LED Centre Light Bulb

Sep 4, 2017
607
62
18,935
Hi
As part of my ongoing van improvements I have changed all the old Halogen bulbs and replaced them with LED. I struck a problem finding a flat (low profile) bulb for my centre lights eventually finding a perfect solution.
My centre lights look like these
http://www.qis-uk.co.uk/Pics/Centre_light_new.JPG
The bulb shown in the above picture was my first attempt but was not bright enough so now I have found one that doubles the wattage shown here
http://www.qis-uk.co.uk/Pics/Van_Centre_Light_LED_Bulb.JPG
You have to use a back pin flat LED bulb typical of the ones have used that fit the "low profile" of the lamp cover.
Just out of interest, these bulbs consume 2.6 watts but give 35 watts worth of light. The old conventional 35 watt halogen used well 35 watts. So the new one can run for 13 hours and use the same battery power as the halogen would use in just ONE hour!
 

Damian

Moderator
Mar 14, 2005
7,510
936
30,935
I have just looked at the pics and they certainly seem to be ideal, a good reduction in power needed.
 

Parksy

Moderator
Nov 12, 2009
11,904
2,399
40,935
The links to the pictures work for me Damian, sometimes when computer software updates are happening in the background the computer can be slow to load links etc.
I use similar LED's, warm white G4s but with the pins coming from the sides and they are as bright as the ordinary bulbs that were originally fitted. They save a lot of battery power when we go off grid at rallies and music festivals.
 
Oct 8, 2006
1,917
633
19,935
Grey13 said:
Hi
As part of my ongoing van improvements I have changed all the old Halogen bulbs and replaced them with LED. I struck a problem finding a flat (low profile) bulb for my centre lights eventually finding a perfect solution.
My centre lights look like these
http://www.qis-uk.co.uk/Pics/Centre_light_new.JPG
The bulb shown in the above picture was my first attempt but was not bright enough so now I have found one that doubles the wattage shown here
http://www.qis-uk.co.uk/Pics/Van_Centre_Light_LED_Bulb.JPG
You have to use a back pin flat LED bulb typical of the ones have used that fit the "low profile" of the lamp cover.
Just out of interest, these bulbs consume 2.6 watts but give 35 watts worth of light. The old conventional 35 watt halogen used well 35 watts. So the new one can run for 13 hours and use the same battery power as the halogen would use in just ONE hour!

35W halogen?? I doubt it as it would melt the lens and the heat might damage the roof. For that matter I don't think you can get a G4 bulb (that is 4mm pin spacing) greater than 20W. Our old S5 Pageant Majestic had single bulbs of 10W, our last van (a Pegasus 462) had twin bulbs (switchable single or both) of 10W each.

Lights these days are measured in lumens. A 12V 20W halogen G4 gives out about 350 lumens; a 15 cell G4 LED disc as shown gives out about 160 lumens or possibly a little less due to voltage drop across the driver components as they are designed to work off 12Vac. However it is likely that the cell you have is cool white (the most common) which is a bit more efficient than a warm white (bulb) or white (halogen) so could subjectively seem brighter.
 
Sep 29, 2016
1,829
245
19,935
I have five internal light fittings on the van that use halogens (the other fittings are LED's).

I would like to convert the halogens to LED's but don't know what fittings to buy :( .

It would be great if someone could do an article on commonly used caravan halogen lamps to LED replacements.
 
Sep 4, 2017
607
62
18,935
Simple reply to Woodentop
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/1712940/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Lighting-_-Halogen_Lamps%7CDichroic_And_Reflector_Halogen_Lamps-_-PRODUCT+GROUP&matchtype=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiYLg-e_U2gIVCrTtCh1o1w9JEAQYAiABEgIt2fD_BwE&gclsrc="aw.ds"

And on the way retailers describe, measure bulbs just look at a typical sales site, I see no mention of "lumens"
G4 DC 15 Led Cool White Led Bulb 8v-30v 2.6w=35w Back Pin
https://www.ultraleds.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=ug4cw5bp
 
Sep 4, 2017
607
62
18,935
I guess you have 2 types of lamps.

