Habitation Led lights

[David & Ann]

I know this topic has arisen earlier. I have lost track of the posts, so can we start from scratch again. I need to change all my habitation lights to Led lights. The bulbs are the 2 pin type. 1) what kind of Led lights do I need? 2) what is the best wattage to have? 3) Where can I get them from? 4) One of my habitation lights are 2 X tube/flouresant. Can I get these also in Led light form. 5) What is the cost per bulb and also the cost of tube lights in Led. Thanks

 

[maingate]

Hi David & Ann,

If you want to change the small lights (eg reading lights), these are usually 10 watt halogens. The LED you want comes in 2 types and 2 colours. If your halogen bulb is horizontal (across the light fitting), you need an LED with the 2 pins coming out sideways. If your halogen bulb is fitted with its pins going into the back of the fitting then you need LED`s with the pins pointing out of the back of the unit. In my case, I had to permanently remove the reflectors on these units.

They come in 2 colours, warm white and cool white. The warm white will give about the same light as your halogen, the cool white is much brighter but some people do not like them.

So that you can see the LED`s, I will show you samples of what you need. I got my last ones from bedazzled.uk.com. I got G4V-6L-CW and G4H-6L-CW. G4 is the size, V is for vertical pins, H is for horizontal pins, 6L means 6 led`s and CW means cool white. If you go on the website and find them, you will find out what they look like.

For your main light, you will need either an MR11 or MR16 LED. Make sure the wattage is equivalent (at least) to the halogen you are removing.

 

[oldpolicehouse]

Hello
I replaced all mine from Cyber-Powershop on Ebay. Really good web site sell every kind of LED you can think of. They say they are posted from Hong Kong but I got them in 3 or 4 days. I would strongly recommend you get the SMD LEDS. They are the ones with the little yellow squares on . They give out much more light than the ordinary LEDS.
I would not be concerned about wattage. All LEDS are minimal. With all my lights on it does not add up to 1 of my old halogen lights and its brighter.
Cheers

 

[robjk]

hi .
go to caktanks.com web site as in thier catalogue they have a selection of LED lights and fittings to replace halogen without changing the fittings which is on my to do list for the winter.

Bye Rob And Sue

 

[Campervanman]

Replacing all the lights is expensive as I have found, but it has been well worth it. There is nothing nicer than having ALL the lights on and not having to worry about the battery going flat. I also have calculated the wattage of all LEDs to one old tube and am still amazed. I prefer the White light rather than the warm light, it is brighter and although it slightly gives the impression of being cold they will be nice in the summer. Bit too expensive to swap bulbs around as per season. lol

 

[David & Ann]

Hi David & Ann,

If you want to change the small lights (eg reading lights), these are usually 10 watt halogens. The LED you want comes in 2 types and 2 colours. If your halogen bulb is horizontal (across the light fitting), you need an LED with the 2 pins coming out sideways. If your halogen bulb is fitted with its pins going into the back of the fitting then you need LED`s with the pins pointing out of the back of the unit. In my case, I had to permanently remove the reflectors on these units.

They come in 2 colours, warm white and cool white. The warm white will give about the same light as your halogen, the cool white is much brighter but some people do not like them.

So that you can see the LED`s, I will show you samples of what you need. I got my last ones from bedazzled.uk.com. I got G4V-6L-CW and G4H-6L-CW. G4 is the size, V is for vertical pins, H is for horizontal pins, 6L means 6 led`s and CW means cool white. If you go on the website and find them, you will find out what they look like.

For your main light, you will need either an MR11 or MR16 LED. Make sure the wattage is equivalent (at least) to the halogen you are removing.

Hi Maingate, I gently press and twist and the glass cover comes away. I removed the bulb and they have 2 pins protruding from the bulb itself. I don't know if these are already leds or not. If not, how can I tell they are or not?
I will note your remarks and use it as a guide when pirchasing. Thanks a lot for your advice.

 

[David & Ann]

Many thanks to all who have advised me so far and also those who may further add to this post. Thanks once again.

 

[maingate]

Hi there,

You said that the bulbs have 2 pins on them, that means they are not LED`s. The LED`s come with 2 pins fitted and they go in the holes where the pins on the bulbs were. Actually, you are not supposed to handle halogen bulbs with your bare hands, it can stop them working. Always remove them with a pice of paper or cloth.

I figured you were at a loss with a new product and that is why I pointed you at a website so you could see what they look like. I hope others on here will do more than point you at their favourite website for LED`s.

