Just ordered some LED lights for testing in the X17Z

[dddire]

After much reading and educating myself, I took the plunge and ordered 3 x 48 LED light boards for testing from Ebay.

I'll update in a few weeks with results.

These are the units ordered, figured the price was right and hard to loose if we don't like them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150768843183...ht_4298wt_1398

[Seann45]

You will find women do not like the bright white... they prefer the soft white.. Otherwise hope they work out for you...

[tls001]

Originally Posted by dddire

After much reading and educating myself, I took the plunge and ordered 3 x 48 LED light boards for testing from Ebay.

I'll update in a few weeks with results.

These are the units ordered, figured the price was right and hard to loose if we don't like them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150768843183...ht_4298wt_1398

I used these exact same lights and changed all of my interior lights to them. We really like the white light they put off, they are just right for us.

[knuts1]

I received the same ones a few weeks ago and just installed them last weekend and you may need to move the wires in the adapter to one side or the lights will not work but that is no big deal. I did need to play with a few to get them to work in all the sockets but it is much brighter in the camper..

[tlhdoc]

Originally Posted by Seann45

You will find women do not like the bright white... they prefer the soft white.. Otherwise hope they work out for you...

I like the bright white...so your not accurate in your statement.

[Rick56]

Some may not like the color of the light (I do) but you will like your battery life.

I took some current measurements on the light draw, using a fully charged group 27 battery, shore cord unplugged.

1. Current draw with nothing on except the propane/CO detector: 0.078-0.100 amps.

2. One standard bulb draws 1.46 amps

I have thirteen bulbs inside my x17z so total light draw is 18.33 amps!

If you have a 100 aH battery and all the lights on, the battery would be dead in 5.46 hours.

3. One 36 led module (the one from China with no regulator) draws 0.296 amps.

Thirteen modules draw 3.85 amps.

A 100 aH battery with all leds on would last 25.97 hours!

These numbers are for lighting comparisons only and your mileage may vary :hihi:

[Mainenebula]

Thanks Rick56. LEDs are indeed great for improving battery utilization. When you did the current test with nothing on was your radio powered? By that I mean was the backlight and clock powered? I am wondering how much juice it takes. Thanks.

[Murphie]

Rick, thanks for the calculations. That really brings it to terms we can identify with. What I also found interesting was finding out how long our gas supply would last.

To calculate your propane supply, take the BTU ratings for your propane appliances and divide that into the BTU availability. Each gallon of propane produces about 91,500 BTU's of heat energy.

For example in our trailer we have a 25k btu rated furnace. On one 5 gal/20 lb tank , it will last about 18 hours. Obviously the furnace cycles and is not on all the time. But this gives you a good idea how long it will last.

[dddire]

Originally Posted by Rick56

Some may not like the color of the light (I do) but you will like your battery life.

I took some current measurements on the light draw, using a fully charged group 27 battery, shore cord unplugged.

1. Current draw with nothing on except the propane/CO detector: 0.078-0.100 amps.

2. One standard bulb draws 1.46 amps

I have thirteen bulbs inside my x17z so total light draw is 18.33 amps!

If you have a 100 aH battery and all the lights on, the battery would be dead in 5.46 hours.

3. One 36 led module (the one from China with no regulator) draws 0.296 amps.

Thirteen modules draw 3.85 amps.

A 100 aH battery with all leds on would last 25.97 hours!

These numbers are for lighting comparisons only and your mileage may vary :hihi:

Defiantly a lot easier to conserve power than it is to increase battery capacity in my opinion. I think we calc'd it that our x17z at 16 bulbs including two outside and the stove vent light.

First night we had the TT, I removed one light from each fixture. There was still plenty of light.

Looking forward to getting the first three lights, then making the bulk order to fill the rest.

[Rick56]

Yes, I forgot the radio was powered but not turned on. Just the display.

[Quahog]

Same with microwave too...

[azjerry]

Originally Posted by dddire

First night we had the TT, I removed one light from each fixture. There was still plenty of light.

I've been debating adding a small switch to each of the fixtures to turn off one of the bulbs as, I suspect, that one bulb will be plenty most of the time.

[LongIslandCamper]

Which adapter are you using? The white one on the right in the eBay picture? How do you go about removing he current bulbs?

[dddire]

yes, the white ended adapter is the one I'll be using. To remove the bulbs on the X17Z just pinch the shade and slide it off. Then pull the bulbs straight back out of the socket.

[LongIslandCamper]

Originally Posted by dddire

yes, the white ended adapter is the one I'll be using. To remove the bulbs on the X17Z just pinch the shade and slide it off. Then pull the bulbs straight back out of the socket.

So just the bulb comes out, none of the plastic comes
Out?

[Rick56]

The bulb unplugs from the plastic socket; the socket remains part of the light fixture. The adapter for the LED module plugs back into the socket where you removed the bulb. You will have to fiddle a little with the adapter wires to make good contact in the socket.

[dddire]

Originally Posted by Rick56

The bulb unplugs from the plastic socket; the socket remains part of the light fixture. The adapter for the LED module plugs back into the socket where you removed the bulb. You will have to fiddle a little with the adapter wires to make good contact in the socket.

Agreed....

[dddire]

First three bulbs arrived today. Will be installed and tested this weekend and the bulk order placed soon. Touched the leads to a 9v battery and wow are these things bright.

[dddire]

48 Led Panels worked well. DW approved of the colour and amount of light. Just ordered 6 more to fill out the rest of the fixtures. As an added benefit, even when plugged into shore power I appreciate these lights as the fan on the converter runs less, so much quieter.


These are the units order if anyone is interested.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130695121179...#ht_4627wt_932

[vwprostock]

Thanks for sharing!!!

I am struggling to picture how you mounted the panel behind the slide-on clear cover. Any pictures of that?

Thanks in advance!

Greg