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Converting RV Lights to LEDs – Part 6: Security, Entry & Reading Lights

Converting RV Lights to LEDs – Part 6: Security, Entry & Reading Lights

It’s amazing how many lightbulbs there are in an RV. Just when we think we’ve pretty much completed our conversion to LEDs, we realize that there are still more that we want to do. So we’ve continued to order more bulbs and we’re sure there are still more left!

This time, we’re replacing our security, step well and reading lights. Of course LEDs are famous for their energy efficiency, and these are no exception. But sometimes other factors are even more important than power consumption. Heat output, for example. You’d think that a simple reading light wouldn’t draw enough power or produce enough heat to matter very much. Then you decide to read a book in bed on a sultry summer night and realize that the heat pouring off it is a big deal, even if you have plenty of juice in your house battery bank to power it.

Other bulbs, like the incandescent light in our step well, aren’t really a big problem from a heat or power perspective. But we’re upgrading some lights just because we hate leaving them out of the overall LED conversion! And since all those power-hungry little bulbs can add up, the fewer incandescent, halogen and fluorescent bulbs we have left on board, the lower our overall power draw. Now, whether we’re outside using the security lights, walking into the rig, or reading a book, we won’t be using more power, or generating more heat, than necessary.


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Tracy & Chris

Monday 2nd of November 2015

Gee, almost wish my coach hadn't come with LED's :) But, when replacements are needed I know where to go!

As always thanks guys Tracy

Paul

Tuesday 13th of October 2015

Have upgraded our Tiffin RV light bulbs to LED lights from M4 but I have noticed that our motor home panel switch lights give off a fair amount of heat (switches for steps, stairwell lights etc. etc.), these show a small red light when switched on. Do you know if there are LED bulbs for these switches?

Steve at M4

Wednesday 14th of October 2015

Hey Paul,

Thanks for the support!

As you have noticed, there are some switches with built in indicator lights, and if they are incandescent they can run hot. Most switches on the market now utilize LEDs in that application to consume less power, and they are less prone to burnout. These lights are unfortunately not made to be replaced on any one I have seen, the switch is replaced typically as a whole. Granted I am sure I have not seen every switch out there.

The good news is that those lamps are very tiny, so they don't consume too much power. It is not the same as your main lighting because their job is only to light the switch. I wouldn't worry about swapping the entire switch unless you are doing it after a burn out and really like the indicator light.

I hope this helps, Steve at M4

TheRVgeeks

Tuesday 13th of October 2015

Hi Paul! We're going to defer to our favorite LED expert on this one: Steve at M4. We'll drop him a note and ask him to stop by and reply to your question, so that everyone can see a much better answer than we could provide! Stay tuned.

Grant Davis

Sunday 7th of June 2015

our 2000 Fleetwood discovery 37g has decided for the living room slide to move out only about 1 ft. I have made sure it is level but still will not go out. Can hear motor running but will stop just like as it is all the way out.

Steve at M4

Wednesday 14th of October 2015

Chances are your motor is failing. I have a 2001 Discovery and went through this, and when you order a new motor, you will notice that there have been several revisions by the manufacture. The new motors are "underdrive" motors with lower gearing. They go in and out slower, but they have more torque to handle the size of the slideout.

In an emergency situation, always remember the slide can be put in manually from below with a big ratchet wrench. Swapping the motor is easy too (other than crawling under the slide), the hardest part was changing the electric ends on the replacement motor because they didn't match the old one. Lube the tracks while you are under there.

Robert Abreu

Tuesday 28th of April 2015

good advise as usual.

Vincent odenbrett

Tuesday 28th of April 2015

We need LED appliance lights, i.e., refrigerator - convection oven - microwave amazing how much heat microwave courtesy light gives off

TheRVgeeks

Tuesday 28th of April 2015

Those are generally 110-volt bulbs. An inquiry to Steve at M4 might find a solution to that.

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