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gazingm42 · 05-08-2019, 09:00 PM

So I ordered new LEDS as DW did like the brightness in the old ones. So when i replaced a few of these old barrels LEDs the burns on them was scary. Any ideas beside cheap LEDs. Btw they were purchased at a larger RV dealer locally.

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l1v3fr33ord1 · 05-09-2019, 01:34 AM

gazingm42-

If you think about it, your RV's 12V system isn't always at 12V. At times, such as charging, voltage can exceed 14V. 14V is a 17 percent increase over "12V."

Inexpensive LED power circuits, poor construction, and/or heat buildup can cause these failures. Here is some reading on why poor LED products in 12V systems can result in this type of service damage:

https://store.marinebeam.com/constant-current-1/
https://store.marinebeam.com/content/IdiotsGuide.pdf

While I can't vouch for all products they sell, here are sellers who seem to have their act together:

Marinebeam.com (I have bought from them)
SuperbrightLEDS.com (I have bought from them)
M4products.com

Note: With the larger sellers, sometimes you have to explicitly search for "constant-current" LED products, as not all their products are "constant-current."

A32Deuce · 05-09-2019, 06:43 AM

I found looking for dimmable with a range of 6 to 18 volts seem to be of better quality.

Mark_K5LXP · 05-09-2019, 12:56 PM

LED's all need to shed the heat somewhere. "Better" light modules will use an aluminum substrate board to help conduct heat away from the LED die. Some even have a separate heat sink to further transfer heat away. Some have controlled current so input voltage doesn't matter, some don't. Finally, irrespective of the bulb unit is the fixture it's going into. If it's tightly enclosed with little conduction or convection path for heat to escape, any bulb can overheat. Incandescent bulbs usually don't care about temperature but LED's care a lot. So even though LED's are dissipating less power per lumen they're more sensitive to where they're used. As a replacement bulb it's tough for LED's to conduct much heat away just through the socket so having some airspace helps. Purpose built LED fixtures eliminate this problem by providing enough heat dissipation for the power of the LED's.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Devenhallen · 05-09-2019, 01:30 PM

I only buy LeDs from Diode Dynamics

FIRE UP · 05-09-2019, 06:03 PM

Mark,
Aren't some or maybe even most of the LED bulbs produced, rated for wide range input supply voltage?
Scott

beenthere · 05-10-2019, 09:23 AM

yes the voltage can vary. but like other items like pumps, or compressor's. they are rated to run for certain time then cool. maybe certain ratings that bulbs have are the same? some constant on some not?

l1v3fr33ord1 · 05-10-2019, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Mark,
Aren't some or maybe even most of the LED bulbs produced, rated for wide range input supply voltage?
Scott

Scott-

I agree. Thinking in water pressure terms, a plumbing part may survive 125 psi, but it may not hold up under that pressure over the long term.

And, it's always easier to publish a spec than to meet it!

Mark_K5LXP · 05-10-2019, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Aren't some or maybe even most of the LED bulbs produced, rated for wide range input supply voltage?

"Some" for sure, none of the cheap chinese ones I've gotten off of amazon or ebay are, including the ones I put in my RV. It's a tradeoff - spend $30 a bulb for one that is made to work in many applications, has even brightness and a long life, or $2 for one that works in some applications, for a while. My take on it is try the $2 one first - I can go through a few of those before I decide I need a $30 one, or to replace the fixture outright. For about the cost of a single premium bulb I refitted my entire RV with cheap LED's and so far they're all still going, so odds are they'll go for a while. So a case of where cheap and easy might win out over expensive and elegant.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM