Changing to LED lighting

nitkn

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My amazing old Autosleeper still has these fluorescent lights. They are 288mm long, not including the pins and, I think, use 8w for each tube. I’d like to change to LED lighting, ideally by simply swapping the tubes with LED ones that can go in the same fittings. I suspect, however, that nothing is that simple! Any suggestions on how I might move forward without having to do significant work to the van? Thanks

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IMG_0295.jpeg
 
Google image search using AI - Yours is an F8T5
Yes, LED equivalents are available for T5 linear fluorescent tubes. They offer much longer lifespans (up to 50,000 hours) and use about half the electricity.
www.any-lamp.co.uk +2

Choosing the Right LED Replacement
Replacement tubes generally fall into two categories. You must choose the one that matches your existing fixture's setup:
  • "Plug and Play" (Type A / HF): These are designed to work directly with your existing electronic ballast. You simply swap the old tube for the new LED one without any wiring changes.

Quick Match Guide
Since your bulb is likely a small T5, check your measurements against these common LED replacements:


6W (F6T5)~4W LED212mm / 9 inches
8W (F8T5)~5W LED288mm / 12 inches
13W (F13T5)~7W LED517mm / 21 inches
 
That’s very helpful. Thanks.
My bulbs are indeed F8T5, 288mm. However I haven’t yet been able to find IHYCTV ones that are 12v. Have you any ideas on where to look for these?
I can find tubes that require the starter to be removed. Is this easy or does it require a level of understanding of electronics?
Thanks again
 
nitkn said:
That’s very helpful. Thanks.
My bulbs are indeed F8T5, 288mm. However I haven’t yet been able to find IHYCTV ones that are 12v. Have you any ideas on where to look for these?
I can find tubes that require the starter to be removed. Is this easy or does it require a level of understanding of electronics?
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Easy to remove ballist starter, you can also buy a led strip which glues up and wires direct bypassing the ballist/starter unit, we bit of work and soldering required, me id try for direct replacement tubes other have told you off.
 
Canalsman said:
This should do the job:

IHYCTV T5 LED Tube 12 Inch F8T5 288 mm LED Bulb, 5W, 685 lm, 4000K, G5 Socket, Retrofit T5 8W Fluorescent Tube for EVG, 24 Volt, 840 Neutral White Light, 1-Pack : Amazon.co.uk: Lighting

IHYCTV T5 LED Tube 12 Inch F8T5 288 mm LED Bulb, 5W, 685 lm, 4000K, G5 Socket, Retrofit T5 8W Fluorescent Tube for EVG, 24 Volt, 840 Neutral White Light, 1-Pack : Amazon.co.uk: Lighting
www.amazon.co.uk
Click to expand...
This seems to be 24V unless I’m missing something, which is quite possible! I’ve come across some 12V ones from Marvix which require the starter to be removed. This might be easy to do, but I’m not sure I know how to do it.
 
nitkn said:
This seems to be 24V unless I’m missing something, which is quite possible! I’ve come across some 12V ones from Marvix which require the starter to be removed. This might be easy to do, but I’m not sure I know how to do it.
Click to expand...
Just cut the wires leading into starter, then join to led tube fitting at the end, some soldering may be required if you have not space for clip joiners.
 
nitkn said:
This seems to be 24V unless I’m missing something, which is quite possible! I’ve come across some 12V ones from Marvix which require the starter to be removed. This might be easy to do, but I’m not sure I know how to do it.
Click to expand...
Yes, it may be for 24v.

Amazon list others so further searching required.
 
OK, so this is the business end of my light fittings.
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The PCB doesn’t seem keen to come out. Any further thoughts, or have I reached the end of the line with this project?
Thanks
 
Why not remove the light fitting completely , fit a flat piece of wood to the roof to hide the mess and then fit a new led light fitting to the wood
 
ricc said:
Why not remove the light fitting completely , fit a flat piece of wood to the roof to hide the mess and then fit a new led light fitting to the wood
Click to expand...
That feels like quite an extreme solution to not a very big problem. We have five of these fittings in our small motorhome! Thanks for the suggestion though.
 
