Other uses for LEDs

[Paul B]

After I installed LEDs on my tank I looked for other uses for these great, energy saving devices. I have been using them for various indication lights since they were invented but now they make them much more powerful and you can use them for general lighting. I am sure that in a few years, they will be the only lighting available for just about everything.
On my boat I have what in a car would be called courtesy lights. We use them on the boat when we anchor at night to light up the cabin area but I don't like leaving them on all night because of the drain on the battery.
I have begun replacing the incandescent lights with DIY LED bulbs.
This one pictures in the construction stage replaces the bulb on the workbench. It is the same size, puts out the same amount of light but uses 15 times less power so I can run it continousely with no fear of killing the battery.
They do sell some types of 12 volt LED bulbs but they are almost $30.00 and I have not seen this type, although it may be out there someplace. Besides I like building things. This one cost me $5.00. The completed model has no wires visable and it plugs into the same socket as the other "rea" bulb.
I love this stuff.

 

[bige]

Thats cool. I too believe they will be only lighting soon. I had led on my tank 4 years ago and everyone ragged on me. Well looky now. Everyone is jumping on board. And my local 7/11 is 100% led. From the spot lights outside to the lights inside. Even in the cooler. I have it on good authority that many mh manufacturers are going to stop producing them in the next 5 years. Will only be selling replacement bulbs. I have a friend that is the vp of sales at the largest mh producer.

 

[nixer]

the only place they wont work is on a flasher type setup i.e. turn signals and hazards
they make some something inline to resolve that issue now though

 

[tomle]

That is a great idea!

 

[cdness]

the only place they wont work is on a flasher type setup i.e. turn signals and hazards
they make some something inline to resolve that issue now though

I have really cool dual color LED flashers for my Ranger. All you need is a solid state flasher relay and you're good to go. I run LEDs on my boat trailer, flashers, and break lights. They will soon also light up my 125G upgrade.

I just wish the consumer modeld for household use were decent. They unfortunately don't put out enough light to be a viable option for many people.

 

[Troylee]

the only place they wont work is on a flasher type setup i.e. turn signals and hazards
they make some something inline to resolve that issue now though

Sure they do... Heck my tahoe has them in the mirrors for turn signals....

 

[bige]

I have led turn signal lights on my 68 nova.

 

[Tequilero]

A tap night light from cosco for the side of the bed. We have 2 bottle drinking lil ones. Ya we crazy!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Paul B]

the only place they wont work is on a flasher type setup i.e. turn signals and hazards
they make some something inline to resolve that issue now though

Most of the new carss and all the NYC busses have LEDs for turn signals. Out NYC traffic lights are LEDs but they don't make any heat so the lights get covered in ice and snow, they are working on that.
I will soon start replacing all of the lights in my house with DIY LEDs. For under $20.00 I can build bright lights that will screw into any socket. To make them brighter will cost more but LEDs are getting cleaper and brighter.
You can even buy "flourescent" type LEDs that fit into flourescent fixtures but they are expensive.
I am sure they will replace all lighting very soon.

 

[Troylee]

that is true Paul.... it's not so much more efficient in every application, i have ran into a few where it took more leds and more power to light something than a regular fluorescent lamp.... biggest thing is there is no mercury "more green;)"

 

[nixer]

I have really cool dual color LED flashers for my Ranger. All you need is a solid state flasher relay and you're good to go. I run LEDs on my boat trailer, flashers, and break lights. They will soon also light up my 125G upgrade.

I just wish the consumer modeld for household use were decent. They unfortunately don't put out enough light to be a viable option for many people.

yea those things.

Sure they do... Heck my tahoe has them in the mirrors for turn signals....

read the post

I have led turn signal lights on my 68 nova.

read the post

 

[bige]

Do you mean in the dash? Not sure

 

[nixer]

there are a few types and names.
load resistor
flasher relay
what it does is in a stardard flasher setup the flasher under the dash needs to have some load on it for it to actually flash. leds dont produce enough load to make the flasher do the on-off circuit.
hence you add resistance to up the load and the flasher will work

 

[Paul B]

That is true, they will not flash with an old resistance flasher so you can't replace regular incandescent lights on a car with LEDs unless you add some electronics, but that is an easy upgrade. The vehicles that use LEDs for turn signals do not use those resistive flashers. Those flashers themselves use more power than the lights they are controlling so it would defeat the use of LEDs to use less electricity.

Last week I installed flashing 12 volt LEDs on my boat dashboard to warn me if the fresh water pump is running, the vacuum pump for the head, the bilge pump and the blowers. They come with the flasher built in and they are very bright. They are also $1.90 each if you buy more than 10. I have been buying these things by the dozen and I will probably order hundreds soon. I am replacing everything. I would replace the sun if I could :angel:

 

[Paul B]

Here is another DIY LED bulb that I will use to replace another bulb for my boat.

 

[bige]

How did you wire that? Whats around the outside?

 

[Paul B]

I wired it very carefully. The LED wires are soldered to the filiment supports of the old bulb.
It is surrounded by a piece of acrylic tube. They sell bulbs like this but they are larger and would not fit in the place I need it.