anern Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Fluorescent tubes have a lower power consumption than incandescent bulbs, but they still use more energy than LEDs. According to Andrew and Alexandru of LED Ideas, you can replace a fluorescent tube with LEDs fixed into a length of clear acrylic sheet and housed inside a clear plastic cover. You can also replace halogen bulbs with low-power LEDs by re-using the case of an old bulb as a housing for your LED array. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I can't see anything about DIY LED-light production on either of the links quoted and I'd seriously question whether a DIY approach would be financially sensible for motorcaravanners (never mind any safety issues). I also don't understand why Anern, as a prominent Chinese manufacturer of LED lighting products should (apparently?) be encouraging motorcaravanners to produce their own lights. However, for forum memmbers who might want to DIY, instructions are on: http://www.ehow.com/how_7865407_build-own-led-lights.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Hi Derek, I rebuilt my high level brake light a couple of times with new LED's, resealed and still damp got in and leds failed. Given up on it now and bought a brake light unit with proper bulbs ( sorry 'proper' is wrong word...can't spell 'incandescent') made my Hella. Got it from one of the Motorhome builders with an Ebay outlet shop...Autotrail .. for just under £12 all in...bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 The prices of 12 volt LED bulbs, and strips, is falling all the time now......I can't believe there's really any point in trying to make up your own strips from individual tiny components. There are now loads of different strip type lines of LEDs that you can cut to length..., and also many very very good "plates" of ready-mounted LED's that you can use instead of the traditional fluorescent bulbs - I just yesterday fitted one from this Company in lieu of the old fluorescent bulb above the kitchen area of our old 1992 motorhome. It's got 50 LED's draws only 4.7 watts, is "warm" white, and gives a much better and brighter light than the old 16 watt fluorescent that it has replaced: http://www.ledcentre.uk.com/275-indoor-led-strip-lights.html Cost was a little over 8 quid....replacing the old fluorescent with another of like type would have cost more than that anyway. If anyone really can, in their own garage, buy all the specialist PCB's and all other components, make up such 50-unit LED plates, with all the wiring and ballast extras, (remembering all the laws about safe solder use, etc), then package them securely and post them to me in Spain, and also offer me a 12 month warranty, all for less than 8 quid per plate including VAT, then do please let me know. Otherwise I'll keep buying from the "pros" who buy/import in bulk from specialist manufacturers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 would be interesting to see what your insurance companies attitude would be.... :-S (both home and van) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Judge, you are kidding aren't you? Please tell me you are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Just realised that new member "Anern" is simply advertising his own Company in this thread that he's started. Ain't that a very naughty naughty breach of the forum and site rules/AUP? >:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Brambles - 2011-06-23 10:46 AM Judge, you are kidding aren't you? Please tell me you are. No I dont think so, early LED lights were notorious for catching fire? If they led to a serous fire a forensic examination could probably ID your "home made lights" as responsible...then? no insurance cover I would think... Just a precautionary thought that is all, not biblical text :-D sounds like the OP a bit of a scoundrel as well according to our resident Spanish geezer :D a very good electrician mate of mine when asked by house holders was there wiring safe? used to say "Mmm...yes fine madam as long as you dont mind waking up in a raging inferno" He usually got the rewire job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Judge, thanks for response to my post. Gosh! makes one think twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemelson Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Surely there must be a company making made to measure tubes containing LEDs to replace existing fluorescent lights. If I go down the DIY path, there will definitely be a Raging Inferno. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 mikemelson - 2011-06-23 4:48 PM Surely there must be a company making made to measure tubes containing LEDs to replace existing fluorescent lights. If I go down the DIY path, there will definitely be a Raging Inferno. Mike. Yes, there are loads which make them - except they don't put them in tubes, as they don't need to. They put them on strips, or mount them on PCB "Beds" which are so light that you can stick them to the surface of your light fitting (where the fluorescent tube bulb used to run) with double-sided sticky tape. you just have to connect the two wires coming from one end of the LED bed to the positive and negative leads that fed the old tube bulb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 BGD - 2011-06-23 1:22 PM Just realised that new member "Anern" is simply advertising his own Company in this thread that he's started. Ain't that a very naughty naughty breach of the forum and site rules/AUP? >:-( It would be interesting to have some background from forum member "Anern". Anern's profile gives a Real Name of "David" and provides a website address relating to the Chinese lighting manufacturer ANERN. 'David' registered as a forum member on 17 June 2011 and first posted to the following thread. http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=23950&posts=14 However, it's difficult to imagine why any representative of a Chinese wholesaler should choose to 'advertise' on a UK motorhome forum, particularly in such a peculiar and mysterious manner. There is a "Dave McAspern" mentioned on this under-construction website http://www.ledideas.co.uk/ but whether this is relevant to David/Anern is anybody's guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8LEY Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 'Anern' popped up previously on another LED thread providing two links to LED manufacturer/suppliers. Both companies obviously didn't deal with LED lighting, suitable for motorhomes, if you view their product range. One company covered LED luminaires and lamps for the domestic, commercial and public sector markets. The other carried LED grow lights (could be useful if your weed needs a bit of light). I think most people know what's going on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.