quick). Than I tried a couple more on a different light and again it smoked, so this time I went out side and put in the turn signal/stop and after ten seconds those too started smoking, at first I was plugged in to shore line power than to my vehicle. Ok so the question or questions, did I buy the wrong LEDs? Are they special LED for the TT? Any modification need to be done to convert to LEDs? I am confused.
Thanks

**Herk7769** · 10-06-2012, 11:30 AM

Can't even begin to tell you how many threads and photos are here on these LED upgrade mods; from boondocking improvements to just plain fun; it is all here.

Iggy · 10-06-2012, 04:17 PM

1. What type of bulbs are you replacing in your RV? Hopefully 12volt DC

2. If they smoked must be wrong of cheap junk. Take them back.

Here is a link to the website I buy my LEDs from China.
They are the same as the stores sell but a lot cheaper.
Look around and see what you can find that fits your needs.

Here is the one I bought for my motorhome. They are over $23 each at Camping World.
Car Motor Caravan Lights - Side Pin G4 12V AC/DC 9 x Tri-Chip 5050 SMD LED Bulb 120 Degree - 20W Equal [CA-SG4-9T-12V] - $5.77 : Led Strips Hero-ledstore.com

rafatoy · 10-07-2012, 01:32 AM

Thanks for the web site lggy,

I was replacing 921 bulbs inside and 1157 for the outside rear turn,running, and stop lights, the ones I got does not look anything from the web site, the connectors end are different, but on the original ones the connectors are the same with the ones I bought. They are for vehicles 12 dc. Maybe I got a bad batch.

**Herk7769** · 10-07-2012, 02:54 AM

I have a question.

When you say you bought LEDs, did you just buy the LED? (IE not mounted on a circuit board or in a "bulb" assembly?)

LEDs are 2 volt (although there are 5 volt ones) solid state devices and need a complete circuit to function properly and the smoke genie that makes them work will escape when they are attached directly to a 12 volt source.

Light-emitting diode - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

rafatoy · 10-07-2012, 03:12 AM

Yes they were already assembled? They liked like regular bulbs, just to plug in, just being LED's

**Herk7769** · 10-07-2012, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rafatoy

Yes they were already assembled? They liked like regular bulbs, just to plug in, just being LED's

Thanks. I was pretty sure, but sometimes you just have to ask.
Could they have been 6 volt assemblies?

rafatoy · 10-07-2012, 03:35 AM

Good question, did not noticed, just grab the ones that matched the numbers with the originals I am guessing maybe bad LEDs, not for TT ? I got them for 6.00 a pair.

**Herk7769** · 10-07-2012, 06:54 AM

Do you still have the packaging? It should say what the voltage is supposed to be. Odd that they all smoked.

comfun1 · 10-07-2012, 08:38 AM

I too am interested in replacing my lights. To me it seems that the interior are what need replacing as they run off the camper battery. The running lights draw from the tv so their wattage doen't really matter. Am I missing something?

bakken · 10-07-2012, 09:24 AM

If you matched the numbers, they should be correct.
That is just wierd.
Could there have been some kind of oil, or other coating that just had to burn off, and then they would be fine? I know i am grasping at straws, but why wouldn't they be correct?
Maybe try having a fire extinguisher handy, and just leave one in for a minute.

Iggy · 10-07-2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rafatoy

Thanks for the web site lggy,

I was replacing 921 bulbs inside and 1157 for the outside rear turn,running, and stop lights, the ones I got does not look anything from the web site, the connectors end are different, but on the original ones the connectors are the same with the ones I bought. They are for vehicles 12 dc. Maybe I got a bad batch.

It was just showing the website and the ones I bought for my inside lights.
You need to check that website for the ones you are looking for.

**Herk7769** · 10-07-2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comfun1

I too am interested in replacing my lights. To me it seems that the interior are what need replacing as they run off the camper battery. The running lights draw from the tv so their wattage doen't really matter. Am I missing something?

You are correct. Wattage was not the issue, I was wondering if the voltage was correct. Apparently the voltage is correct and not the problem.

rafatoy · 10-07-2012, 10:56 PM

Maybe I should of held on to them, I returned them , and now I am just wanting on giving up the whole idea, ( for now) ....

RPAspey · 10-08-2012, 04:39 PM

just an idea.. could the fixtures be wired backwards?

ken0042 · 10-08-2012, 04:54 PM

How much smoke came off them? The ones I bought let off a little smoke when I first installed them; as if they weren't 100% clean. That stopped within about a minute of use. My oldest LEDs are now over a year old and still going strong.

Like Lou said, just make sure you don't let all of the smoke out.

**Herk7769** · 10-08-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPAspey

just an idea.. could the fixtures be wired backwards?

With LEDs backwards is actually safer. Diodes don't conduct hardly at all.
They just don't light. Smoke (or light) comes out when they are "forward biased" meaning they are conducting.

Barraacres · 10-09-2012, 02:37 PM

I have upgraded all my interior lights in my SP275 to LED. This was one of my favorite mods so far. Here is the packaging pics and some of the installed lights

RPAspey · 10-09-2012, 06:48 PM

herk, depending on the diode you are right. There's a problem with thinking that LEDs or diodes are a one way check valve. If the reverse bias, aka voltage, is higher than the breakdown voltage of diode, current WILL flow and burn up the diode. most quality LED lights use a driver circuit to keep a constant voltage, about 3 volts, regardless of input voltage....within reason. anyway, if you apply reverse bias to an LED without a driver circuit able to withstand the reverse voltage, it will burn up.

no reverse bias problems with an incandescent bulb though.

I forgot to mention, in the first batch of LED lights I installed, one fixture was wired backwards. the light promptly smoked and burned a bit. thankfully it wad only one of six fixtures.

DobeFanatic · 10-09-2012, 08:08 PM

This is where I got my for inside ceiling lights, they were flat and plugged right in. Anne
Boat, RV and Other LED Bulbs - Super Bright LEDs

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