Confused about light replacement

[harleychief]

The ballast in my 12 inch, 2 bulb fluorescent light fixture has given up. I've researched online, read every post I could find including QT 1,2 and 3, gone to I don't know how many sellers websites, to the point I'm totally confused. I want to change to LED lights, so it looks like I have 3 choices:
1. put in a couple of rows of strip lights
2. put in LED tubes that replace the fluorescent bulbs
3. put in the LED squares that are sold by Cabin Lights

Does anyone have any experience with any of these and could recommend which way I should go. The light is in the toilet room, so it is not a big space.

[Vsilvester]

I used the tube style I bought two at a FMCA Rally the conversion was easy just two connections and I lover them (very bright )
The brand name. I used is Star Light I did two at the rally and liked them so much I changed all of them.

[Vsilvester]

Here is a link to one

LED Fluorescent Tube Replacement Bulbs by Starlights Inc. - PPL Motor Homes

[RVgeeks]

HarleyChief,

I hear you! I went through all of the same "confusion" regarding what was the best route to go for converting the fluorescent lights in my RV. I was really tempted by the simplicity of the LED Tube replacements... but they are pretty expensive (about $25 per tube!!!) and still require that you modify the wiring to eliminate the ballast from the circuit.

I went ahead and bought rolls of LEDs on strips and did the conversion myself. I've got a video about it that you can watch... it might help you make your decision on which way to go:

How To Convert Fluorescent RV Lights to LEDs

Scroll past the video to see text about the conversion... including links to the parts I used.

I spent a fraction of what it would have cost to do the tube conversions, and I'm very happy with the light output, etc. So far, no complaints!

Good luck!

[Luv2go]

I used the strip lights also, except I soldered wires to them as several people in the http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/inex...de-139025.html thread had issues with the connectors. As RVgeeks mentioned, you have to rewire the fixture anyway to use most tube lights and it is much cheaper to buy, cut and wire the strip lights he links to.

[Floridakamper]

Originally Posted by RVgeeks

I've got a video about it that you can watch... it might help you make your decision on which way to go:

How To Convert Fluorescent RV Lights to LEDs

What a great "How To" video. Thank you.

[JohnT]

Charlie,

This is what I did.

Originally Posted by harleychief

2. put in LED tubes that replace the fluorescent bulbs

This cost more but I did it in less than 15 minutes. And I'm challenged.

[harleychief]

Thanks everyone for the input. I've decided to try the Cabin Lights route. The instructions looked fairly straight forward and they were having a sale and free shipping. I'll let you know if the installation is as easy as they say and try to post pics.

[harleychief]

Yesterday I got the Cabin Bright LED lights in the mail, today I put them in. This has to be one of the easiest installations out there. The LEDs came prewired together with a red and black wire to hook up to the existing wiring. The LED's have 3M tape on the back, and stick to the fixture. The light is bright and not spotty. With the diffuser on it looks like a solid light.