LED or fluorescent lamp

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chris123
Posts: 2
Joined: November 12th, 2015, 8:34 am

LED or fluorescent lamp

Post by chris123 »

Hey guys!
I want to upgrade the light not to drain the battery so quickly. We used to
boondock so I think that the LED lamps can help to save the energy. But I want to compare them with fluorescent panels. Does fluorescent lamps help to minimize the electricity consumption?
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caconcourse
Posts: 489
Joined: October 31st, 2014, 10:25 pm

Re: LED or fluorescent lamp

Post by caconcourse »

chris123 wrote:Hey guys!
I want to upgrade the light not to drain the battery so quickly. We used to
boondock so I think that the LED lamps can help to save the energy. But I want to compare them with fluorescent panels. Does fluorescent lamps help to minimize the electricity consumption?
Fluorescents use a fraction of the power of regular filament light bulbs (maybe 20%). LEDs use a fraction of the power of fluorescent lights. LEDs use less power by far.

I recently posted on this topic, with a description of my conversion from fluorescent to LEDs, for about $20 worth of parts:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=134

Clay
Clay
2001 Concourse
Santa Barbara, CA
chris123
Posts: 2
Joined: November 12th, 2015, 8:34 am

Re: LED or fluorescent lamp

Post by chris123 »

Thanks Clay,
As for the outdoor light, how do you think, can I install this fixture with the bulb? https://www.mrosupply.com/lighting/ligh ... -lighting/
I just worry that it can drain the battery. Or maybe to buy a good LED lantern instead?
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caconcourse
Posts: 489
Joined: October 31st, 2014, 10:25 pm

Re: LED or fluorescent lamp

Post by caconcourse »

chris123 wrote:Thanks Clay,
As for the outdoor light, how do you think, can I install this fixture with the bulb? https://www.mrosupply.com/lighting/ligh ... -lighting/
I just worry that it can drain the battery. Or maybe to buy a good LED lantern instead?
That would not be a good chioce for an outdoor fixture, because it is 120v, and the existing exterior lights are 12V. I don't know what year/model your unit is, but there are two "porch lights" on our 2001 Concourse, one in the rear, and one under the awning. These use regular automotive light bulbs, which can be replaced with an LED plug-in replacement like these:

11568302-02 LED Replacement Bulb 1003 / 1141 / 1156 Base 190 LUMS 12V or 24V Natural White

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BSG ... ge_o08_s01

The light fixture lenses also tend to get yellow and less transparent. You can buy replacement lenses, to brighten them up:

Fasteners Unlimited (P-1328) Replacement Lens

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RC ... ge_o08_s02

I bought new LED bulbs, and they were much brighter than the originals. They were too bright for me, so I left the old bulbs in, since we rarely use the porch lights.

Clay
Clay
2001 Concourse
Santa Barbara, CA
Mbelse
Posts: 2
Joined: July 30th, 2018, 7:43 am

Re: LED or fluorescent lamp

Post by Mbelse »

LED shop lighting has matured a lot but one has to research to get a good deal as there is probably some overpriced junk and also problems (recalls) on some stuff in the past like the LED "tube" replacements. I salvaged a 2x4 foot LED fixture out of a dumpster that needed repair and fixed it and it is rated about 5200 lumens and blows away the old f40t12 dual tube light like this https://wheelstips.com/best-led-garage-lights that I replaced with it and the color is decent too probably 5500k or so I'm guessing not quite cool white but nowhere near warm either.
2 years ago I wasn't recommending LED lighting but now I think cost and quality have made for a stiff competition with LED having the upper hand especially in unheated shops at 30 degree temperatures.
I think that fluorescent tubes will probably start getting more expensive either because of less production or perhaps even some sort of "fine" on their production in the future such that it will propel LED tubes to completely replace them. There is still plenty of room for improvement though as LED typically are more expensive on average and there isn't a widespread across the board replacement for all sizes of fluorescent fixtures at decent costs like 18 inch tubes smaller fixtures seem to be considerably less powerful.
Last edited by Mbelse on September 23rd, 2018, 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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SMan
Senior Member
Posts: 633
Joined: February 17th, 2015, 1:57 pm
Location: 7 Lakes, WA

Re: LED or fluorescent lamp

Post by SMan »

In buying LED bulbs warm white is the only type that works well for me in my Premier. The bright ones are much too harsh.
Steve aka SMan
2004 Premier V10
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