I got some less-expensive LED lights yesterday, and thought I'd post a couple of pictures of the trial installation. These LED modules have 4 LEDs per module, and cost about $3 each module. Each module is encapsulated in plastic, so should stand up to RV use.

The modules that simply plug in to replace a standard 1141 light bulb would be even simpler to install, but the ones I've found are very expensive. I used 2 of these 4-LED modules instead, to replace one bulb in the bathroom light fixture. The 2 LED modules came wired together, so 8 LEDs altogether.

The first picture is of the fixture with the light bulb removed, the second is the back of the fixture. I used a blue "tap" clip to connect the ground wire (white) to the original ground wire, and with some minor soldering, replaced the original black positive lead with the blue positive for the LED, at the switch power outlet.

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That looks like a good workable installation. Where did you get them? How would you rate how they compare to the output of the standard bulb?

Relative light output is a judgement call I guess. The LEDs produce a blue-white light, vs the yellowish light from the original bulb. I think one 4-LED module wouldn't be as bright as the 1141 bulb, but using the two modules together seems to produce a comparable light. I find the LEDs just fine, my wife thinks they wouldn't be good for applying makeup (which I don't usually worry about!).

I got these from a Canadian supplier, at a ham radio flea market (web site is at pcboard.ca). I imagine they'd be available from any one of several US retailers, as the LED lights have been slow to come to Canada.

I hope you'll excuse a somewhat different concept on the same theme from a new guy.

Janet and I love to dry camp in Forest Service campgrounds and similar venues, which is one reason we got a 17 ft Hi-Lo. But, it came with 11 - 15 Watt bulbs for internal lighting! Agreed, we never had all of them on at once, but even two light fixtures seemed to be using too much power.

I found some SMT LEDs on a flat "card" from SuperBrightLEDs.com: 1156 & 1157 PCB series LED Lamps Specifications. The ones I got are the 1156-PCB-CWHP9 and WWHP9 units. I put the CWHP9 units in the kitchen and bathroom areas and used the WWHP9 units in the "living" area. I'm including some pictures below.

The first shows the mounting method - double stick tape against the top of the housing. You really want the tape to extend beyond the "card" so you don't push on the card, which could crack the solder joints. They simply plug into the existing socket.

The next two show the WWHP9 (3100K) units without and with the diffusers. The light quality is very much like the OEM incandescent bulbs and seems almost as bright. It is very good for reading.

The last shows the CWHP9 (7000K) units I put in the kitchen and bathroom. The light is crisp and bright without the "blue" cast you often get with the "whiter" lights. I think it comes very close to a "daylight fluorescent" bulb in quality.

Each card consumes only 2.28 Watts. This means I could have all interior lights on and use less Wattage than two of the OEM bulbs in one fixture would consume.

In practice, we never have more than two fixtures lit at once.

While they are pricey, they really conserve on battery draw. I highly recommend this product and have bought other bulbs from the same source for my truck.

- Jack

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	Kitchen.jpg (90.1 KB, 157 views)

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Hi-Lo 1707T
2005 F150 4x4 KR SCrew

Those lights definitely look better than what I did, and easier to install. I haven't found a Canadian source yet though, and ordering them from the US makes them even more expensive than they were for you.

Maybe someday. Sigh.

Gord.

I found these 19 LEDs bulbs for $4.25 each shipped. I just got two for trial. They work well and I think they are worth the investment to eliminate the heat and waste of battery power. They have a blueish tint to the light which I like. Delivery time from Hong Kong was about 10 days, much faster than expected.

19 LED 1156 Car Tail Light Bulbs 1141 1459 5007 DC 12V - eBay (item 170512693971 end time Jul-22-10 12:41:58 PDT)

They work too. I used something similar before I went with the 9-LED "cards" I have now (which are MUCH brighter).

I wasn't bothered by the bluish tint either, at first. Later, I figured out that it was causing eyestrain when I tried to read in that light. It was almost like trying to see through a light "fog". Our eyes are not really designed for that wavelength, which is why many people complain about the bluish HID headlights some people have in their vehicles.

A good color temperature for "white" light seems to be in the 5000-6000K range. The kitchen lights I mounted are 7000K, but, as I said, they don't seem to produce the "blue" light. The rest of the lights I used are 3500K (warm white) lights as I recall. It's very pleasant for the living area.

As an aside, have you ever noticed that a shooter's sunglasses are amber? They block the blue wavelengths and sharpen your vision. The so-called "blu-blocker" sunglasses do the same thing.

This of course is JMHO, your mileage may vary! *beers*

- Jack

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Hi-Lo 1707T
2005 F150 4x4 KR SCrew

Thanks Jack about the LED light info. I replaced all my interior lights with the 1156-PCB-CWHP9 Cool White lights. They are amazing in the amount of light they produce. The wife has no problem reading with them. It was a bit pricey to do this but well worth it. Guess I can recoup my money by not having to replace melted lens covers (haha).

Bob

Stopped at Camping World today to do my spring browsing. They've started selling LED bulbs shaped to replace the standard incandescent bulbs in a travel trailer. HLY SMKES!!! $32.XX per bulb for a #1157 (the style that goes into our Hi-Lo taillights).

I figure I can cycle through a lifetime supply of regular bulbs for that price! Thank goodness for the HTF and members writing in about MUCH less expensive sources for these things!

Jim

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1967 17' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1967-1969)
1969 19' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1969-2011)
2004 27' Hi-Lo TowLite (2010-present)
2007 Chevy Suburban

You're going to see prices come down on these things pretty quickly now, I think. Home Depot has started selling a whole line of screw-in PAR style 120V bulbs and the 2-pin 12-volt MR16 bulbs.

The savings in electricity will make them pretty popular.

By the way, the interior bulbs would be 1156, not 1157 (2-filament) ones.

- Jack