My centre lights look like this: http://www.qis-uk.co.uk/Pics/Centre_light_new.JPG
If yours are like that then use this https://www.ultraleds.co.uk/g4-dc-15-led-cool-white-led-bulb-8v-30v-2-6w-35w-back-pin.html

My Spots look like this: http://www.qis-uk.co.uk/Pics/Downlight.JPG
I used this : http://theledspecialist.co.uk/philips-corepro-led-spot-2-6-20w-827-mr11-36d-1812.html

If you want a whiter brighter down-light then use the http://theledspecialist.co.uk/integral-3-7w-mr11-27k-761.html
 
Nov 11, 2009
22,833
7,673
50,935
It is not difficult to relate the old bulb output and compare it to the LED outputs. Some Sellers do give watt equivalent and Lumens, and others give one or the other so after looking at a few sites you soon get a feel for what an equivalent LED substitute would be.
 
Sep 4, 2017
607
62
18,935
IMO once again right off topic. But there you go. I would have thought that after the recent saga of the "Whale IC Panel" fiasco people would have learned. Just saying. (no reference to "otherclive" either).

In any case because the gist of my post was misinterpreted by Woodentop where my main intention was to highlight "POWER" saving and the impact it has on battery life, bringing up Lumens is academic. The very reason most people change bulbs is to increase battery life, nothing to do with quality or other aspects of the actual light

I have been looking and buying bulbs for some time now and seldom if ever see them rated in Lumens. Yes suppliers most always specify Lumens in the hidden detail for those who want to know, but I am pretty sure if you worked in a light bulb shop the most common reference would be "watts" then size, pin configuration, voltage, wattage, Kelvin (temperature that for those who don't know, defines the "whiteness" often also referred to as "cool white" or "warm white" etc.
 
Oct 8, 2006
1,917
633
19,935
Grey13 said:
Simple reply to Woodentop
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/1712940/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Lighting-_-Halogen_Lamps%7CDichroic_And_Reflector_Halogen_Lamps-_-PRODUCT+GROUP&matchtype=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiYLg-e_U2gIVCrTtCh1o1w9JEAQYAiABEgIt2fD_BwE&gclsrc="aw.ds"

And on the way retailers describe, measure bulbs just look at a typical sales site, I see no mention of "lumens"
G4 DC 15 Led Cool White Led Bulb 8v-30v 2.6w=35w Back Pin
https://www.ultraleds.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=ug4cw5bp

OK, lets get pedantic.

Firstly the type of caravan ceiling light originally pictured does not normally take a reflector bulb, only a G4 bi-pin halogan capsule so the fact that a G4 35W reflector is available is irrelevant in this discussion.

Secondly the link that you give to the LED disc that you have used does show further down to be 225 lumens output, equivalent of a 35W bulb. The device is also shown as being d.c powered so should be polarity concious which is not really what you want in a caravan where polarity is undefined to the user.

I suspect this advert is somewhat misleading: admittedly a GU10 or similar of 2.6W rating does give a lumen output somewhere in the mid 200's lumens, but search as I may I cannot find any disc LED unit with more than 160 lumens for that power consumption.

Finally, I would suggest you look in B&Q or a similar DIY shed, or on the Screwfix web site and you will find that ALL LED lamps/bulbs are rated in lumens. If you are replacing an incandescent bulb of 60W with a LED which has significantly lower power consumption you need to know the light output of both for comparison purposes and that is measured in lumens. The lumen output aso varies depending on whether the bulb is cool white, white (as holgen) or warm white as with an incandescent bulb. There is no cross reference to watts v. lumens - some manufacturers (pushing it) rate a LED bulb as a factor of 10 when looking at power, i.e. 60W incandescent is 6W LED, whereas others are perhaps less economical with the truth and give a factor of 5 or 6 which is more like it.
 

Damian

Moderator
Mar 14, 2005
7,510
936
30,935
Quote " OK, lets get pedantic."

Lets NOT get Pedantic.
The last post by Woodentop has been deleted.

We have received many complaints about topics being taken into the realms of ad nauseum just for some posters to prove something, and has led other potential posters deciding that they will not dare to post in fear of getting Chapter and Verse on a subject to which they only wanted a SIMPLE answer.

As far as this topic goes, the modification suggested by Grey is a good one for saving power.
What the actual bulb (or whatever you want to call it) produces light in sufficient quantity to satisfy the user, then JOB DONE.
Whether it produces Lumens, Lemons, Apples or any other thing is immaterial.