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(Moderator:
Nick Badame Refrig/ACC
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converting light fixtures to 12 volt
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Topic: converting light fixtures to 12 volt (Read 18047 times)
mike802
Sr. Member
Posts: 310
1983 MCI MC9
converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
on:
February 26, 2013, 05:23:17 PM »
Hi everyone. I have been looking for light fixtures for the bedroom and haven't found any RV type I like that are in my price range. I did find some antique residential fixtures that I think will work very well with my buses decor. I am pondering if I should convert the antique fixtures to accept a 12 volt light bulb taken from those white plastic fixtures that come standard in most RVs, or use a 12 volt screw in light bulb. Most 12 volt screw in bulbs are 50 watt, I have seen some that are 25 watt. Does anyone know the wattage of the bulbs in the white plastic fixtures? I did convert one fixture to accept the plug in 12 volt bulb from the white plastic fixtures, not to bad a job and I can still use the original on/off switch, but a screw in 12 volt would require less work. I am concerned the 50 watt draw would be tough on my batteries, but I am assuming the bulbs from the white plastic fixtures are far less. I know l.e.d's would draw the least amount of watts, but those can be pricy. Also availability on the road is a concern, how difficult would it be to find screw in 12 volt bulbs on a trip, I have not been able to locate any at my local walmart, or hardware stores.
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Mike
1983 MCI MC9
Vermont
dwerkheiser
Newbie
Posts: 7
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #1 on:
February 26, 2013, 06:07:56 PM »
Try your local NAPA store. Theyused to carry 12volt bulbs in a standard medium base.
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1979 MC8, 8v71, 730 allison
Van
Hero Member
Posts: 3265
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #2 on:
February 26, 2013, 07:30:08 PM »
We get ours at our local True Value store, I don't recall the price but it wasn't to bad.
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B&B CoachWorks
Bus Shop Mafia.
luvrbus
Hero Member
Posts: 26068
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #3 on:
February 26, 2013, 07:40:15 PM »
FWIW you can buy 12v LED bulbs that will work in a standard base wired for 12v pricey at 40 bucks each
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Life is short drink the good wine first
sledhead
Hero Member
Posts: 1511
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #4 on:
February 27, 2013, 05:02:03 AM »
I just replaced 35 12volt 10 watt halogen lights in the rv with philips led 3 watt t3 replacement bulbs =@20 watt.A lot brighter,no heat and a lot less power but at $10.97 per bulb a lot of money @ 35 lights
http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-Light-Bulbs-LED-Light-Bulbs/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbm79/h_d2/Navigation?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&searchNav=true#/?Nao=72&c=1
dave
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dave , karen
1990 mci 102c 6v92 ta ht740 kit,living room slide .... sold
2000 featherlite vogue vantare 550 hp 3406e cat
1875 lbs torque home base huntsville ontario canada
Gerry H
Full Member
Posts: 167
1992 Prevost LeMirage XL-40 8V92 740 Allison
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #5 on:
February 27, 2013, 06:24:53 AM »
Mike: I found these at the local RV show this month and purchased 14 dual LED fixtures for my coach for $18 each. They are dual 2 watt led and are bright available in single or dual. 56 watts total for my coach. The dealer said they were throw aways, but I found replacement leds on ebay for 56 cents each. No name units, but light weight and in the newest camping RV's. Gerry H
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Forest Lake, Minnesota
Land of 10,000 mosquitoes and a few cool buses
gus
Hero Member
Posts: 3632
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #6 on:
February 27, 2013, 02:40:59 PM »
Gerry,
Please give us some names and numbers here, there has to be something on the labels!
