12V LED Lighting
Why LED's?
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The reason why LED's are a popular modification is that they take considerably less power, typically ten times less, for the same lighting level. This means that if you are away at a Site with no mains power and you are using the battery to provide the lighting, it will last longer. Also they run considerably cooler than the Halogen bulbs and are safer with children especially in the 'bunks' area. Normal Caravan spotlights normally use Halogen bulbs, and come in two types of fitting. |
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1 - Where there is a push in bulb with two metal 'legs'
2 - Where the bulb is included in a sealed reflector casing
LED versions of these bulbs are available, they normally have more than one individual LED per 'bulb' G4 fitting
The individual LED's come in two different types, those that are clear and look like a glass dome, and flat square, often yellow, ones.
Cool White give a cold bluish light Warm White give a warm yellowish light and the recently available Day White which to me gives the most natural light. There are two other important things As with most things you get what you pay for, and the most important thing to check is how much light each device gives out. Also will it fit your Caravan fitting, some of the G4 bulbs that come with a plastic surround are too big. At the moment I buy my lights from the following E-bay seller I find they give a lot of information on the products including light output and physical size. They have a wide range of fitments.
Changing the bulbs
This recessed fitting with a G4 bulb fitment, needs the glass to be removed to access the bulb. It is held in place by the black plastic ring. You need to ease out one side of the ring from the metal casing by inserting, say, a small screwdriver and levering the plastic ring towards the centre. this will then enable you to remove the ring. This type of fitting, MR11 or MR16 bulb, requires the removal of the metal spring clip that holds the bulb in. Squeezing the two ends together enable you to remove the clip and pull out the bulb. |
And for those of you that always wanted to know and never dared ask!
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode