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08-05-2014, 11:35 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 532
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Just upgrade my 18" fluorescents to LED!
Just thought I'd share about my good experience upgrading one of my 18" ThinLite fluorescents to LEDs (it's the one in my kitchen that I use the most when dry camping). I've seen people using LED strip lights, and was going to go that route, when I watched a video about LED tube lights that looked simpler:
Converting RV Lights to LEDs, Part 3: 18-inch Fluorescents
I really liked the look (and apparent easy install) of the M4Products.com tubes (plus the 5% discount mentioned in the video didn't hurt, either Use the code "rvgeeks5" during checkout to get it... I don't think it expires), so I went ahead and ordered a couple in Natural White.
They arrived a 2 days ago and I installed them yesterday. The install was as easy as the video made it look... I had no problem identifying the switched power and ground leads then wiring them up to the sockets of the fixture. The LED tubes slip into place, just like the fluorescent bulbs they replaced. In about 20 minutes I was all done... admiring the new (and brighter) lights!
Used them last night and LOVE them! They're really nice... a bit whiter and brighter than the old warm white fluorescent bulbs that I had in there (which is good for my aging eyes). If you like the brighter, bluer-white color, they have a "cool white" 18" bulb at M4, too.
All-in-all, I'm thrilled. Eyeing up a couple of other fluorescents that I may bite the bullet on and upgrade, too over time.
Just thought some out there might want to know if they're itching for an upgrade!
__________________
John
2005 Newmar MADP
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08-06-2014, 08:24 AM
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#2
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,626
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Thanks John! I have been thinking about getting those and it's good to know about the 5% discount!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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08-06-2014, 09:53 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,893
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I watched the video and it looks pretty simple to do and the light that the unit gives off after is great.
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08-06-2014, 10:28 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ON THE ROAD...SOMEWHERE
Posts: 6,973
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M4 =
__________________
Don, Sandee & GSD Zeus. Guardian GSDs Gunny (7/11/15) & Thor (5/5/15)
2006 2015 DSDP 4320 4369, FL Chassis, 2013 CR-V 2020 Jeep Overland, Blue Ox Avail, SMI AF1.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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08-06-2014, 10:50 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Conifer, Colorado
Posts: 1,033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bcbounders
Just thought I'd share about my good experience upgrading one of my 18" ThinLite fluorescents to LEDs (it's the one in my kitchen that I use the most when dry camping). I've seen people using LED strip lights, and was going to go that route, when I watched a video about LED tube lights that looked simpler:
Converting RV Lights to LEDs, Part 3: 18-inch Fluorescents
I really liked the look (and apparent easy install) of the M4Products.com tubes (plus the 5% discount mentioned in the video didn't hurt, either Use the code "rvgeeks5" during checkout to get it... I don't think it expires), so I went ahead and ordered a couple in Natural White.
They arrived a 2 days ago and I installed them yesterday. The install was as easy as the video made it look... I had no problem identifying the switched power and ground leads then wiring them up to the sockets of the fixture. The LED tubes slip into place, just like the fluorescent bulbs they replaced. In about 20 minutes I was all done... admiring the new (and brighter) lights!
Used them last night and LOVE them! They're really nice... a bit whiter and brighter than the old warm white fluorescent bulbs that I had in there (which is good for my aging eyes). If you like the brighter, bluer-white color, they have a "cool white" 18" bulb at M4, too.
All-in-all, I'm thrilled. Eyeing up a couple of other fluorescents that I may bite the bullet on and upgrade, too over time.
Just thought some out there might want to know if they're itching for an upgrade!
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John & All..
I too just did the upgrade on 2 12 inch and 1 18 inch. The 18 inch conversion is MUCH easier.. But I am electrically challenged! My wife is thrilled.. She has been complaining about the light level of the 2 12's right over the sink area.. So after talking with G4 I ordered the "bright White" level for those and the natural color for the 18..
My 12 inch conversion on the first one would have been LOTS easier and cleaner if I had watched the RV geeks YouTube on it.. They have both the 18 and 12's shown in 2 separate videos.
What makes the difference... Well it has to do with the "Power Drivers" for the 12's.. The 18's have these built in because there is more room..
May end up doing more as time goes on.. Not cause we dry camp so much.. But the light quality is so much superior to the old Florescence.
Best upgrade since my Trav'ler!
Ron
__________________
Ron Husak
Conifer, CO
Living at 9200 Feet and looking down at ya!
04 Travel Supreme 40DS04 400 Cummins ISL
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08-06-2014, 11:43 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers
Thanks John! I have been thinking about getting those and it's good to know about the 5% discount!
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If you decide to go ahead, I think you'll be really happy you did. I dry camp a fair amount, so the power and heat savings are a big help for my battery life. But even without that, I really like the light output of these LED tubes better than the old fluorescents. And they come on right away... no flicker.
