LED strip lighting

[Dubwana]

Has anyone successfully put into their vans LED strip lights to replace the flourescent tube? I've been looking around and have found the dome round type but am concerned the light will be too centralized on my Westy type conversion. The only place I can see to put those round ones in is at the back under the built in top cupboard. However I feel the light could be too much at the back. I have flourescent tube over the sink and would prefer to replace it with a strip led. The reason... increase light and reduce battery use. When we stop its often for a week and no where near power. I'd appreciate any suggestions. I've been looking around but havn't come to any conclusions yet. Thanks in advance Dubwana

[AngeloEvs]

I have LED and conventional 12V Flouro front and back as I like lots of light during the dark winter nights. The LED is much cooler in terms of the lighting spectrum and directional but very energy efficient. Flouro is 'warmer' and better spread. I also use a small 240V desk lamp fitted with a low energy 11W bulb and run it of the mains when on hook up or off the invertor when wild camping (or for night time emergency use when the damn fan belt goes at 2-00am.....) that really does light up the whole van and no additional 12V wiring needed making for a simple alternative to fixed lighting and you can plonk it wherever needed .

[Titus A Duxass]

I replaced the flou tube with a stack of 30 LEDs (10mm), it's a bit harsh but provides more ample light and the LB loves it.

[ermie571]

me too - i found some lovely LED lights on e-bay going cheap...just looked still listed http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LED-STRIP-LIGHT-6 ... 7C294%3A50

they are brill! The six lamps are really bright. Provide a white light, maybe "harsh" but you can read by them, and as you say, the leisure loves them!! They are excellent quality, and if you want, you can cut the one long one into tow 3 light sections - it really quite easy. I have left them long, but vwcamperfan has cut his down - still giving good light.

Can't recommend these enough - and for the quality, they are dead cheap.

Em
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[Titus A Duxass]

Bugger me they are cheap!
You could soften the light from those by fitting the diffusers/lens that go with the LED.

[ermie571]

diffusers??

didn't come with any diffusers......but in all honesty, the lights are fine as long as you don't look at them. I have mine on the side of the van, so it doesn't really worry me.

Em
x

[Titus A Duxass]

Something like one of these:
http://www.pur-led.de/product_info.php? ... nator.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AngeloEvs]

Em's link are Luxeon Led's which have much warmer light. They are very good but generally if you have more than 12 ( 2 strips of 6) then the current wil be similar to that of a 12V flourescent strip light unit.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Buy your leds by the 1000 and make your own! Very easy and a lot cheaper. You can then use as many as you want per fitting.
A 30 led array is very low current -total power dissipated by the array is 3960 mW, the array draws current of 300 mA from the source.
The real fun starts when you break your old halogen bulbs and use the carcass to make led replacements - you have to pack them and the resistors very tightly but work out so much cheaper than the rip off prices charged in shops and on ebay.( a few pence not pounds)

[ermie571]

Em's link are Luxeon Led's which have much warmer light. They are very good but generally if you have more than 12 ( 2 strips of 6) then the current wil be similar to that of a 12V flourescent strip light unit.

now I feel silly

but in all honesty, they light is much brighter than my old flourescent...of which there was one; the other lighting was caravan spotlight things. In all, i have 3 strips of those 6 leds - one above the cooker, and one each side bey the rear windows. Usually only have 2 of the three on though.

Em
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[AngeloEvs]

No way silly Em and apologies if I made you feel that way! you would need four strips of 6 to equal the 12V flourescent units as they usually have two 8W tubes. Your LED strips may be smaller wattage to mine anyway. Some Luxeon Leds require a fair bit of current thats all and there is no technical spec on those listed on Ebay as long as you are happy with them, they will definitely last longer, not discolour and at that price a bargain tbh .........

[CovKid]

I used 1" waste pipe (rigid) and drilled 5mm holes every inch or so than strung the LEDS together with wiring inside the tube - make great full length lighting and cheap.

[ermie571]

No way silly Em and apologies if I made you feel that way! you would need four strips of 6 to equal the 12V flourescent units as they usually have two 8W tubes. Your LED strips may be smaller wattage to mine anyway. Some Luxeon Leds require a fair bit of current thats all and there is no technical spec on those listed on Ebay as long as you are happy with them, they will definitely last longer, not discolour and at that price a bargain tbh .........

Thanks angelo - no apologies necessary - i should have done my homework...I just kinda figured they would be alot less than what was fitted! Shoulda done my homework! I will try and find a rating on the lamp

Em
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[Dubwana]

CovKid:

Did you need to put any extra wiring resisters etc in or do you just run them in a string along the pipe? sounds like a good idea, what is involved?

[Oldiebut goodie]

Work out your resistors etc here http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
or http://www.ledcalculator.net/