Choosing LED Bulbs for a Classic VW Camper Without Causing Electrical Issues

[cedricuk]

When replacing interior bulbs with LEDs in an older camper, what should be checked to make sure the replacements work properly with the existing electrical system?
 I imagine bulb compatibility, polarity and the quality of the connections can all matter, particularly on older vehicles. I’m also interested in whether some LED replacements can cause issues with existing dimmers or monitoring circuits.
 For those who have upgraded the interior lighting in a T25 or similar camper, what should be checked before choosing replacement bulbs?
 Thanks for sharing your experience.

[mioba]

Read my other replies.

You just replace - no need to worry. Plug and play.

[keynsham1]

LED bulbs always seem to cause issues with dimmers even when the manufacturers say they don't. The just don't dim very well. LED indicator bulbs will mess with your relay and you will need a special one for them to work properly. Again I have tried this and never had any luck. They seem to either flash too fast or not at all even with an adjustable speed relay, I just have LED rear sidelights as the standard lights are small and quite dim. I do have LED bulbs in the dash lights which is a great improvement but as i said, the dimmer becomes a bit redundant and they are pretty bright when you are driving down an unlit country lane!!

I am sure there will be lots of people who disagree!!!!

[mioba]

Cf14 relay and my indicators are fine.

The campervan culture dash led dim fine with the rotary knob.

If you research and get the right bits you wont have an issue

[cedricuk]

Cf14 relay and my indicators are fine.

The campervan culture dash led dim fine with the rotary knob.

If you research and get the right bits you wont have an issue

Cheers, that’s useful to know. Sounds like doing a bit of research beforehand saves a lot of hassle with these older vans.

[cedricuk]

LED bulbs always seem to cause issues with dimmers even when the manufacturers say they don't. The just don't dim very well. LED indicator bulbs will mess with your relay and you will need a special one for them to work properly. Again I have tried this and never had any luck. They seem to either flash too fast or not at all even with an adjustable speed relay, I just have LED rear sidelights as the standard lights are small and quite dim. I do have LED bulbs in the dash lights which is a great improvement but as i said, the dimmer becomes a bit redundant and they are pretty bright when you are driving down an unlit country lane!!

I am sure there will be lots of people who disagree!!!!

That’s a good point, especially with older vehicles where the original dimmers and relays weren’t designed for LEDs. The dash lights being too bright on dark country roads sounds like a real drawback if you lose the ability to dim them properly. I suppose it comes down to finding bulbs that are compatible with the existing setup rather than just choosing an LED replacement.