Yahoo Message Number: 88561 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88561)
For those who have changed their lights to LEDS....What did U change them too? meaning how many LEDS did it take to get a brighter light without the heat? 15, 20 25 30's or more??? I'm looking to change out the 10 watts lights in the bathrooms first, since these tired old eyes need more light to see...Please I'm not talking about the DW not being able to see. Since the lights are measured in two different ways...I need more than the 10 watts presently...Don't know how to judge what is needed (LEDS) to go with. Thanks
Dave
07 Country Coach Allure 430 #31495 12 Jeep GC Toad Mountains of So Cal
Yahoo Message Number: 88562 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88562)
Dave, You need to figure out the lumens (light output) and Kelvin ( color degree temp.)I went with a disc type plugged into the socket about 150 lumens of light. I went with the warm white color. They work great. Go to ebay they have a good selection.
Jim 2006 Allure 430 #31317
Yahoo Message Number: 88566 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88566)
Thanks for that info...one thing..when you changed from the 10 watt bulb to those disc type light, with the 150 Lumens...could you tell a difference in the light in the room was it brighter?... about the same?... very little difference? or is it kinda like trial and error...Thanks
Dave
07 Country Coach Allure 430 #31495 12 Jeep GC Toad Mountains of So Cal
Yahoo Message Number: 88570 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88570)
I changed all mine to LED lights and it was really easy. Got them off E bay
right
BREWER REFRIGERATION Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. SCL 608848
937 Golden Gate Terrace
Grass Valley, CA 95945-5938
530-272-6351 Phone
530-477-2719 Fax
www.brewerhvac.com (http://www.brewerhvac.com/)
Yahoo Message Number: 88571 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88571)
Rob
Thanks for the led light input. I would like to do the same.
It seems like we bought a few to replace, at Lowes maybe? But they were very high.
Where did you find them on ebay and what do you ask for? THanks Kay & Allan and "Baby" our 99 Affinity
Yahoo Message Number: 88572 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88572)
Robb
Do you have an item number or more exact description for Ebay purposes? Gerry Bayles
2006 Inspire 51910
Yahoo Message Number: 88573 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88573)
I noticed a difference because all the light was being pushed downward. I think the 10 watt g-4 halogen is around 160 lumens. I went with the 150 lumen Led lights. The nice thing about these lights is there is a lot of choices, saw some I think were around 230 lumens, I think color makes a big difference, the warm white or the cool white. They are so cheap on ebay, I think I paid $2.00 each. Buy some and check it out.
Jim
2006 Allure 430 #31317
Yahoo Message Number: 88594 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88594)
Here is another source for LED lights.
http://www.1000bulbs.com/ (http://www.1000bulbs.com/)
Reese
Former owner of a CC Intrigue
Yahoo Message Number: 88596 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88596)
I just went to 1000bulbs. Could not find the disc type, Went to Ebay punched in G-4 LED lights found over 1000 sellers, then put US sellers only. Down to about 223. Found 10 G-4 SMD 5050 LED warm white 160 Lumen for $13.99 free shipping. Great price.
Jim
2006 Allure 430 #31317
Yahoo Message Number: 88609 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88609)
Dave
I have changed out the ceiling halogen fixtures with LED fixtures in the bedroom and bath/toilet area. I went with Kaper II who was a supplier to CC and is a OEM supplier for current RV manufacturers'. Let me get back to my coach and I can get you part numbers and prices. The Kelvin rating is more critical than Lumens because they are all going to be better than the 10W yellow light. Some of the LEDs I tried from Lowes and Home Depot were way too yellow Kelvin 2700 (warm) for old eyes. Some of the high kelvin 6500 will make you think you are in a hospital surgery room. I have also used the disc type for example I use high lumen and high Kelvin disc over the sink and in from of the refrig where we wanted good light.
Kaper II techs (John) said that an LED fixture versus replacement disc will give more light for equivalent Lums and Kelvin. On my 2006 Allure the heat was making the plastic part that hold the glass lens brittle and they were breaking. These fixtures when available are twice the cost of a new LED fixtures. The halogen fixtures I replaced are now spares for the front of the coach.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 88612 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88612)
Jim,
A link or two for these bulbs would be helpful.