__________________
John
2005 Newmar MADP
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08-06-2014, 11:45 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred1609
I watched the video and it looks pretty simple to do and the light that the unit gives off after is great.
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Agreed, Fred. I was holding off doing the upgrade because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it right. The video from the RVgeeks was a HUGE help (I learn much better by watching than by reading)... and the process for the 18's was a snap. I didn't even need to buy any new tools! LOL!
__________________
John
2005 Newmar MADP
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08-06-2014, 11:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sky_Boss
M4 =
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I'll second THAT sentiment!
M4 had my lights shipped out to me the same day! Couldn't believe it!
__________________
John
2005 Newmar MADP
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08-06-2014, 11:49 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhusak
John & All..
I too just did the upgrade on 2 12 inch and 1 18 inch. The 18 inch conversion is MUCH easier.. But I am electrically challenged! My wife is thrilled.. She has been complaining about the light level of the 2 12's right over the sink area.. So after talking with G4 I ordered the "bright White" level for those and the natural color for the 18..
My 12 inch conversion on the first one would have been LOTS easier and cleaner if I had watched the RV geeks YouTube on it.. They have both the 18 and 12's shown in 2 separate videos.
What makes the difference... Well it has to do with the "Power Drivers" for the 12's.. The 18's have these built in because there is more room..
May end up doing more as time goes on.. Not cause we dry camp so much.. But the light quality is so much superior to the old Florescence.
Best upgrade since my Trav'ler!
Ron
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Agreed, Ron. Best upgrade I've done on my RV in quite a while! And now that I have the 18" upgrade process under my belt, I feel pretty confident I can handle the 12" upgrade, too (watching the RVgeeks' 12" upgrade video helped too, LOL!). I've got two 12" lights in pretty strategic, heavily-used spots that could really use the "more-light-and-less-power-usage" upgrade ASAP!
Off to place my order for 4 12" bulbs!
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John
2005 Newmar MADP
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08-06-2014, 03:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Missouri City, TX
Posts: 1,309
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Pricy at around $50 per fixture for the double 18" fixture. But they do look good.
__________________
Don
2003 Forest River Cardinal Platinum 37' 5th Wheel
1976 31' Airstream
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08-06-2014, 03:27 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adonh
Pricy at around $50 per fixture for the double 18" fixture. But they do look good.
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Don,
That's true... they are not exactly inexpensive. But M4's tubes are cheaper than most of the other tube options out there (Starlights replacement tubes are twice the price AND have a wire hanging out the side of them, so they're not as clean an installation). And it's also cheaper than replacing the whole unit!
A friend of mine converted his 18" fluorescent lights using cheap strip lights (he followed the steps in another RVgeeks video: How To Convert Fluorescent RV Lights to LEDs), and while the light output is good, the strip lights don't have any of the built-in circuitry to make sure they last as long as the M4 tubes do. So I figured I'd rather do it "right" the first time and not have to worry about doing it again later.
Different strokes for different folks, right?! A couple months from now I won't remember how much I paid for the upgrade... but I bet I'll still be thrilled I did it!
__________________
John
2005 Newmar MADP
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08-06-2014, 03:37 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Missouri City, TX
Posts: 1,309
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bcbounders
Don,
That's true... they are not exactly inexpensive. But M4's tubes are cheaper than most of the other tube options out there (Starlights replacement tubes are twice the price AND have a wire hanging out the side of them, so they're not as clean an installation). And it's also cheaper than replacing the whole unit!
A friend of mine converted his 18" fluorescent lights using cheap strip lights (he followed the steps in another RVgeeks video: How To Convert Fluorescent RV Lights to LEDs), and while the light output is good, the strip lights don't have any of the built-in circuitry to make sure they last as long as the M4 tubes do. So I figured I'd rather do it "right" the first time and not have to worry about doing it again later.
Different strokes for different folks, right?! A couple months from now I won't remember how much I paid for the upgrade... but I bet I'll still be thrilled I did it!
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How long are these tubes supposed to last.
__________________
Don
2003 Forest River Cardinal Platinum 37' 5th Wheel
1976 31' Airstream
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08-06-2014, 03:58 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adonh
How long are these tubes supposed to last.
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Mine have worked quite nicely for about 3 days!
OK... seriously... I'm not sure what the specs are on these M4 tubes, but typically speaking, they usually say that an LED will last about 50,000 hours. Which is about 5x longer than a fluorescent tube... and about 50x longer than an incandescent. The M4 tubes are very heavily engineered, with aluminum heat sinks that remove any heat generated by the LEDs... so the LEDs should easily last their predicted lifespan... if not longer.
__________________
John
2005 Newmar MADP
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08-06-2014, 06:59 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Maple Ridge,B.C.
Posts: 488
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Thanks for the info.....I need more projects..........!
__________________
2020 Thor Palazzo 36.3
Me and the DW, Django and the new kitten Ebony.
2003 Holiday Rambler Endeavor - sold
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