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Converting RV Lights to LEDs: Part 2 – LED Color & Brightness

Converting RV Lights to LEDs: Part 2 – LED Color & Brightness

Last week’s video about our ongoing conversion to cool, energy-efficient LED lights generated a lot of interest, plus some questions. Today we’ll provide some additional details about the exact choices we made regarding color temperature, brightness and style of LEDs.

The majority of light fixtures in our RV came with the following types of bulbs:

  • Incandescents, with wedge bases
  • Halogens, with pin bases
  • Fluorescent tubes, in two different sizes

Last year, we demonstrated an inexpensive way to convert 12-volt fluorescent lights using strips of adhesive LEDs (you can see that video here). In an upcoming video, we’ll show you how to upgrade your fluorescents to a more elegant alternative. Today we’re going to focus on the lights we talked about in last week’s video: wedge-base incandescents and pin-base halogens.

A special thanks to Steve at M4 Products for helping us finally get our LED conversion sorted out. We’re happy (but not surprised) to see so many enthusiastic comments about Steve, his company and his products, both here and on forums like iRV2. He does a great job and deserves the accolades.

If you haven’t seen our last video about LEDs, you can find it here, where you can also enter our contest. On April 14, 2014, we’re giving away a $250 M4 Products Online Shopping Certificate, so if you haven’t already entered, hurry up!

If you missed the contest, or if you’re ready to go ahead and outfit your RV with LEDs, be sure to use the code “RVgeeks5” at checkout to get a 5% discount on  your entire order from M4.

www.M4Products.com


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John M

Friday 8th of December 2017

Hello Geeks, I just ordered the "Under RV Lighting Kit" from M4 and used the Santa discount to receive 10% off. Here is a link to the kit: http://www.m4products.com/under-rv-led-pod-light-kit-with-8-bright-lights/ Thanks for the discount. I am hoping the lights will help deter rodents as well as look great.

TheRVgeeks

Friday 8th of December 2017

Those lights look cool! We might have to get us some of those, too! Thanks for the comment, John. Safe travels this holiday season.

Larry Jordan

Tuesday 26th of January 2016

Thanks for putting together a great video explaining the differences between the colors. I already contacted Steve and getting ready to place an order. I'll let you know how they worked out.

TheRVgeeks

Tuesday 26th of January 2016

Super! Hope you love them as much as we do.

Scott

Thursday 17th of April 2014

This video series is outstanding! It gives the viewer the exact information needed to make an informed decision regarding lighting quality. The recommendation to use M4Products.com is not to be taken lightly (pun not intended :)), either. Immediately after watching the two video series, I went my motor home, got bulb types and counts, then ordered. My order was processed Monday. I am happy to report all bulbs arrived yesterday (Wednesday--free priority shipping), are installed and working exactly as I expected. I am now literally chomping at the bit to replace the fluorescent tube bulbs with LED equivalents, but I will wait until RVGeek's next LED production! M4Products and howtorvgeeks.com are a great combination!

Steve at M4

Thursday 17th of April 2014

Thanks for the compliments Scott.

I personally care about every customer, and we do our best to treat you like we like to be treated (something that has definitely faded in this day of the Internet). M4 isn't perfect, on occasion we have defects, mis-ships, or other errors, but when it happens we communicate and seek quick resolution.

I actually am on a Central California road trip loop this week, but am monitoring shipments whenever I can check in, and as you noticed the warehouse is doing a great job getting things out.

Thank you everybody for all of your support!

TheRVgeeks

Thursday 17th of April 2014

That's awesome Scott! So good to hear, and thanks for the nice comment. We're excited about our fluorescent tube upgrade, and will be working on that video pretty soon. Before that one, we'll be announcing our next contest next week... the biggest one yet. Stay tuned! ;-)

Dave Buck

Thursday 10th of April 2014

Have you tried the "Tube lights" to replace Florescent lights? I have a fixture which has quit working but still has 12 v. I would need 4 bulbs to replace the bulbs in two fixtures. Just wondering if it is worth it and how well they work.

TheRVgeeks

Thursday 10th of April 2014

We've gotten some beautiful tube LEDs from M4 to replace our fluorescent lights and we'll be installing them real soon. They're more expensive than the cheap strip lights, but they're beautifully made and look much higher end. We'll of course be doing a video all about them. ;-)

Bruce

Tuesday 8th of April 2014

Great Videos. Question: Our coach already has LED's installed. However, it appears they did not use twisted shielded pairs or some type of filtering so thus I have a lot of "buzzing" (crosstalk) coming out of my surround speakers. Any thoughts on how to correct this and rewiring the entire coach is not a viable option. Thanks.

Steve at M4

Tuesday 8th of April 2014

On rare occasion noise can happen. First I am curious if these are M4 brand LEDs, another brand, or factory installed LEDs.

Lower frequencies such as AM and especially HAM radios are more susceptible to noise. Also over air TV signals can get noise.

A few possible tips. Ensure the radio is on a different power circuit than the lighting. Ensure any powered antennas and plugs are a few feet from the LEDs. Finally, you may consider adding Snap Chokes to some of the supply lines to the radio, and/or the lighting feed, this can also help.

You have probably seen snap chokes on things like Computer Cables before, they are essentially a coil with two halves that simply snap around the wire, sometimes with a loop. They are inexpensive and can sometimes help.

TheRVgeeks

Tuesday 8th of April 2014

We've never heard of LEDs causing this type of problem. Since Steve from M4 is far more expert than we are, we'll see if he knows something about it.

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