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LED Upgrade

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Gixxerkid3

LED Upgrade
« on: October 17, 2022, 11:00:04 am »
Hi all.  I am considering upgrading the fluorescent lighting in the PC to replace the fluorescent 12” tubes with the same tubes but LED.  I already updated the map/reading lights to LED. I found a direct replacement on Amazon (4 Pack T5 12 Inch LED F8T5CW LED Replacement F8T5 LED 5 Watts 530 Lumens Cool White 4100k F8 T5 Pack of 4 Bulbs OR 4 Pack T5 12 Inch LED F8T5WW LED Replacement F8T5 LED 5 Watts 530 Lumens Warm White 3000k F8 T5 Pack of 4 Bulbs), but it requires a “working ballast” to work.  Do we have “ballast” in the current fluorescent lights now?  I have had 1 apart in the past but never payed any attention. 
Thanks.
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zolman

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  • OwnPC: Yes
  • NewUsed: Used
  • PurchDate: 12/29/2021
  • Model: 3100
  • ModelYear: 2013
  • Slide: Yes
  • IntColor: Cherry cabinets/grey vinyl furniture/white counters
  • ExtColor: white/gray/black
  • Location: Mt. Vernon, Indiana
Re: LED Upgrade
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2022, 04:01:54 pm »
Don't waste your time replacing the tubes. I've used both LED tubes and strips replacements and neither were as good as replacing the complete fixture with

Raycharm 18.1"X3.9" Rectangular 1440 Lumen Super Bright White Diffused Beam LED Light Fixture, High Light-Output Low Ampere, w/Touch Switch for RV, Trailer & Boat Under-Cabinet/Cabin Lighting from Amazon.

These lights have adjustable brightness and are far superior to LED replacements. The foot print of these fixture are the only replacements that will cover the present OEM fluorescent fixtures.

Any PC owner that has seen my interior says they wish they had these fixtures because of the low profile and 4 choices of brightness adjustments.
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Gixxerkid3

Re: LED Upgrade
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2022, 04:25:29 pm »
OH, I actually saw those yesterday but was not sure of the quality.  Thanks for that info.  A tad spendy, but is what it is. I thought about these as well. 

Leisure LED RV LED Ceiling Light Fixture 20" x 6.5" - 1450 Lumen with Touch Dimmer Switch Interior Lighting for Car/RV/Trailer/Camper/Boat DC 12V Natural White 4000-4500K (2-Pack)

Thanks for the feedback.
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Ron Dittmer

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    • My 2007 2350 Phoenix Cruiser
  • OwnPC: Yes
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  • PurchDate: June 2007
  • Model: 2350 Ford
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  • Location: N/E Illinois
Re: LED Upgrade
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2022, 04:49:22 pm »
If your fixtures are the same as the ones in our 2007 model year, there is a circuit board in the compartment along with the switch.  I had to UNsolder the switch to remove the circuit board which containes the ballist.

CLICK HERE TO READ THROUGH MY CONVERSION FROM FLORESCENT TO LED WHICH INCLUDES MANY PICTURES.

Since the spool of LED strips I bought work directly on 12V, my conversion reused only the 3 basic shell parts of each fixture.  Everything electrically related was discarded.  I went the extra step and added night lights which increased the price to cover the cost of the 3-way switch.  I did this to all 9 fixtures in my 2007 2350.  I wired each fixture with consideration to it's orientation (one of two orientations) so that turning on the 3-way light switch in one direction (like towards you for example) consistently turned on the same lighting feature.

The conversion is easy on the eyes, the pocketbook, and also on the batteries.  I love to tinker during winter months so it was a fun project done at an oppertune time.  If I had to do it again, I might disable every-other lighting circuit for every fixture, instead of just the ones by the bed to save more battery energy because I think a little less light throughout would be just as good.  We have the dark cherry cabinetry.  If we had a lighter colored interior, then I definitely recommend disabling every other circuit like I did over our bed.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2022, 08:03:40 am by Ron Dittmer »
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Gixxerkid3

Re: LED Upgrade
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2022, 08:23:03 pm »
 2o2
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zolman

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  • Enjoy traveling with wife and 3 fur babies
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  • OwnPC: Yes
  • NewUsed: Used
  • PurchDate: 12/29/2021
  • Model: 3100
  • ModelYear: 2013
  • Slide: Yes
  • IntColor: Cherry cabinets/grey vinyl furniture/white counters
  • ExtColor: white/gray/black
  • Location: Mt. Vernon, Indiana
Re: LED Upgrade
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2022, 02:55:04 pm »
Quote from: Ron Dittmer on October 17, 2022, 04:49:22 pm
If your fixtures are the same as the ones in our 2007 model year, there is a circuit board in the compartment along with the switch.  I had to UNsolder the switch to remove the circuit board which containes the ballist.

CLICK HERE TO READ THROUGH MY CONVERSION FROM FLORESCENT TO LED WHICH INCLUDES MANY PICTURES.

Since the spool of LED strips I bought work directly on 12V, my conversion reused only the 3 basic shell parts of each fixture.  Everything electrically related was discarded.  I went the extra step and added night lights which increased the price to cover the cost of the 3-way switch.  I did this to all 9 fixtures in my 2007 2350.  I wired each fixture with consideration to it's orientation (one of two orientations) so that turning on the 3-way light switch in one direction (like towards you for example) consistently turned on the same lighting feature.

The conversion is easy on the eyes, the pocketbook, and also on the batteries.  I love to tinker during winter months so it was a fun project done at an oppertune time.  If I had to do it again, I might disable every-other lighting circuit for every fixture, instead of just the ones by the bed to save more battery energy because I think a little less light throughout would be just as good.  We have the dark cherry cabinetry.  If we had a lighter colored interior, then I definitely recommend disabling every other circuit like I did over our bed.

Hi Ron:
I appreciate your recommendations and have followed several. I tried this fix BUT even though I cleaned the fixture area that I glued the LED strips to several of the strips lost their adhesion after several months. I reglued them but it was a constant issue.
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Ron Dittmer

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  • Ron and Irene
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    • My 2007 2350 Phoenix Cruiser
  • OwnPC: Yes
  • NewUsed: New
  • PurchDate: June 2007
  • Model: 2350 Ford
  • ModelYear: 2007
  • Slide: No
  • IntColor: Cherry Green&Gray
  • ExtColor: Full Body Gray
  • Location: N/E Illinois
Re: LED Upgrade
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2022, 09:25:26 am »
Quote from: zolman on October 18, 2022, 02:55:04 pm
Hi Ron:
I appreciate your recommendations and have followed several. I tried this fix BUT even though I cleaned the fixture area that I glued the LED strips to several of the strips lost their adhesion after several months. I reglued them but it was a constant issue.
Hi zolman,

This is why after a month or two had passed, I added a dab of clear silicone caulk at the two ends of each strip.  It prevents the LED strip(s) from peeling off.  Last I checked, the LED strips remain stuck on well.

I mention this in my post.  You must have breezed over that comment.
« Last Edit: October 27, 2022, 10:47:07 am by Ron Dittmer »
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IWBryan

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  • Location: Texas
Re: LED Upgrade
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2023, 02:02:41 pm »
I upgraded the tube lights in my 2910 with 12 inch LED tube lights from M4 LED lights.  They provided the instructions and the change out only took a few minutes per light.  Big improvement.
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