Now tell me which way the bulbs were fitted in your light fittings. Do the 2 pins go in the side of the fitting or do they go into the back of it? Remember to check all of the lights that you want to change as you can have a mix of fittings and end up with the wrong LED`s

 

[David & Ann]

Hi there,

You said that the bulbs have 2 pins on them, that means they are not LED`s. The LED`s come with 2 pins fitted and they go in the holes where the pins on the bulbs were. Actually, you are not supposed to handle halogen bulbs with your bare hands, it can stop them working. Always remove them with a pice of paper or cloth.

I figured you were at a loss with a new product and that is why I pointed you at a website so you could see what they look like. I hope others on here will do more than point you at their favourite website for LED`s.

Now tell me which way the bulbs were fitted in your light fittings. Do the 2 pins go in the side of the fitting or do they go into the back of it? Remember to check all of the lights that you want to change as you can have a mix of fittings and end up with the wrong LED`s

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Hi Maingate, like I said, I remove the glass lens cover from the light unit. I pull out the bulb (straight out) the bulb has 2 pins fixed at the back. The 2 holes are in the light unit. They are directly facing you if you look at the unit head on. All light fittings are the same. My MH is a German model.

 

[maingate]

Hi D & A,

Have a look at the bedazzled site I gave you earlier and click on 12 volt LED lighting. Scroll down the pictures of LED`s until you find the G4V-6L model. That is the type you need. Remember what it looks like (print off the page) and look around for the best price. There are cheaper ones but they can fail on over-voltage. Make sure that the seller rates them up to a higher voltage (usually 18 volts).

Remember that the LED pins will stick straight out of the back of the unit.

 

[David & Ann]

Hi D & A,

Have a look at the bedazzled site I gave you earlier and click on 12 volt LED lighting. Scroll down the pictures of LED`s until you find the G4V-6L model. That is the type you need. Remember what it looks like (print off the page) and look around for the best price. There are cheaper ones but they can fail on over-voltage. Make sure that the seller rates them up to a higher voltage (usually 18 volts).

Remember that the LED pins will stick straight out of the back of the unit.

Thanks once again. Will do.

 

[Kontiki]

Got mine off ebay from China, did the whole van for about twenty quid. It took about 3 weeks delivery, & the first ones they sent didn't fit (pins were too big) emailled & they sent two more with smaller pins. So the downside is it takes longer & is possibly riskier, but they are much cheaper & the same as the ones you buy here for about 4 or 5 times the price.

 

[Deleted member 8180]

aten lighting Good quality and sevice.

 

[AndyC]

aten lighting Good quality and sevice.

I'll second that - I bought all our lights from them at shows. They were happy for me to try them out and exchange if necessary.

AndyC

 

[maingate]

I too bought my first LED`s from Aten. When I tried to buy some more recently, I could not finish the purchase. They must have had a glitch on their website. Bedazzled are marginally cheaper and very quick to receive goods from.

As I have an awning light, I bought some adaptors from bedazzled and I intend to fit more powerful LED`s. There is not enough room to fit the complete bulb fitting LED equivalents but I can fit rear entry LED`s into the adaptors as they are more compact.

 

[Deleted member 8180]

I too bought my first LED`s from Aten. When I tried to buy some more recently, I could not finish the purchase. They must have had a glitch on their website. Bedazzled are marginally cheaper and very quick to receive goods from.

As I have an awning light, I bought some adaptors from bedazzled and I intend to fit more powerful LED`s. There is not enough room to fit the complete bulb fitting LED equivalents but I can fit rear entry LED`s into the adaptors as they are more compact.

I think they got their website built as a GCSE project... I use the phone generally

 

[Deleted member 775]

Got mine off ebay from China, did the whole van for about twenty quid. It took about 3 weeks delivery, & the first ones they sent didn't fit (pins were too big) emailled & they sent two more with smaller pins. So the downside is it takes longer & is possibly riskier, but they are much cheaper & the same as the ones you buy here for about 4 or 5 times the price.

i have been looking on ebay as i am in the procces of refurbing our van over the winter .and will be geting all my lights and bulbs from china ,after all as i look at it thats whare they come from in the first place , i cannot see the sense in paying someone else 3 times as much for something they have shipped over from china in the first place

 

[Canalsman]

i have been looking on ebay as i am in the procces of refurbing our van over the winter .and will be geting all my lights and bulbs from china ,after all as i look at it thats whare they come from in the first place , i cannot see the sense in paying someone else 3 times as much for something they have shipped over from china in the first place

Just be aware that you might have to pay duty on them ...

 

[Deleted member 775]

thanks for that .i think a small order first to test the water as they say, then if the quality is ok and no little hidden extras rear there ugly head it will be ok to go ahead . i have had the odd thing from china and have had no probs in the past cheers