For those who have replaced lights with LED's

[kodes]

We decided to try out the cheapie ebay LED light panels and installed them the other day in our 2014 TT. I noticed that some of the fixtures seem to run much warmer than others. Even with the LED light panel in, some are warmer than others. Not as warm as with incandescents, but still warm. One of the fixtures actually had an incandescent that was almost black when I took it out, and that one is particularly warm with the LED. What's going on?? Should I be concerned if the fixture is warm even with an LED?

[clubhouse]

Turning electricity to light creates 2 things, light and heat. LEDs are considerably more efficient and can create significantly less heat. However not all LEDs are created equal, neither all circuits that drive the LEDs.

You mention incandescents, but in reality you probably have halogens. Halogens run incredibly hot, so some discoloration isn't unexpected. If they get any foreign matter on them; oils from fingers, bugs, dust it can easily burn and create that discoloration.

I too started with the cheap eBay LEDs, but wasn't happy with them. I experienced the same escalated heat (certainly couldn't touch them with out being burned) and I thought they were far to blue in color for my taste. That and the tape wouldn't hold the led panels in the fixture so I just swapped them out again. After a couple more low cost eBay option I finally found some mid-priced ones on Amazon.

You can look up my thread "another led thread" to see pictures and my thoughts on them. They are very cool to the touch and the color and brightness is great.

[Heady]

I gave up....couldn't find any LED's I liked until I went to Command Electronics (makers of the light) and bought their LED Upgrade kit. Very pricey, but happy with the results.

[TNCraig]

I have had good luck with this supplier, ledtrailerlights.com. It is a veteran owned small business and Doug was very helpful when one of the new bulbs stopped working shortly after installation. He promptly seen out a replacement. If your not sure what bulb you need you can send a picture of the fixture and original bulb

[edatlanta]

Well said and very accurate clubhouse, but halogens are still incandescent. They are the most efficient type of incandescent, but they still have a filament that gets "very hot".

[us71na]

Originally Posted by kodes

One of the fixtures actually had an incandescent that was almost black when I took it out, and that one is particularly warm with the LED.

Halogen bulbs will tend to get black as the tungsten in the filament deposits on the inside of the bulb. You can avoid this to some extent by not touching the bulb with your fingers when you install it. The oil from your fingers creates hot spots on the glass which will attract the tungsten that is boiling off the filament. Normally the boiled off tungsten is attracted back to the filament as a function of the halogen cycle, but the hot spots on the glass from the fingerprints will also attract the tungsten and since the glass never gets hot enough to boil it off again it stays there and turns black.

[kodes]

Thanks all! I hadn't touched any of the bulbs until we removed them for replacement, and I did use a tissue to remove in case we decide to use them again. But maybe when that one was installed it was touched or something. In any event thanks for the tips; maybe we'll try these until they stop working or fall, and then move to a slightly higher priced option.

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by edatlanta

Well said and very accurate clubhouse, but halogens are still incandescent. They are the most efficient type of incandescent, but they still have a filament that gets "very hot".

Thank you clarifying my error.