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Topic ClosedCreating an LED light tutorial for the manual
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Mirado View Drop Down
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Joined: 20 Oct 2017
Location: NW Ohio
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Posts: 56 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Creating an LED light tutorial for the manual
    Posted: 21 Jun 2019 at 7:18am
LED lighting has come a long way since the last post here.  We have a 2015 181G which was originally equipped with LED lighting, as I presume most or all new models have been ever since.  One of our fixtures stopped working recently, and I discovered that individual LED elements in it failed one at a time over a period of time.

An exhaustive search turned up no replaceable LED lamps were available for this particular fixture, so I had to replace the entire fixture.  Amazon.com has tons of RV LED fixtures available, and the ones I purchased are an exact replacement - same mounting holes, etc., and also appear to have replaceable lamp elements.  I bought enough of them to replace most of my interior lights, as I noticed some of the others were also starting to go bad.

It was a simple fix, though more costly than just replacing lamps.

Here are links to the fixtures I purchased:




Doug
Miriam and Doug
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Apr 2015 at 7:14pm
Pop off the cover of one of the fixtures and confirm the number on the base of the bulb.  Probably a 921 for the inside bulbs, 1141 for the outside bulb.  Then search ebay and Amazon for bulk lots of that type of bulb, in the color (K) you want (see my info above about that).  Personally I got a "paddle" type of bulb for my interior lights.  It looks like a miniature ping pong paddle.  For my outside lights I got a large panel type.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 140 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Apr 2015 at 2:37pm
OK. this is all starting to really make my head hurt. I really want to just change out my old "gas guzzler" incandescences for LEDs but it's way too confusing. Is there a simple suggestion as to individual bulbs or complete fixtures, from where? It feels like I'm trying to oversimplify the issue but it just really can't be this complex can it? I just want to same on battery and not spend my way into debt.
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Mar 2015 at 4:37pm
Added more info here because I discovered I never added this to the manual, which I'm doing right now, and wanted to cover all of the bases.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Mar 2015 at 4:37pm
Some additional info.  

When shopping for LED bulbs be careful about the color temperature (K) and color rendering index (CRI).  Don't rely on ebay listings that just say "warm white" for instance, make sure it is actually listed around 2700K-3000K.  Cool white will be around 4000K and daylight is 4000K.

The CRI usually isn't an option when buying the cheap LEDs online for an RV, but it is good to know about when you buy LEDs for your house.  Most LEDs for RVs and houses are around 80 CRI.  Incandescents are 100 CRI, which means nearly every color on the spectrum is produced - so things like clothes, fabrics and makeup appears correctly.  I have seen LED bulbs for houses for slightly more money at a 93 CRI, which is about the best I've seen (Cree is the brand, TW, true white, in the model number).

Also keep an eye on the lumen rating - or how much light it produces.  This is also usually not an option when shopping for RV LEDs, but you should know about it when shopping for bulbs for your house.  Some companies will skimp on the lumens, which usually uses less power, so they can advertise that their bulb uses less watts than the competition.

For comparison on energy usage, a 60 watt incandescent bulb has a CRI of 100 and obviously uses 60 watts.  A CFL with the same lumen rating is 13 watts and around 82 CRI.  A cheaper LED with the same lumen is 10 watts and 80 CRI.  Better LEDs are 13 watts and 93 CRI.

One final thing to know when buying for your house, since LEDs can last 25,000 hours it is a good idea to only buy ones that are dimmable.  Even if you aren't buying for a fixture that is dimmable right now, you may move that bulb in the future and wish it did.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 672 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jun 2014 at 1:40pm
I used the one like Charlie used only I got one with just 18 LED's. It puts out the same amount of light that the original bulb put out. Goose
PS. Never had a problem with anything that I have bought from SuperBrightLeds.
Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Posts: 184 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jun 2014 at 9:06am
Thanks everyone.  I'm going to swap out the porch light for an LED.
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jun 2014 at 7:09pm
Originally posted by cody91

Has anyone successfully replaced the amber patio light and front work light with LEDs?  If so, what type of LEDs were needed?

I've tried a few different LEDs for the patio light over the years, but I've never found one that I thought was bright enough for outdoor use.  Of course, when I use the patio light, its usually because I want to see clearly in a 20' area outside (for setting up camp at night, or finding keys lost in the grass); for general mood lighting while sitting by the fire,  I usually use a string of lights on the awning, or some solar lanterns, or a couple of candle lanterns.  Inside, I've got no problem with LEDs, but outside I'll stick with spotlight-bright incandescent.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jun 2014 at 6:21pm
The porch light is a type 1156. Here's a link to the one I used. Get the amber one. I never used the front light so don't know about it.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1156-led-bulb-single-intensity-45-smd-led-tower/526/
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jun 2014 at 2:50pm
Yes.. did one that matched the socket type.. It says on the factory bulb the base type..
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