Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

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Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

December 11, 2014, 02:43:58 pm

My search is over, I have found the Holy Grail of LED replacement lights for those Watt devouring halogens in the puck lights.

JRLED G4 3W 130lm 3000K 3-COB LED Warm White Light Mini Spotlights - Silver +

I have tried three different brands and styles of G4 LEDs, and was not happy until i found this one. The others were not as bright as the halogen, or had a yellow or green, or even blue tinge. This one is as pure white as the driven snow, exactly the same whiteness as the halogens, and every bit as bright. 120 Lumens using only 3 Watts of power at 12 Volts, thats a minuscule 250mA of current. Talk about happy batteries.

These are made with three discs of COB material, which stands for Chip On Board. The yellow discs you see in the photos are made of hundreds of too small to see individual LED chips. So easy to install I did them myself, just twist off the fixture's lens, unplug the old bulb, pop out the heat sink / reflector (give it a long time to cool of the halogens were on recently), and align the LED pins with the holes and gently push. I want to add, these are real pins, round with smooth conical ends and firmly attached, the other LEDs i tried had soldered to the board square pins that tended to become unsoldered while installing.

I originally ordered enough for half of the fixtures, and last night ordered for the other half. Remember there are two per package, and when you check out, check the bulk ordering checkbox to get an additional 12% off.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #1 – December 11, 2014, 03:11:19 pm

Here is a great article explaining the advances in LED technology over the years, with a nice explanation of the advantages of COB lights,

LED Lighting : Newest COB LED technology explained ? LED Lights Reviews : for

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #2 – December 11, 2014, 06:59:55 pm

This really sounds great to me. I'm just trying to figure out if what we have (in the 2007 Nimbus) would be classified as "warm white" or "white." I think from looking at their web site that it is warm white.

Tom, you said you looked hard to find the pure white light. Is that what your ordered (white)?

Don

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #3 – December 11, 2014, 09:02:16 pm

Tom, how was your experience with DX.com ? I see a lot of not so good comments in reviews on line.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #4 – December 11, 2014, 09:46:00 pm

I ordered warm white. Usually warm white LEDs have a yellow or even yellow-green tint, these are pure, "white" is usually daylight white, with a bluish cast.

I have had excellent experience with DX. Shipping from China is not fast, give it a couple of weeks, and when Chinese New Year comes, give it another week. Some of their items are available from US warehouses at higher prices.

Their packaging is not great, they just put the original item in it's original box in a sturdy plastic or manila envelope. Boxes often come crushed, but the contents have always been good. A couple of times I needed to contact them for lost items or returns or replacements, and they always worked it out to my satisfaction. I have bought a lot of stuff from them, mostly flashlights, batteries, and LED lighting.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #5 – December 11, 2014, 09:50:39 pm

Quote from: Falconguy – December 11, 2014, 09:02:16 pm

Tom, how was your experience with DX.com ? I see a lot of not so good comments in reviews on line.

A few of their items are junk, but at junk prices, but you can tell from the price and description. Always read their own descriptions, which often point out flaws, and reviews from customers. I suspect the bad reviews are from customers who expected quicker delivery than they offer. Some could be from their competitors. There are a lot of sellers of similar Chinese made goods now, Alibaba, T-Mart, Banggood to name a few, plus so many sellers on eBay who use these as their wholesale sources.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #6 – December 11, 2014, 10:24:23 pm

Tom, good looking lights, and at a great price. Just wished they were like 12-18 VDC or something like that.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #7 – December 11, 2014, 11:27:32 pm

Quote from: rbark – December 11, 2014, 10:24:23 pm

Tom, good looking lights, and at a great price. Just wished they were like 12-18 VDC or something like that.

I know, but I suspect they can handle an occasional 14-14.4 volts. We'll see how mine hold up, but there won't be a high voltage test until I run the generator with the battery low and lights on.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #8 – December 11, 2014, 11:31:18 pm

I just cannot get over how good they look.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #9 – December 12, 2014, 12:39:22 am

Can't wait to see them in person. I might be changing out mine also.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #10 – December 12, 2014, 01:18:40 am

Quote from: Tom Lang – December 11, 2014, 11:31:18 pm

I just cannot get over how good they look.

Sure hope they fit my 97's fixtures

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #11 – December 12, 2014, 01:44:57 am

Quote from: Caflashbob – December 12, 2014, 01:18:40 am

Sure hope they fit my 97's fixtures

If it takes a G4 and you can pop out the reflector/heatsink, there should be no problem.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #12 – December 12, 2014, 01:50:11 am

I kinda sorta have one extra, at least I think it will be extra after my second order comes in, but for now I haven't installed it.