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PD4107-152
PD4104-1274
Ash Flat, AR
luvrbus
Hero Member
Posts: 26068
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #7 on:
February 27, 2013, 04:31:24 PM »
LED's will becoming cheaper in the next year for sure,here in Phoenix the GREEN law has applied for the restaurant every lite with a standard base, the can lights,track lighting,low voltage 12v and pluck lighting all have to be LED to meet the code kinda sucks as they are not dim-able even if stated they are
I love being told what light bulb to use LMAO
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Life is short drink the good wine first
mike802
Sr. Member
Posts: 310
1983 MCI MC9
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #8 on:
February 27, 2013, 06:31:51 PM »
Thanks for all the responses, certainly gives me some options to look into.
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Mike
1983 MCI MC9
Vermont
robertglines1
steam nut
Hero Member
Posts: 4557
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #9 on:
February 27, 2013, 06:44:44 PM »
For just a few fixtures you might just use small 12V to 110 inverters. 200watt example. If you do e-bay led I suggest you use USA shipper. I have had prob with China shippers. Happy bussin. Bob
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Bob@Judy 98 XLE prevost with 3 slides --Home done---last one! SW INdiana
Tony LEE
Sr. Member
Posts: 495
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #10 on:
February 27, 2013, 07:15:59 PM »
Quote
as they are not dim-able even if stated they are
True for LED fittings that can handle a range of supply voltages, but the basic ballast resistor fixed voltage type can easily be dimmed by cheap off the shelf LED dimmers.
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Tony LEE
MC8 Australia
Photo Album at
https://picasaweb.google.com/114611728110254134379
Trip map
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=5cfc50ef7ac22ca2d&hoursPast=1400&fillFactor=100
lvmci
lvmci
Hero Member
Posts: 2378
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #11 on:
February 27, 2013, 11:37:37 PM »
Hi, 12/24 volt led bulbs are orderable on the internet, but I found halogen bulbs on 12 volt in a rwo prong base at hd, dont remember the base name, a new base with a 1/4 turn base called a GU10 eliminates any vibration loosing the bulbs when the light hangs upsidedown, im ordering them in 12volt led, lvmci...
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MCI 102C3 8V92, Allison HT740
Formally MCI5A 8V71 Allison MT643
Brandon has really got it going!
bansil
Full Member
Posts: 201
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #12 on:
February 28, 2013, 05:14:06 AM »
I have used super bright led for years fast shipping and lots of options
http://www.superbrightleds.com/
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Doug
Mnt City TN
Member of:
Gerry H
Full Member
Posts: 167
1992 Prevost LeMirage XL-40 8V92 740 Allison
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #13 on:
February 28, 2013, 05:52:50 AM »
Gus: There is no Mfg name on the units, sorry I've looked closely. There is a label that says, Model RVLEDPC2-008 12V DC LED 2x2W
WP10121239 CX 250797 For Recreational Vehicle use only, min 90 deg C supply conductors, Made in China. The LED driver is made by SunLink 10-28Vdc output 700ma
The RV dealer I bought them from, put his own label on calling them Light Pancake LED 12V Double.
If you are into making a statement with your lighting choices, these may not be for you, but this is my second go round with lighting and these solve many to most of the issues I had in round one.
These are light weight, easy to wire and mount, low profile, low cost, low energy, bright, have a switch on each unit, operates on 12 or 24Vdc. If they were dimmable (may be a way) they would be perfect for me, but what ever is? That's part of why we build our own isn't it? Good Luck Gerry H
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Forest Lake, Minnesota
Land of 10,000 mosquitoes and a few cool buses
muddog16
Example is more powerful than reproach. ~Aesop
Hero Member
Posts: 506
Re: converting light fixtures to 12 volt
«
Reply #14 on:
February 28, 2013, 07:05:31 AM »
You can find just about any base configuration and voltage at ebay. I'd be careful on 50watt lamps of any kind in your bus. They build up extreme heat. The LED's of larger wattage will also build up some heat but not like most of them do. Identify your base configuration on you existing lamp.......and then go search ebay using the base, voltage and LED as search words.
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Pat
1982 Prevost LeMirage
8V92TA/HT754
http://prevostlemirage.blogspot.com/
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converting light fixtures to 12 volt
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