I had the same thing in our last Autosleeper, I just bought some 12v led strip lights that would fit in the case, then did as trevskoda is suggesting cut the red and black wires and connect to the new led lights, a bit of double sided tape on the led strip light, as the led lights are much brighter you will only need one in each unit.
Plenty to choose from on eBay

ebay.us

10Pcs 12V LED Car Interior White Strip Lights Bar Lamp Car Van Caravan Boat New | eBay UK

10pcs COB LED Strip Light. can be directly connect car ACC circuit. LED Style: High Power LED COB. Easy to install,Red wire is connected to positive pole [+], and black or white connected to the negative pole [-].
ebay.us

ebay.us

5x 12V 36 LED Interior Light Car Colorful Strip Lights Bar Lamp Van Caravan Boat | eBay UK

5x 12V Car Van Interior Light Strip Bar 36 LED Bus Caravan Warm White/Blue/Red. High Density COB LED Strip Lights PIR Motion Sensor 5V USB Tape Cabinet Kitchen. LED Strip Lights Waterproof 220V RGB Colour Changing 5050 Tape Outdoor Lighting.
ebay.us
 
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If the lights and tubes are still working ok I would check what power they actually use before doing anything. I changed one in the kitchen area on my van for a led tube, tube cost 30 odd pounds a few years ago and it uses virtually the same power. I didn't bother changing the only other one which is over the bed.

I changed all the G4 type bulbs and did get a power saving on those, just didn't stack up on the fluorescent tubes. Of course, no saying yours are same power as mine
 
RichardHelen262 said:
I had the same thing in our last Autosleeper, I just bought some 12v led strip lights that would fit in the case, then did as trevskoda is suggesting cut the red and black wires and connect to the new led lights, a bit of double sided tape on the led strip light, as the led lights are much brighter you will only need one in each unit.
Plenty to choose from on eBay

ebay.us

10Pcs 12V LED Car Interior White Strip Lights Bar Lamp Car Van Caravan Boat New | eBay UK

10pcs COB LED Strip Light. can be directly connect car ACC circuit. LED Style: High Power LED COB. Easy to install,Red wire is connected to positive pole [+], and black or white connected to the negative pole [-].
ebay.us

ebay.us

5x 12V 36 LED Interior Light Car Colorful Strip Lights Bar Lamp Van Caravan Boat | eBay UK

5x 12V Car Van Interior Light Strip Bar 36 LED Bus Caravan Warm White/Blue/Red. High Density COB LED Strip Lights PIR Motion Sensor 5V USB Tape Cabinet Kitchen. LED Strip Lights Waterproof 220V RGB Colour Changing 5050 Tape Outdoor Lighting.
ebay.us
Click to expand...
I replaced the tubes in my lights with COB LEDs. i found that the COB ones got very hot (and less efficient) when the voltage was approaching 14 volts. I had to buy and fit voltage regulators to keep the voltage at 12 volts. Buying LEDs from China can bring its own problems. :(
 
I replaced the tubes with led strip, completely disconnecting and bypassing the electronics of the old lamps.
Be careful not to buy too cold a colour of led, and not too bright. It's all too easy to make the lamp too harsh and bright.
 
Geek said:
I replaced the tubes with led strip, completely disconnecting and bypassing the electronics of the old lamps.
Be careful not to buy too cold a colour of led, and not too bright. It's all too easy to make the lamp too harsh and bright.
Click to expand...
You want soft which is 3500 lumens, 5000 is daylight and 6000 is cold pure white.
Old tubes consume about 5 times the power on start up, and must be left on for around half an hr or the life span will be shortened.
Hence the world has went led, no start surge and can be turned of and on at will.
 
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