Thinking of switching to incandescent lights

Popcycle · 10-03-2015, 01:43 PM

Funny how things work out. My previous trailer was a Fleetwood highwall tent trailer. It had everything except an air conditioner. At that time we mostly dry camped so I added a second battery, solar panels, and converted the incandescent lights to led's. I never really liked the led light output. I preferred the softness of an incandescent light bulb. However the led's consumed so much less battery power they certainly had an advantage.

Our year old Jayco trailer came with led lights. I find this ironic because in order to fully use all its features I need to be connected to 30 amps. We have been going to places with full hookups. I have no plans to add a second battery and the solar panels sit in the garage gathering dust. Since power consumption isn't really an issue anymore I would be more comfortable with incandesent lighting. I think my next mod will be stepping backwards in technology and I will be installing incandescent light fixtures.

RoyBraddy · 10-03-2015, 05:17 PM

maybe you should purchase the lamp assys that has a three position switches on them... Since you have two sides to the ceiling lamps use a LED in one side and an incandescent bulb in the other side.

Then you can use one or the other or both if you like????

I ran into the problem that the LED lights I originally purchased emitted RFI signals and eat up my HDTV and WX RADIO reception etc...

So I found the three way switch type ceiling assys and had the regular LEDs in one side and the high dollar LEDs that had built-in regulators on the boards which emitted RFI signals in the other side.

Then I could use either side... I was hoping the high dollar type would eventually burn out. I am still using both types after installing back in 2010...

Roy Ken

Popcycle · 10-04-2015, 04:05 PM

I ordered 3 incandescent light fixtures. I plan on replacing the led fixture over the sofa and the led fixture next to the queen bed. I will also add a new incandescent fixture over the dining table. The remaining led's used for general illumination are fine.

mike837go · 10-05-2015, 09:46 AM

I agree that the illumination from LED fixtures is quite harsh.

There is a thread here that someone suggested using yellow tint film on the inside of the covers to soften the light a bit. Without loosing the energy efficiency or longevity OF LEDs.

Clayton4971 · 10-05-2015, 05:59 PM

Led's are really nice as they draw such a small amount of power BUT it is very important to get the color that you like for the job . We have the more natural light color for our home very little difference in incandescent . The wife has some of the brighter white ones for her sewing room and holy Moley they are bright . The chart will help when purchasing LEDs to get the color you want .

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**norty1** · 10-05-2015, 06:11 PM

I bought a half dozen different ones of varying light output. I don't care for the harshness of the DC variety. I guess if I was a big boondocker, we would have to get use to them.

RoyBraddy · 10-05-2015, 06:26 PM

Another thing to consider is how HOT the incandescent automotive bulb operate at... when I replaced mine with LEDs I found all of the ceiling area under the light assy was burned to a dark color... I also grabbed one of the 521 bulbs once and burned my fingers...

They really put some heat... I don't know if I have heard of anyone burning down their trailer but I certainly have seem some damage to my ceiling from using them...

I never really noticed the LED lights be harse etc... I have WARM WHITES and they are in the 200-300 LUMENS range for each side of the dual ceiling lamps...

I did recall some folks also changed out their lens that made the LED light get diffused I think the word is... LEDs put out somewhat straight light beams I guess...

I certainly could never switch back. This was a hugh battery savings thing for me and our OFF-ROAD POPUP camping...

We were always quite happy with flashlights and candles back in our tent camping day so anything more modern than that is icing on the cake for us haha...

All you got to do is please yourself...

Roy Ken

gypsmjim · 10-05-2015, 06:57 PM

I found this to be a funny thread. We have had an oldie for 27 years now, and always relied on a single propane light. The foolish thing would get dimmer and dimmer and needed to have the orifice cleaned at least twice per year.

Our new SLX 195 has EIGHT LED lights. My wife can now do her knitting while we watch TV in the evening. And when we come in after the campfire, I can merely flip a switch and the whole inside of the trailer is illuminated.

Love these newfangled gadgets...

Popcycle · 10-06-2015, 08:00 AM

The new light fixtures should arrive today. I think they will be an improvement over the existing lights. I do not think the stock Jayco lights have replaceable led strips. I found the existing stock light fixtures on Amazon for around $8. The new fixtures will come with incandescent bulbs but can be converted to led if I choose to do so later. Also with two bulbs per fixture I can choose the level of lighting, not something I can do with the existing fixtures. I think this will be an inexpensive improvement and a fairly easy mod to execute. Thanks for the input. I enjoyed everyones point of view.

mike837go · 10-06-2015, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsmjim

I found this to be a funny thread. We have had an oldie for 27 years now, and always relied on a single propane light. The foolish thing would get dimmer and dimmer and needed to have the orifice cleaned at least twice per year.

Our new SLX 195 has EIGHT LED lights. My wife can now do her knitting while we watch TV in the evening. And when we come in after the campfire, I can merely flip a switch and the whole inside of the trailer is illuminated.

Love these newfangled gadgets...

My 32 years young trailer (sold this year) had incandescent bulbs that threw a wonderfully warm light.

The LEDs in the new trailer are bright, almost sunlight in color. Using 1/10 or less the power.

I'm so torn between LED or incandescent lighting... we use an oil lamp for a night light.

**norty1** · 10-06-2015, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsmjim

I found this to be a funny thread. We have had an oldie for 27 years now, and always relied on a single propane light. The foolish thing would get dimmer and dimmer and needed to have the orifice cleaned at least twice per year.

Our new SLX 195 has EIGHT LED lights. My wife can now do her knitting while we watch TV in the evening. And when we come in after the campfire, I can merely flip a switch and the whole inside of the trailer is illuminated.

Love these newfangled gadgets...

You know there is a flush toilet in the other room too! No more night trips to the woods. LOL

Nighthawk 96 · 10-06-2015, 08:23 PM

I hate LED lighting. I bought a life time supply of 100 and 60 watt bulbs for my stick house before they were outlawed. Like 4 for a dollar. I also have several dimmers that are hooked into the lamps in my stick house and in my TT. Almost every light in my house to include the kitchen and bathrooms are on dimmers.

I also dislike the brightness of overhead lighting in the TT and have several smaller lights for reading in the bedroom and main living area also on dimmers.

No LED lights for me!

gypsmjim · 10-07-2015, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

You know there is a flush toilet in the other room too! No more night trips to the woods. LOL

NOOOO. We converted the toilet seat to a shelf and that's where we store our duffle bags.

We boondock - the trailer is permanently set up. No where to dump the stuff and water is in limited supply. The bushes have worked all these years...

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