If anyone is interested, I can send it out to make the circuit of members wanting to try before buying. I only ask you pass it along to the next FoFumer who asks. Whether or not it gets back to me is optional. Just PM your address and I'll send it on it's journey.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #13 – December 31, 2014, 11:33:32 am

Tom, thanks for the LED G4 replacement bulb information. Ordered 1 pkg on Dec 12 and received them Dec 30. Pretty darn quick. We like them, so now we'll order the rest.
Just one question, how do you get the reflector out? Nothing that I tried would work. I was able to get the cover on, but that isn't the best solution.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #14 – December 31, 2014, 11:57:23 am

I have on of Tom's test bulbs and will be trying it in my coach in the next few days. I will post my results and send the bulb on to the next person in line.

Keith

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #15 – January 01, 2015, 01:17:42 am

Dick, there is a brand where you not have to remove the reflector. Depends on the exact length of the plug in wires. The reflector can help to stabilize the LED, depending the length.

I like the warm white, because my wife does. Ended up with white though. And she liked after all done.

Have gone to LED in all fixtures, not only pucks. Lots of members reports on these.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #16 – January 05, 2015, 07:42:35 pm

Easy installation once you figure out how to pop the metal reflector out.

Half way through the install I realized I could bend the two contacts at an angle so when the led puck is installed it fits flat inside the replaced cover.

Seems to be the same warm white as the halogens.

14 boxes of two= 28.

I received 14 boxes but 26 lights. Short two.

Nice replacements. Easy install.

Thanks for the lead.

Now I need the bulb lights around the vanity and the lights behind the glass sconce over the bathroom sink. Any such things made?

Bob

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #17 – January 05, 2015, 07:54:40 pm

Bob,

Like these?

FEIT PerformanceLED G16.5 - 4.8 Watt - 300 Lumens - Warm White (3000K) |...

Keith

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #18 – January 05, 2015, 09:09:29 pm

Try these for the bathroom and vanity fixtures.

Pack of TWO (2), LED 12V White Omni Bulb BA15S Clear Cover - Led Household...

Two bulbs for about $8 + shipping. You can buy them direct from

EverSale.com : LED 12V White Omni Bulb BA15S Clear Cover [EV-LED-BA15S-CV] -...

We used two bulbs in each fixture, enough light for us.

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #19 – January 05, 2015, 10:21:36 pm

Here are the LEDs I'm using on the vanity.
Amazon.com: Gold Stars 20990080 LED Vanity Light 20-99/1156 Base 130 Lums...

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Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #20 – January 05, 2015, 10:28:26 pm

Agree with Roger, I replaced mine in the bath vanity mirror with same type several months ago and so far am happy with same. They look fine to me and seem to have as much light output.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #21 – January 05, 2015, 11:15:57 pm

Quote from: toyman – January 05, 2015, 10:21:36 pm

Here are the LEDs I'm using on the vanity.
Amazon.com: Gold Stars 20990080 LED Vanity Light 20-99/1156 Base 130 Lums...

Look good thanks

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Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #22 – January 08, 2015, 11:41:35 am

See the problem with those and a lot of bulbs is that they are rated for 12v. When plugged in they are getting 13+. This manifests itself in flickering individual LED's as they overheat and break or just total failure. I got and am very happy with these LED G4 Halogen Replacement Bulb - Side Pin They have a voltage regulator on board to make sure they run properly. We got them from a product tester who had 20 of them for us so we were able to replace the majority of our halogens. They're quite expensive but they're good and almost too bright.

The important thing to look for is warm white (if you want the halogen look rather than a colder flourescent look) and the big voltage range which indicates that it has a voltage regulator on it.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #23 – January 08, 2015, 11:44:52 am

Quote from: piku – January 08, 2015, 11:41:35 am

See the problem with those and a lot of bulbs is that they are rated for 12v. When plugged in they are getting 13+. This manifests itself in flickering individual LED's as they overheat and break or just total failure. I got and am very happy with these LED G4 Halogen Replacement Bulb - Side Pin They have a voltage regulator on board to make sure they run properly. We got them from a product tester who had 20 of them for us so we were able to replace the majority of our halogens. They're quite expensive but they're good and almost too bright.

The important thing to look for is warm white (if you want the halogen look rather than a colder flourescent look) and the big voltage range which indicates that it has a voltage regulator on it.

I haven't seen any issues so far. I keep some on all the time as a test, the rig is plugged in, and they are still working as they should.

Re: Eureka! Found: the best ever LED G4 replacement for the halogen pucks

Reply #24 – January 08, 2015, 12:43:38 pm

I tested the bulb that Tom sent me (thanks Tom) and while it looks good for brightness it's a touch too white on the walnut walls and trim for us. So it's off to Siren for her and Scuba Guy to try.

Keith

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