converting light fixtures to 12 volt

[mike802]

Hi everyone. I have been looking for light fixtures for the bedroom and haven't found any RV type I like that are in my price range.  I did find some antique residential fixtures that I think will work very well with my buses decor.  I am pondering if I should convert the antique fixtures to accept a 12 volt light bulb taken from those white plastic fixtures that come standard in most RVs, or use a 12 volt screw in light bulb.  Most 12 volt screw in bulbs are 50 watt, I have seen some that are 25 watt.  Does anyone know the wattage of the bulbs in the white plastic fixtures?   I did convert one fixture to accept the plug in 12 volt bulb from the white plastic fixtures, not to bad a job and I can still use the original on/off switch, but a screw in 12 volt would require less work.  I am concerned the 50 watt draw would be tough on my batteries, but I am assuming the bulbs from the white plastic fixtures are far less.  I know l.e.d's would draw the least amount of watts, but those can be pricy.  Also availability on the road is a concern, how difficult would it be to find screw in 12 volt bulbs on a trip, I have not been able to locate any at my local walmart, or hardware stores.

[dwerkheiser]

Try your local NAPA store.  Theyused to carry 12volt bulbs in a standard medium base.

[Van]

 We get ours at our local True Value store, I don't recall the price but it wasn't to bad.

[luvrbus]

FWIW you can buy 12v LED bulbs that will work in a standard base wired for 12v pricey at 40 bucks each

[sledhead]

I just replaced 35     12volt 10 watt halogen lights in the rv with philips led 3 watt t3  replacement bulbs =@20 watt.A lot brighter,no heat and a lot less power but at $10.97 per bulb a lot of money @ 35 lights   http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-Light-Bulbs-LED-Light-Bulbs/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbm79/h_d2/Navigation?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&searchNav=true#/?Nao=72&c=1          dave

[Gerry H]

   Mike: I found these at the local RV show this month and purchased 14 dual LED fixtures for my coach for $18 each. They are dual 2 watt led and are bright available in single or dual. 56 watts total for my coach. The dealer said they were throw aways, but I found replacement leds on ebay for 56 cents each. No name units, but light weight and in the newest camping RV's. Gerry H

[gus]

Gerry,

Please give us some names and numbers here, there has to be something on the labels!

[luvrbus]

LED's will becoming cheaper in the next year for sure,here in Phoenix the GREEN law has applied for the restaurant every lite with a standard base, the can lights,track lighting,low voltage 12v and pluck lighting all have to be LED to meet the code kinda sucks as they are not dim-able even if stated they are

I love being told what light bulb to use LMAO

[mike802]

Thanks for all the responses, certainly gives me some options to look into.

[robertglines1]

For just a few fixtures you might just use small 12V to 110 inverters. 200watt example.  If you do e-bay led I suggest you use USA shipper. I have had prob with China shippers.  Happy bussin.   Bob

[Tony LEE]

as they are not dim-able even if stated they are

True for LED fittings that can handle a range of supply voltages, but the basic ballast resistor fixed voltage type can easily be dimmed by  cheap off the shelf LED dimmers.

[lvmci]

Hi, 12/24 volt led bulbs are orderable on the internet, but I found halogen bulbs on 12 volt in a rwo prong base at hd, dont remember the base name, a new base with a 1/4 turn base called a GU10 eliminates any vibration loosing the bulbs when the light hangs upsidedown, im ordering them in 12volt led, lvmci...

[bansil]

I have used super bright led for years fast shipping and lots of options

http://www.superbrightleds.com/

[Gerry H]

   Gus: There is no Mfg name on the units, sorry I've looked closely. There is a label that says, Model RVLEDPC2-008 12V DC LED 2x2W
WP10121239 CX  250797 For Recreational Vehicle use only, min 90 deg C supply conductors, Made in China. The LED driver is made by SunLink 10-28Vdc output 700ma
   The RV dealer I bought them from, put his own label on calling them Light Pancake LED 12V Double.
   If you are into making a statement with your lighting choices, these may not be for you, but this is my second go round with lighting and these solve many to most of the issues I had in round one.
   These are light weight, easy to wire and mount, low profile, low cost, low energy, bright, have a switch on each unit, operates on 12 or 24Vdc.  If they were dimmable (may be a way) they would be perfect for me, but what ever is? That's part of why we build our own isn't it? Good Luck  Gerry H

[muddog16]

You can find just about any base configuration and voltage at ebay.  I'd be careful on 50watt lamps of any kind in your bus.  They build up extreme heat.  The LED's of larger wattage will also build up some heat but not like most of them do.  Identify your base configuration on you existing lamp.......and then go search ebay using the base, voltage and LED as search words.