LED replacment for the Fluorecent bulb

stuey five toes · Post by **stuey five toes** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:11 pm

I've checked the archives and i'm aware that you can change all of the smaller interior light bulbs for LED ones, but is it possible to change the central fluorecent strip light in the middle of the van??

has any body all ready done this?

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:44 pm

You would have to change the fitting, or at least make very complex modifications.

The lamp is a fluorescent (or even flourescent) tube which requires a voltage of some 120V to strike.
The fitting contains an electronic driver that produces the high voltage from the 12V.
They are quite efficient compared with a halogen lamp.

I hate the brilliant harsh white light that these lamps produce and I too would like to replace it with something a bit more mellow.
However, from my experience most LED lamps are harsh white too.

I shall give this some thought as it is within my technical capabilities.

alant54 · Post by **alant54** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:31 pm

Good old Pippin.....always ready to do some research to come up with an answer......what would we do without him...?..or Meldrew come to think of it....Alan

tigger · Post by **tigger** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:43 am

Pippin doesn't need to do research - he knows the answers already!

stuey five toes · Post by **stuey five toes** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:27 pm

Cheers All - Bought a new standard bulb instead!!!!

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:29 pm

But I am still thinking about it..........!

billy · Post by **billy** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:12 pm

Keep thinking Pippin please, as I'd be interested in this.

wrster · Post by **wrster** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:41 pm

Pippin - coloured cold cathode perhaps?

handyman · Post by **handyman** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:18 am

Pippin you need a warm white tube as oppossed to the normal harsh white.

tigger · Post by **tigger** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:33 pm

I'm not too sure there's much point spending too much time on this one chaps.

While LEDs can make great and highly efficient replacements for small incandescent bulbs in an automotive (or indeed domestic) application, flourescent lights are themselves very efficient in terms of lumens per watt. This becomes even more significant when you take into consideration the application - ie filling the interior of the Bongo with reasonably bright light rather than just illuminating a given spot (ie task lighting).

My advice is that, for this particular application, you won't get more usable lumens per watt than flourescent lighting - so stick with what you've got.

tigger (nerd)

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:24 pm

Agree with you tigger, but the electronics tend to blot out MW radio reception.

Agree with you too handyman, but I haven't found a warmwhite version of that one yet. Actually I haven't looked as it is not worth changing until it fails!

handyman · Post by **handyman** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:15 am

Actually I'm looking around for a replacement driver for the roof lamp. Have'nt as yet found one but am thinking of canibalizing a 6w fitting.If Ican find one

alant54 · Post by **alant54** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:40 am

Why not try some coloured plastic from a craft shop and fit it over the light.......it comes in different colours so you could change it to suit your mood.....easily attached with some sticky back velcro and a bit of imagination........Alan