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Topic: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED  (Read 16047 times) previous topic - next topic

Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

I pulled out the old ballast and  fluorescent bulbs and installed new LED strips. The whole project was really easy and took about 30 minutes. Like all wiring jobs I soldered and heat shrunk the connections.

The new lights are very bright. In fact I am contemplating changing out the strips to a 4000K or 5000K color. I only wired the front most fixture as I wanted the weekend to think it over at the campsite.

If I don't use these in the main light fixtures I will use them in the storage bays so nothing really gets wasted. There are so many LED fixtures to choose from.  These come with an aluminum backer and double sided tape already installed. You simply cut them to length, press, and plug in.  One unexpected bonus is that the strips are wired at both ends for series connecting so when you cut one shorter you actually still have a whole other light you can wire somewhere else!

Can't beat $24 for 5 fixtures plus another 10 accent or small area light strips!
ICIH (Pack-10) Aluminum DC12V 9W... ICIH (Pack-10) Aluminum DC12V 9W SMD5630 Double Row 84LED 0.5M/20" Rigid...

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Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #1 –
And if the strips come loose in the southern heat, put a dob of "Shoe Goo" on the backs.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #2 –
Nice clean looking job. Curious to hear if you decide these are too bright.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #3 –
I want to install them in my existing porch light. Do you think they will work there.?

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #4 –
Did that and it works fine.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #5 –
Think I will give those a try. Thanks for the link.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #6 –
Eric, Looks really nice and clean. I made new LED lights for mine last year. Really brightened up the coach, but maybe too much for the DW. I used 5 strips per fixture, I'm thinking of going back to redo with only 3 strips per fixture.

Larry

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #7 –
Quote from: ohsonew –
I made new LED lights for mine last year. Really brightened up the coach, but maybe too much for the DW. I used 5 strips per fixture, I'm thinking of going back to redo with only 3 strips per fixture.
Larry
I also did two strips per fixture, brighter than original, seems just right. Both wife and I happy with increased light.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #8 –
Good Job!  They keep coming out with interesting lighting products incorporating LEDs.  Fun to wonder what will pop up next.

We rebuilt all the lights on our coach (interior and exterior) with LEDs.  I used long rolls of LED strips and cut them to fit.  I tried 6000K (daylight) and 3000K (warm white) strips.  We preferred the warm white inside the coach, and I used the daylight strips in the storage bays.

You can get dimmers for LED light fixtures, in case they turn out too bright.  I bought one but ended up never using it.  Turned out our lights were "just right" for us.  The older you get, the more you appreciate "adequate" levels of illumination.  Of, course, everbody is different.

Another (Interior) LED Project

Bay lights

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #9 –
I tried both warm white (lower Kelvin temps) and daylight white (higher Kelvin temps). Like Chuck and many we prefer the watm whit inside.  All daylight strips are in the bays.  And dimmers on most inside.  I used several strips in the fluorescent rebuilds and added a switch to have only one strip or all on.  Keep experimenting.

If you are running multiple strips in one fixture, wire them in parallel to reduce voltage loss.

In the long run soldered connections will be more durable and reliable.  It is not hard to do but some practice helps. Soldering LED Light Strips

I have added lighting in almost every interior cabinet as well.proximity switches on the doors turn on the lights when you open them.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #10 –
Eric
I used about the same LED lights. I only used one row in the smaller fixtures (front, bath, bedroom) in my coach and two strips in the larger fixtures. Yes it is bright but the older I get the worse my eyesight, so I like the bright lights, but only use them when I have projects or cooking. I use the under cabinet puck lights most of the time.
Just my two cents 

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #11 –
I done all mine in 5000 except the front one which was done before I bought the coach and some time I will redo that one. I have
put led throughout the coach and except the porch light which I just need to buy a bulb, the passenger map light and the door
handle.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #12 –
These particular lights I bought are not waterproof and I would be leery using them on any of my external fixtures. It would probably be okay since most of those fixtures are sealed but they are also old and prone to leaks.

Great clean install Roger. That panel looks like it will put out a lot of might. The density of LEDs on the strips also has a big play on brightness. 

I was also considering using the under cabinet lighting in a warm white as accent lighting and ambience and use the main "bright lighting" for tasking.  Since the LEDs are so cheap these days there really isn't much risk in trying multiple setups.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #13 –
Eric,

When I changed over to LEDs, I tried warm white and cool white. The cool white were just too bright, and changed all the fixtures to warm white. I used the remaining roll of cool white in the basement lighting. I also used the 3m double-sided tape because I found the tape on the LED rolls was just not effective, and started coming down on it's own.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #14 –
Eric, thanks for the tip.  Replaced every fluorescent light in the coach with the same strips you used (all Warm White), and we love them.  The only difference is I actually gutted the entire inside of the fixtures. Removed tubes, sockets, and ballasts, and direct wired the strips parallel as Roger suggested.  Next, all the storage bays in Day Light White.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #15 –
I finally received them. I went with the daylight rather than the warm white. I removed the existing fixtures, covered the space with aluminum foil tape. I am using 2 per fixture now but might add a third. I want bright task lighting. When not needing that amount of light will just use the warm white pucks. The tape is not 3m and I am not sure if it will hold well over time. Easy to cut and solder the wires back on. Price is good. First order got lost. I reordered and both showed up.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #16 –

Most LED strip lighting come with a double stick tape on the back and most of it is labeled 3M.  Most of it is not actually a 3M product but a fake knock off and in my experience most of it will not last long.

Get a roll of 3/8" glazier's tape. Amazon.com: JVCC DC-WGT-01 Double Coated Window Glazing Tape: 1/16 in. thick...

It works very well. One roll is 50 ft.

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Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #17 –
You people are a bad influence on me.  I ordered one set of ten in 6000K.  I've replaced 3 ballasts so far and the bulbs don't seem to last the way they should, maybe because of the lower mercury level.  I give up.  I throw in the towel. I surrender. Maybe the LEDs will last.

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #18 –
Dimmer and 3500k
Scott

Re: Fluorescent light fixture upgrade to LED

Reply #19 –
Question, if you order the 20" long ones can you snip off 2" if you only need 18"?