12v taillight replacement LEDs. Again.

[soulpatch]

I have a trailer in Mexico where I generate all my power via solar or generator. Since this is the case my electricity is very valuable to me. My family loves to turn on every light I have when the sun sets so I would like to replace all the bulbs in my trailer which are either an 1156 or 1157 type incandescent taillight bulb with an LED light.
Is there a bulb I can install without having to change the fixture? It would be nice to avoid the cost of the fixtures as well as the time spent changing them out so I could dedicate my limited time there to fishing and drinking beer which are both priorities when I am on the beach down south.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

are you talking about interior lighting (like dome lights) or running lights like brake and parking lights?

 

[soulpatch]

the lights are interior lights but they use the same bulbs as exterior taillights.
Do you know of any vendors for these type of lights that are reputable?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

my advice is to get some LED lights and/or lanterns that will run off 12vdc and wire them in because any dropin bulbs for these sockets will cost more and underperform because most will be 5mm LEDs.

 

[soulpatch]

OK, thank you for the response. Do you recommend any dealers over others?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

dealers? of what?

 

[soulpatch]

Dealers of

12v lamps. I am new to this, obviously, so I am hoping to get pointed at a reputable vendor and product.
I was tempted to say mota but some might not see the humor in that.:thinking:

 

[Christoph]

Here are some depending on how much light you need you may have to make your own as others have said.more

 

[soulpatch]

Now that's what I am talking about

Thank you for those links Christoph. That is exactly what I am looking for and will give those products a try......
If I can extend the life of my battery bank for the important things like making my ice and keeping my fish cold I am a happier man.
Saludos:thumbsup:

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Re: Dealers of

12v lamps. I am new to this, obviously, so I am hoping to get pointed at a reputable vendor and product.
I was tempted to say mota but some might not see the humor in that.:thinking:

If you are using 1156/57 bulbs you probably would need 1-2 high powered LEDs to match the output of them and as Christoph said.... most just go ahead and mod their light with a driver and LED or two custom mounted.

 

[soulpatch]

Extreme LED novice

Well, I guess I will need to do significantly more reading since I don't even know what a driver is...........
I won't be going down until April anyway so I have time to learn.
OK, drivers...........:whistle:
OK, I get it. Set me straight when I am wrong, por favor.
The drivers decrease the inputfrom 12v DC to output DC ma's so I don't cook the lights.....correct? So, I need to determine desired brightness and light hue (is the warm white good for indoors?) and basically experiment.... I would like to install them in my current fixtures which I could probably gut to mount them in. Do the LED's typically get too hot for these types of plastic lense fixtures?
Good thing I signed up for an electrical theory class for this coming semester.

 

[soulpatch]

Or would this work since it already has a driver in it?

http://www.besthongkong.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=752

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Re: Or would this work since it already has a driver in it?

http://www.besthongkong.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=752

if you are going to use these lights a lot I would avoid 5mm LEDs like the plague because unless you pay about $1 per LED they will dim to half brightness in about 6 months. A driver takes whatever voltage you have and adjusts it to power the LED(s) in mind as the outputs the driver is selected for. There are drivers that boost low voltages up and those that buck or decrease voltages. You have many options.... single LEDs with a driver, two LEDs in series with a driver..... 3 LEDs in series with either a driver or a resistor. As for which LEDs and all that it us up to your budget and output needs you can do all sorts of things like multiple light levels and/or driving 1 or all the LEDs in an array. I don't know of the fixtures you have but you will need to heatsink the LEDs properly but there should be room for that I think,,, LEDs do not put out heat as far as emitting it in the form of infrared but out the back metal mounting plates.

 

[soulpatch]

Re: Or would this work since it already has a driver in it?

I believe I will have to look in one of the project categories and see what people have done for themselves.
I do not want something that I will be constantly replacing......
heat sinking.....well, they are basically a camping trailer light fixture and the incandescents that are in them now put out a lot of head around the bulb and there is a metal heat shield behind them. I will have to build something and just measure the heat off the back and compare it.......
time for more research
thank you for the education.

 

[bguy]

You might want to consider 12v fluorescent lights. They are going to be more cost effective for the amount of light you get. And you can buy them at any place that sells RV equipment.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I don't think he wants to change the fixtures out.

 

[soulpatch]

That is a thought.

I will look at my catalog for RV stuff tomorrow when I get to work tomorrow.
Saludos

You might want to consider 12v fluorescent lights. They are going to be more cost effective for the amount of light you get. And you can buy them at any place that sells RV equipment.

 

[Christoph]

Soulpatch
If the fixtures are metal or have a metal surface in them the led's could be mounted right to a flat surface and these could be used to drive up to three of them in series using the original bulb base with the bulb removed. Yes the 5mm leds will deteriorate with time.Dont for get to let us know how this works out for you.

 

[Resqueline]

C'mon guys, the guy wanted replacement bulbs (for quick & easy replacement, with lower consumption), & you're steering him in the way of a full-blown mod/build project.. Won't be much beer or fish for him that week(end)..:(
Are there really no good (efficient & durable) replacement bulbs to be had? Data for many of these are scarce, but at least I guess size doesn't matter much for his application. They won't be of any use though unless there's anyone better than 25 lm/W out there, or else he could just as well get halogen replacements.:candle:
I know there are 100 lm/W LED's out there, but the question is if they have found their way into bulbs..

All that being said, fluorescents could be a cheap & relatively easy solution as mentioned, but with 4W being the smallest available - although longer tubes are more efficient.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

not any I know of, If there were any I am sure we would see reviews on them in CF and people talking about putting them in things instead of modding. The problem with 12v LED bulbs is LEDs are not 12v so you have to string them together in 3s and/or put driver circuits with them... heatsinking is needed to run enough LED power for output to compete and cost with all of that would make for a $25 or $40 bulb in the end. doing it yourself or using fluorescents is about the only two ways of getting the output with cost effectiveness and power efficiency.

C'mon guys, the guy wanted replacement bulbs (for quick & easy replacement, with lower consumption), & you're steering him in the way of a full-blown mod/build project.. Won't be much beer or fish for him that week(end)..:(
Are there really no good (efficient & durable) replacement bulbs to be had? Data for many of these are scarce, but at least I guess size doesn't matter much for his application. They won't be of any use though unless there's anyone better than 25 lm/W out there, or else he could just as well get halogen replacements.:candle:
I know there are 100 lm/W LED's out there, but the question is if they have found their way into bulbs..

All that being said, fluorescents could be a cheap & relatively easy solution as mentioned, but with 4W being the smallest available - although longer tubes are more efficient.