I put a strip of 'Lumeno' LEDs in parallel with each of my old 12v incandescent lights.
Both the old & new lights have individual switches so I can choose which ones I want to use. Rarely use the old ones.
The LED strips are waterproof & came with mounting clips that grasp the aluminium mount & screw onto the mounting surface with a very small self tapper, so if I ever want to remove them it will leave only a very tiny hole.
I got the light strips from a RV place that was changing them on imported high end RVs for a spoofier type.
They are on the net & work exceedingly well. Draw around 80 m/a per strip (ie <1w) & are waterproof.
edit to insert wattage calculation - then the name Lumeno - then inserted pictures
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 25th of July 2012 12:57:32 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 25th of July 2012 01:03:28 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 25th of July 2012 01:12:35 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 25th of July 2012 01:13:50 PM
I have changed all my 12 volt to LED even have a security/motion activated LED light at the front door.
There are even 240 volt LED's now.You can convert the old 240 Volt 30cm Fluros to an LED but you have to ditch all the ballast and gubbins inside and wire it to the switch directly.
As for brightness,well you have to see to believe.The average Maglight four "D" cell torch is around 190 lumens.You can even get a
24 Thousand lumen LED torch.So brightness is not a problem.
If money is no object you can get floodlight levels of light with LED lightbars good enough to use as Spotties on the front of your rig.At a price of course.
I know that a lot of RV stores now have all sorts of LED's for all different situations.
You can go the conservative way and change globes to LED equivalents or change the whole fitting.
All my lights have been converted and I put two strips in most of mine as I have 24v system.
In the bed room area I actually have three but two are 24v and the other was split into two strips length wise and then wired as 24v but giving a light suitable for night activity ut not good enough for reading.
The lights in the main area I find are good enough for the use I do but it would be a case of buy a few and test.
I have the cheap strips from deal extreme and have even used cuts of some of the cheap lines where you can buy 5 mtrs for about $15 if you are lucky in the bid on ebay. All my lights inside my cupboards etc are these cut to length.
My strips are held in place with double sided tape.
You just find the 12v active (I assume you are 12v) and then wire into that and you could leave the fluro fittings there for the test.
I have double action switches cut into the plastic covers as mine are turned on as one at the dash so each light has its own switch.
Hope this helps some. The proof is only when YOU try in your situation, but most people who freedom camp have done the conversion.
Regards Brian
__________________
11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
Has anyone converted their interior 12 volt ceiling lights from Fluro to LED if so are they bright enough
Yes we have done and a very happy with the outcome.
We have the 22watt oyster fittings, (3 in the length of the van) I removed the fluoro tube and ballast and install the 48 surfaced mounted led cool white patch fittings each is 3.6 watts.
I also replaced the external light with the 36led patch fitting with the bayonet fitting attachment.
The Bargeman handle/light fitting was replaced with a 6-led bayonet globe.
My Hiace lights up beautifully from a metre led strip or some leds lights from DealExtreme. I tried some led globes for the house but they don't seem to last long. Love them in the van though.
Recently purchased an 18 led strip light with switch from Jayco dealer in Newcastle cost me $40.00 and gives a very bright white light planning to replace other internal lights soon.
Saw a pop top in Rockhampton that had a strip of lights on outside wall just below where roof sits on wall when closed it looked like daylight but I think too bright could adjust using less LED's his went full length of van.
__________________
Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
Life is like a camera, focus on what's important & you will capture it every Time
i love leds put them in the pop top replaced al globes in the moter home to led i even put a truck clearance light under the floor above the step on the van just a nice dim light to show you the way i call it the drunk lite lol also when you sit outside the insects dont seam to bother you as much as the lite is lower than your self .and then theres the power saving i just love em