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Subject Topic: flourescent tube to LEDs Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonChalkie56
02/4/2012 at 11:08pm
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Hi all, the circular ceiling lamp at the front of the van has stopped working I assume the bulb has gone. So while I am at it I might as well change to LEDs. Its a mini Flourescent and is marked 'KANDOlite 9W/840 FLS/E NO6'. My problem is I cant seem to find one on the net is there such a thing that can be swapped

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PersonG7ACU
03/4/2012 at 5:41pm
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If you're hoping to find a suitable LED alternative to fit the existing housing, you'll be out of luck. Flourescent tubes require a ballast/starter etc., which is incorporated within the fitting and are unique to flourescent lamps.
You're only option really is to find and install a completely different fitting for conventional 12v lamps (G4 fitting for example) and retrofit to use an LED lamp.


-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!


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PersonChalkie56
03/4/2012 at 6:26pm
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Ok Paul thanks for that, I was hoping to do more rallying on basic sites. So I needed to cut down on my wattage but looks as though I cant unless I change my fittings. Which I was not planning on.

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PersonG7ACU
03/4/2012 at 7:01pm
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Do you only have the type of fitting you've mentioned (maybe post a photo with dimensions in case anyone knows of a decent LED compatible replacement), or do you have any of the spot/reading light too?    It maybe that you could fit LED's into other lights and use those where practical to keep your consumption down.

I've fitted LED units to my spot/reading lights. I've also some uplighters and another fitting that will take conventional G4 type LED lamps too, plus some flush fitting lights around my rooflight, so three different LED lamps to source.

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Paul

Every day's a school day!


PersonBig Brian 56
04/4/2012 at 5:59pm
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There WILL be an LED replacement although it,ll be an arm and a leg,LED tubes will need a "driver ", though some of the longer tubes are straight onto the mains .

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PersonChalkie56
04/4/2012 at 10:57pm
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Paul now I have thought about it a little I realise it isnt the bulb/tube because I have tried it in one of the other fittings and it worked I have voltage meter across the 2 leads and no voltage. Then I did the same across the 2 connections into a pc board no voltage their either. Checked the fuses and ok. I am just stumped at the moment. It was fine when I took it into storage, I had all the intention of stripping it out a full clean in & out ready for an outing this weekend. But full work load and crap weather never had a chance

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Persondianebb72
04/4/2012 at 11:43pm
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we do a lot of rallying and have started to replace our lights to LEDs, so far we have changed our awning light to one of these, and we got 2 of these for the area at the front.  They make a massive difference on the draw on the battery, so will be changing the lights in the bathroom and kitchen area as soon as we can

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-x- Diane -x-

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Persontimtheenchanter
05/4/2012 at 12:00pm
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like this?

if so, just search for FLS/E 9W they come in various "colours" the one you have (840) is a 4000K colour temp (ignore the first number, its the second two you want, and x35 would be a 3500K
the higher the number the cooler the light, the lower the warmer the light.
LEDs are avaliable for these, as they are for just about any flourescent tube, I will have a look next week when Im back at work

You will probably get more luck finding a lamp from an electrical wholesaler, CEF will probably have them (not the cheapest place, but they do have branches all over the country)

Ive swapped all the lighting in my van for LEDs, simple plug and play for the most, but I have also converted the flourescent units in the roof to LEDs, just bought some 12V strips from Ebay, removed the guts from the fittings, and put in the LEDs, hey presto, OEM looking LED units.

Post last edited on 05/04/2012 12:16:14


PersonG7ACU
05/4/2012 at 6:50pm
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Hi Chalkie.

Can you confirm if I've read your opening post right; is the duff tube a circular type or the version shown in the last post above's link?

I've had chance to nose around now and the only places I've found circular LED tubes are mainly in the US (so I stand corrected on availability), but the LED versions are still rated at 9 odd watt themselves, so no reduction in consumption to be fair.

Your light fitting sounds 'suspect', but check for input voltage to the switch itself; these aren't the best quality and do fail. If all else fails, bite-the-bullet and replace it.

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!


PersonChalkie56
05/4/2012 at 11:42pm
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Hi again Paul - I am officially on holiday (hey) I am taking the van to Cheshire on Friday. The light fitting is round but is the same as tim the chanter has shown staight tube 150mm long. Once I get the chance I will take the fitting down and check the cable is giving out 12volts.

-------------
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PersonDaveCoaches
06/4/2012 at 6:09am
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While there is no simple fluorewscent tube to LED conversion bulb, the conversion is far simpler than it first appears.

Get a self adhesive LED strip and attatch it to the back plane of the light. Then disconnect the 12 volt supply to the light and connect it to your LED strip and refit the cover. Now your fluorescent light fitting is disconnected, but yu have an LED lamp instead.

If you wanted, you could remove the electronics from the lamp too, but there should be room to get the LEDs in without doing this. If the light has a built in switch then you can simply connect the 12 volts through this to ensure the switch still works.

Sometimes the easiest solution is the hardest to spot. You can get self adhesive LED strips on ebay quite cheaply.


PersonJax365
06/4/2012 at 12:40pm
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What a wonderful solution, DaveC! Its only the 'simply connecting the 12volts' that stops me from doing this as I don't have a clue how to do that! How long does the led strip need to be? I have two florescent strip lights and off for a week in June without EHU.

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PersonDaveCoaches
06/4/2012 at 4:05pm
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The length of the LED strip depends on how much light you want to get from it and how much current you are prepared to draw from the battery. I would look for the longest you can get into the fitting as the current is almost nothing in comparison to what the fluorescent tube and the associated electronics draw. If you wanted to get really clever, you could add a variable resistor to act as a dimmer switch too.

Would you have room for a 30 cm strip? if so, there are some HERE



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