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Topic: LED tubes for fluorescent replacement (split from Re: What did you do to your coach) (Read 1625 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: LED tubes for fluorescent replacement (split from Re: What did you do to your coach)

Reply #25 –
Thanks, Don. I'm getting quite a shopping list already. Should be fun working on the lights with trifocals.

Re: LED tubes for fluorescent replacement (split from Re: What did you do to your coach)

Reply #26 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Hard to go wrong when a 5 meter roll of LEDs is only $17 or so delivered. It's a lot of fun replacing the old florescents from interior lights to the outside entry light. Do search for detailed instructions and photos.

Pierce
I just ordered some of these LED's. I am very CURIOUS as I spent considerably more for the same strip length (5 meters). As the price I paid was almost ten times the price of these I am wondering just what the difference is. I can't believe it is all greed.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: LED tubes for fluorescent replacement (split from Re: What did you do to your coach)

Reply #27 –
Last fall, after retrofitting the entire 12 volt system with a solar powered array, I saw how quickly the incandescents ate up the juice in the AGM's. Went on a research spree and found every bulb was easily replaceable. Also, if you look hard enough, you will find replacements for the fluorescent tubes that require NO rewiring of the ballast. Just plug & Play. The cost was steep, and you have to pay close attention to which frequency range ( blue, white, or yellow ) you need in any given area of the coach. It took 4 different buying sessions to obtain the various bulbs and tubes, but when we took an extended trip without the benefit of shore power hookups, we found that we never ran out of juice from the batteries, even on nights that we were up late running pretty much all the equipment that we would carelessly have on if we were running through the converter from the 30 amp shore line. Coach started on first twist of key the next day!!!! These lights last longer than your coach will. For the steep initial expense, we are assured that we have already paid for the LED lighting over the last 7 months, and are now recouping the cost of the new AGM's and controller(s). Very much worth the effort.
Route 66_End to End....someday

  1986 36' Grand Villa
    2015 Jeep Patriot
        K1SLD Steve
        K9NIK Nikki

Re: LED tubes for fluorescent replacement (split from Re: What did you do to your coach)

Reply #28 –
Roland,

Sorry to say that the LEDs I used were $12 to $17 a roll. Having been in the import/export business for many years, I know first hand that the middle man can take a little or a lot. Most of the time, they take a lot. Foreign exchange has a lot to do with it, but it's great for us as consumers buying from China now. Not so good for the jobs we have lost and factories that have closed. I use Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters & Importers from the world's largest for a lot of stuff.

I bought yachts for a short time from ROC (Formosa). A forty one foot fiberglass sailboat would cost a bit over $40K with teak everywhere including the decks. Buying from Finland, the teak deck was optional and an additional $40,000 "upgrade" over the stock glass deck. Traveling to Hong Kong, factories produce designer jeans for the major high end stores like Nordstrom. After they finish their production number for the day, they continue to produce the same jeans and sell them for a bit over $5 each on the street. Airline flight attendants are a great source for the hot deals when arriving in Asia cities.

When I was in Manila, across the street from the yacht club, the firemen were celebrating their pay raise from $1.86 to $2.50.......a day. They had the exact same uniform on and drove the exact same American LaFrance firetruck that I did. The yacht club in Santa Barbara cost thousands to join. In Manila after you had been a free guest for a month, it cost $30 to join. We hired two full time boat boys to varnish, polish, etc. for $3 each a day and they were delighted.

So, no, in most cases you don't get anything better or that lasts longer if you pay more. You should see what WalMart pays when they buy in Asia.

For anyone not familiar with that part of the world, I would suggest Thailand. Really friendly people, lots to see and do, plus prices that make Mexico look like Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles.

OK, I got a bit carried away typing.

Pierce

Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)
 

Re: LED tubes for fluorescent replacement (split from Re: What did you do to your coach)

Reply #29 –
I forgot to post my bedroom LED conversion.  The first pic is the left side with new LEDs and the second pic is the right side with fluorescent.  The LEDs that I used are the ones I mentioned in previous post.  Tri-Chip LED Tube - Amazingly bright & economical - LED Home Lighting.  Used the gutted Thinlite 64" housing and origional switch and three of the 20" Tri-Chip tubes and telephone type electrical connectors I purchased off their site.  Next time I will buy connectors from a different web store that I found.  They are very handy working with thin wires  and are  pre-greased!!!

Both pics taken without flash and no other lights on.  When the LED side was taken, the right side fluorescent was off, and when the right side was taken the left side LED was off.  Thinlite diffusers are in place on both lights.
Camera Canon Power Shot SX230HS.
1994 U225
build #4514