downlighter for LED

[mich2]

Hi everyone,

I recently decided to reform my van and start with the lighting. I want to change the downlighters and the G4 lights and I have found some nice ones on eBay, but I am hoping this would be a long-term change, and just wanted to check with you guys. I guess many of you already have experience with LEDs.
Maybe you have ideas for downlights as well. I haven't found good ones for those.
Thanks a lot ahead.
LMich

 

[Parksy]

Hi Mich
I exchanged my G4 incandescent bulbs for led's. Choose 'warm white' and you won't really notice much difference in the light or brightness.
I also replaced the halogen reading light G 12 bulbs with led's, no more heat rather than is light being generated now and I never burn my fingers when turning the reading light over the bed off.
We are regular rally goers so we often use our caravan to it's full potential off ehu, the use of the caravan lighting is no longer a concern as regards 12v power conservation for us.
The ones from your ebay link look to be reasonably priced, go for it.

 

[Martin24]

All the lights except the mains ones which I never use are LED's including the strip lights. Only had an EHU once in the past two years and they make all the difference, especially as my daughter often leaves the bunk one on all night!!

 

[RegandPat]

If I get some off them LEDs do I just unplug the old bulb and plug in the LED?
Reg

 

[Parksy]

Thats right Reg, many G4s have two 'pins' so withdraw the old bulb and carefully slide the pins of the new bulbs into the receivers.

 

[RegandPat]

Thanks for that, your make an electrician of me yet.
Reg

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Reg,

Just a quick note about LED lights in caravans. Some makes are polarity sensitive but they don't mark them or tell you, so if they don't work when you first plug them in, just take them out and turn them round.

 

[MichaelE]

The g4 led bulbs are one sided so if you turn them around you wont be able to see a thing lol

 

[GrahamDerby]

I replaced all my spot lights and they made such a difference that i put the old bulbs back in. Being at an age when i need a bit brighter light to read i found the led not bright enough. I have also put an old fashioned strip light over the cooker , now i can see what i am cooking and thinking of fitting one at the front above the chest of draws to give a better light when we are eating, sounds like i need a guide dog as well doesnt it, but not that bad yet.

 

[OmOnWeelz]

I'm not a lighting expert but I do know that 'warm white' flourescent tubes in offices and work places cause headache and fatigue problems for work forces.
'cool white' or 'day light' flouresent tubes should be fitted in offices, shops and many work places where the work force is reading a lot and under artificial light much of the time.
I don't know if LED' bulbs are the same, re the light wave lengths, but I've only used the brighter cool white type LED's in our caravan spot lights and lighting for the above reason. Under warm white flourescent lighting I suffered terrible headaches and 'swimming'/
'swirling' vision and people I worked with had the same and some had violent migraine problems and even sickness, nausea, dizzyness and unusual levels of fatigue towards the end of a lonng day. When the tubes were changed from 'warm white' to 'cool / day light' tubes the probelms went away straight away.
If you spend long evenings in your caravan and read a lot like us be warned, you may need to experiment with LED bulbs as well.
Some of the low wattage GU10 style bulbs give very poor light and few lumens for main light source usage, you may need 4, 5 or 7 watts rather than the more common 1 or 2 watt bulbs. The higher wattage bulbs can cost between £15 and £35 per bulb

but you will get very good lighting

Chris

 

[MichaelE]

I cant think of any van that uses the GU10 type bulbs as the are 240v halogen.MR11 and MR16 are used in vans but these are 12v
The 12v g4 are the most common type in a van and cool white best to go for

 

[OmOnWeelz]

Our older caravan also has 240V volt lighting circuit with 240V (40 watt bulbs. I think that is what they were) spotlights under the over head cabinets (also got very hot) in the front and rear and the light was pretty poor for reading. The main roof lights, door and cooker light are 12volt. I fitted GU10 spotlights that are far nicer and have more manourverability than the original offering.

But Micheal we are on the same track re going for 'cool white' bulbs

 

[MichaelE]

I have just replaced 24 GU10 bulbs in my house with led ones,the saving in energy consumption is pretty alarming

 

[OmOnWeelz]

In these Green Eco times with more and more insulation in our homes and more economic boilers etc I really would like somebody to explain how we've gone from one 80 or 100 watt pearl bulb in a room to a fasion with anything between 4 and 16 GU10's or Halogens that can range between 25 and 75 watts. Our daughters house had 14 X 60 watt Hallogens in the kitchen diner plus wall mounted uplighters and halogen bulbs under the kitchen wall units. All the bedrooms, lounge, study, hallways and bathrooms had similar spots and down lighters.
700 watts plus compared to about 120 watts of the past with one 100 watt bulb in the dining area and a flourescent tube in the kitchen.