Rich 2002 Magna
Yahoo Message Number: 88616 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88616)
Dave - Here's my chronicle on LEDs: http://www.muniac.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=119#Post119 (http://www.muniac.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=119#Post119)
Best - Scott
2006 Allure 430 40' #31349
(Bus-Stead Lemon) My Allure Page http://www.muniac.com/Allure%20Page.html (http://www.muniac.com/Allure%20Page.html)
Yahoo Message Number: 88625 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88625)
The LEDs they sell at Lowes and Home Depot are going to be less bright than the 10W halogen in part because they are 2700 Kelvin and give a yellow (warm light). The LEDs that are equivalent to 20W Halogen are going to be a better match. Nothing wrong with the warm look but it does not give good light in areas where you are reading or working such as over the sink.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 88626 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88626)
It's like trial and error. I bought a number of ones and twos from different sources and Kelvin rating and lumens to see what I liked before going whole hog. I had a friend who spent 1200 dollars changing out his whole coach and his wife hated the hospital blue light look. I also came to the conclusion that different Kelvin and Lumens work better in the bedroom versus the cooking area or just mood lighting.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 88635 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88635)
Scott,
Thanks for the link...I think I have read that link before a couple of times...just nothing sinks in.... In our last paragraph you say "Keep in mind they won't mount in fixtures where the socket is vertical in the housing. Fixtures with horizontal sockets are required for the units shown in this article." I don't have a vertical mounted light(s) anywhere on the coach. All mine that I want to change are in the ceiling or on the wood around the slides. I guess my fear right now is that once I remove the 10 watt bulb and insert this new LED. The size will fit in the light housing. with the DW worried about appearance. Again thanks for the info...
Dave
07 Country Coach Allure 430 #31495 12 Jeep GC Toad Mountains of So Cal
Yahoo Message Number: 88637 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88637)
Dave - The light sockets over the kitchen table, sofa and computer table have vertical pins. They have remained incandescent. In our bus, all the ceiling sockets have horizontal pins. They've gotten the LEDs. I'm very happy with their performance. With a little imagination, wire, epoxy and solder I think an acceptable mod could be performed on the horizontal pin disk LEDs to fit them into vertical pin sockets. Another project when time permits.
One concern I had was heat. The fixtures are mostly plastic. The sockets should be porcelain but they aren't. Cheap! So the impetus for installing LEDs was to reduce heat and prolong socket and contact life.
The days of the cold look to their light have for the most part gone.
The LED light spectrum has been sufficiently corrected and is reasonable pleasant. Nothing, of course, compares to the warm light coming from an incandescent lamp. But the safety factor and socket life well out weighs a small loss of warmth in the light. The LEDs produce more light so those areas are actually brighter which is good. A nice perk.
I'm glad the article was helpful. It chronicles all that crossed my mind when I went for the LEDs. It's evolving technology so I'm sure new products will come on the scene. The challenge is always bypassing the marketing BS which centers around maximizing profits instead of quality, credibility and good customer relationships. I haven't been able to determine the LED MTBF either. No one is really talking. And it would seem the longer LEDs last, the less potential profits they generate.
Another area that's poorly conceived is the trailer grade outdoor porch light CC mounted in the shower with a tail light bulb in it. Come on guys, can we do just a little bit better here?? If you put a brake light bulb in there (for more light) you will melt the crystal. This would be a good place for LEDs. Safe travels.
Best - Scott
2006 Allure 430 40' #31349
(Bus-Stead Lemon) My Allure Page http://www.muniac.com/Allure%20Page.html (http://www.muniac.com/Allure%20Page.html)
Yahoo Message Number: 88640 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88640)
Dave
LEDLight.com has a pretty good site. It will tell you what the Halogen equivalent is for their bulbs and based on my sampling of the products a pretty accurate representation. For example I have been replacing the !0W halogens in the living area with a 15W equivalent in warm white and it gives me the same look as the Halogen with less energy and heat. For the bathroom area I went with 25W equivalents in warm white. It takes more lumen output to get the same amount of visual light when you go with the warm white versus white. In the bedroom I replaced the fixtures with Kaper II model L09-0039-NW with a 3500K rating (in the middle of the light spectrum) and 64 lumens which provides good light when picking out your clothes but is not harsh which is a danger when going up the Kelvin scale. Very few sites have this mid-level light spectrum which I prefer. This fixture is being produced for new coach manufacture's.
Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Yahoo Message Number: 88641 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88641)
Incandescent lighting is around 2700 degrees Kelvin and Quartz lighting around 3300 degrees. Sunlight in midday is around 5200 degrees as I remember being a former film photographer and always having to worry about getting balanced photographs. The eye is a great interpreter of light in conjunction with the brain and even thought color temp changes all the time we usually know what white and black are. So if the color temp changes in our coaches if there is a white reference we can interpolate what we see. But as you have pointed out there are limits and I am glad you have worked out a solution for yourself. We chose our coach at the time because of the ambient light available from florescent light was much higher in an Intrigue that from the puck lights of a Magna/Affinities. And as humans need 1 to 2 stops more light each time they age ten years, florescent light is the answer for us. We were looking at new coaches in 08 and 09 they all failed our light test. Only Newells and some Prevosts were able to produce the light we felt we required. So we still drive our Intrigue, its paid for, too. We have quartz lights along the perimeters that use G4 lamps with out the frosted glass. I am looking forward to trying different forms of LED lighting, but so far the few I have tried have failed. Thanks for the info, sounds like its time to explore again. I also want to replace the florescent tubes with LED. I always joked with CC engineers that the third air-conditioner was there to cool the heating from the quartz lamps.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
Yahoo Message Number: 88642 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/88642)
Oops! midday can approach 6500 to 7000 degrees.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731