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Converting to LED bulbs

February 20, 2018, 05:08:38 pm

The literature that Amazon provided on their website stated that 21" LED tubes for 110 volts, the ballast must be disconnected.  The literature for the 12 Volts did not list this requirement.  By my thinking I should be able to bypass a bad ballast and direct wire these since LEDs do not require the initial warm up period.  I have two bulbs being controlled by the single ballast that are 12 volt. The bulb I replaced is F13T5/CW and am waiting the arrival on the 12" F8T5WW bulbs.  I have replaced 12 so far and like the results.
Rick
Soddy-Daisy, TN

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #1 – February 20, 2018, 09:58:42 pm

I changed mine to led and left the ballast, just wired past them. No ballast needed big difference in the lighting

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #2 – February 20, 2018, 11:07:25 pm

   I converted my tube lights to LEDs last year, I drilled out the ballasts and replaced the tubes with adhesive LED strips.
Wired direct to 12v, had to drop each assembly to drill out the hardware then reattach them, they look good and have no gaps. I spent around $70 and 4 hrs, job done and extremely pleased with the result. 
  and yes I've been called cheap before lol
 Mick

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #3 – February 21, 2018, 12:52:05 am

Same here. LED strips cost about $17 for 5 meters back then. Cheaper now. Fun project. Even did the outside entry light. I've left the outside light on for over a year and it still is working well. Did all the ICC lights too. I can make the indian ride the buffalo better than anyone!

Pierce

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #4 – February 24, 2018, 02:45:36 pm

I wanted to use the exiting fixtures.  The 12" ones that I order require ballast removal or bypassed.  The 21 LED tube did not have any information either way on the ballast.  Since I had one that the ballast didn't work, I removed/bypassed the ballast and tried the LED bulbs.  Did not work, checked the voltage in the bulb clips-it is right on.  These bulbs were 9.98 each on Amazon.  I just found another LED on Amazon that is a 2 pack for 8.99 and requires ballast bypass.  This is good to know that there are pug in replacement for RV inside lighting including bulbs that do not require a ballast when they go bad.  Both bulbs are not prime and have a small charge for shipping in addition.  I am working on a 88 grand villa 40ft cat diesel pusher that was well cared for.  I have replaced the single unit washer/dryer with a 2.1cf top load washer and hung a 2.3cf dryer above the washer, used a 3/4 steel angle iron cradle to hold the dryer up losing no room for a shelf to sit on (cut a walnut strip to hide the front of the angle iron.  I did remove the walnut door and trim as it stuck 2 additional inch out in to the hall.  finished the opening around the dryer making sure that I can remove/unscrew the sections of wood easily if I had to work on the dryer.  The washer two piece lid is in the top, and this is on an angle and opens and the lid folds in half.  Both units are magic chef and the reviews were all good except one where it didn't work out of the box.  My only gripe so far is after reading here about after market windshields  I discovered the seal leaking and order a new factory seal and than discover both windshield were after markets units and a seal was pieced together to make them fit-really blew my budget apart.  Waiting on warmer weather to replace the passenger glass as I have the new seal and drives glass and side window installed.  Will replace all exterior lights with LEDs including tail lights and marker lights.

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #5 – February 25, 2018, 07:55:42 pm

FWIW, on the LED bulb that did not work.  They are specific which one is positive and negative. They will not work if they are not correct.  So, you might try switching the power to them (+to-, and -to+).  This nay not fix the issue but it would only take a minute to check.  Best of Travels.

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #6 – February 25, 2018, 08:45:06 pm

Won't simply turning the bulb around (swapping ends) accomplish the same thing?

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #7 – February 27, 2018, 09:10:07 pm

tried changing the ends of the bulbs to change the polarity, but it did not help and yes I tried turning one than turning the other twice to ensure it was right.
Am going to need to recoat the roof as it seems to have a thin coating of something that is peeling of.  I have looked a EPDM but am not sure of it.  The u-tude video showed someone using it cover the strip hiding a seam and that to me is asking for trouble down the road as the expansion/contraction of the metal strip is very different from that of the fiberglas.  Any experience with this product or is there something better.  I don't want something to sudden peel off as I am going down the road.
On the washer dryer installation I did drop the floor in the washer area from 11 higher to around 5 inches so I get enough room.
Thanks

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #8 – March 01, 2018, 02:36:40 pm

The LED replacement that I ordered thru Amazon (LED F13T5 (Eq to 13W CFL) Tube Lamp 7W 21 inch 10-30VDC , Eversale) not only require the ballast to be by-passed are brightest bulbs I have bought so far.  They don't have the dotted appearance that most LEDs have when you look at them when they are on, they have the appearance of a fluoresces bulb.  I must have missed a sale because they were almost 13 apiece plus shipping.  While a tad expensive, much cheaper than having to replace a bad ballast/starter.  The paper work shows the name "illuminous" with a light bulb in place of the o.  Will consider these for the replacement when these go.
 








 




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EverSale



 LED F13T5 (Eq to 13W CFL) Tube Lamp 7W 21 inch 10-30VDC

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #9 – March 01, 2018, 04:07:46 pm

FYI- If anyone wanted to replace the entire fixture with new Thin-Lite LED fixtures, exact same size, here is  info needed to contact wholesaler that Thin-lite gave me
"WORLDWIDE LIGHTS. 800-247-6324."
I did learn  there are 2 options:
1- fixture with no switch on light. That matched what I was replacing
2- fixture with switch on the light.

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Re: Converting to LED bulbs

Reply #10 – March 01, 2018, 05:15:32 pm

sorry for late response.  I'm not sure if changing them as far as direction.  On mine, I did what Pierce noted above.  I got the LED strips off ebay and the + wire from the coach to the +LED strips made mine work.  It is kind of a pain to solder those small spots on the LED strips but so far so good.  They are working just fine where I used to have the fluorescents.  On the incandescent bulbs for the reading lights and sconces, they have all been changed to LED's also.  The thing I thought was neat about the strips was you could add more if you wanted more illumination.  I like 6 strips.  Seems to be just a little bit brighter than before.  Perhaps obvious but the negative wire from the coach goes to the - on the LED strips also.  Best

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