12 volt electrical August 15, 2005, 01:53:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56843The Electrical Gurus, I have an island bed model LD with wall mounted lights on either side of the bed. I want to replace these with better lights for reading and want to make sure I buy the right thing. Will any light that is 12 volt work here? Specifically, I have been looking at some reading lights sold by boat outfitters, such as those at http://www.sailorsams.com/ Any advice would be appreciated.Doris
Re: 12 volt lamps Reply #1 – August 15, 2005, 02:47:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56845"I have an island bed model LD with wall mounted lights on either side of the bed. I want to replace these with better lights for reading and want to make sure I buy the right thing. Will any light that is 12 volt work here?"Absolutely! :-)Andy Baird
Re: 12 volt electrical Reply #2 – August 15, 2005, 02:51:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56846Halogen bulbs get very hot so I would avoid them. Also check what amperage consume. A brakelights consumes about 2 amps so if the amps are more than that, I would be cautious.
Re: 12 volt electrical Reply #3 – August 15, 2005, 03:00:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56847QuoteWill any light that is 12 volt work here? Specifically, I have been looking at some reading lights sold by boat outfitters, such as those You'll find different folk have their favorites. However, I'll plug a #1383 min-bayonet reflector bulb, available at Camping World among others. It will mount in any aim-able 'bullet' type mini-bayonet socket reading lamp and puts out far the best light for reading I have found. Some mini-halogens will put out as much or more light, but not nearly as uniform a pattern, and thus more tiring to read by (and they emit a lot more heat!).Steve
Re: 12 volt electrical Reply #4 – August 15, 2005, 06:12:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56853Quote "I have an island bed model LD with wall mounted lights on either side of the bed. I want to replace these with better lights for reading"Quote"Will any light that is 12 volt work here?" DorisDorisYes, any light that is 12v will work there, providing it's base is large enough to cover the existing hole you will find behind the stock lamp bases. All you need do is match the color of the wires, black to black, red to red, etc. I also have a 30'IB with those not so effecient lamps on either side that throw their light all over the bedroom. In fact, that's why I changed mine. I now have a pair of "berth lights" from , West Marine Model #2660918. They have flexible goose necks so that you can direct the light where you want it. Their bases, although smaller than the stock lamps, will still cover the mounting holes. These lights employ Xenon bulbs so do not touch them with your bare fingers. Use latex gloves or tissue paper or something on that order because if you get the oils from your hands on the bulb it will soon be history and they are not inexpensive.I'm quite happy with mine.Steve S. Lazy Bones
Re: 12 volt electrical Reply #5 – August 15, 2005, 07:56:38 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56863"Halogen bulbs get very hot so I would avoid them." While it's true that halogen bulbs reach a high surface temperature, they actually generate less overall heat per lumen, because they are much more efficient than ordinary incandescent bulbs. In other words, for a given amount of light output, a halogen bulb puts out less heat...as well as using less electricity. That makes it a winner on both counts. Of course, the clear champions are white LED arrays, which put out almost no heat and are far more energy-efficient than either standard or halogen incandescent bulbs. As you probably know, these are available in standard lamp bases, so that they can be used as plug-in replacements for old-style 12V bulbs. There are a couple of drawbacks with the LED arrays I've seen, however. Their light tends to be rather cold and bluish, which is not very friendly or pleasant from a psychological point of view. Ever since the first cave dwellers huddled around their primitive electric lamps, humans have preferred a slightly yellowish light. If I were designing these LE arrays, I'd be using one amber LED for every four or five white ones just to warm up the light a bit. Second, the plug-in LED arrays I've seen have all had the LEDs pointing in one direction. This is fine if you want a spotlight effect, but less good where a diffused light is wanted. In standard ceiling fixtures, for example, the bulbs are oriented horizontally--so if you replace their incandescent bulbs with plug-in LED arrays, the light will be going sideways instead of downward. Nevertheless, in a "designed-for-LEDs" fixture like the ones now sold by many marine dealers, these are by far the least power-hungry way of getting light where you need it, so they're worth considering.Andy Baird
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: 12 volt electrical Reply #6 – August 16, 2005, 10:07:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 56878http://www.imagometrics.com/FLReviews/EF-520.htm is another great source for independent flashlight reviews.As an owner of a lighting company I can say that luxeon and LED lighting are both great options for illuminating inside your LD. For search/emergency work I use the Streamlight Ultra Stinger.In our LD I always have our Field Lamp in use. It has a luxeon bulb. I also use lots of 'chem' light sticks. The light sticks have no heat or spark, but last only through the night.I had our web guy create a 35% OFF coupon for users here. Simply enter lazydaze in the web store. In my LD I carry the Streamlight Ultra Stinger for outside work and the Surefire Executive for inside duty. Both are great lights.Rick
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: 12 volt electrical Reply #7 – August 16, 2005, 12:18:29 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56888This may or may not fill the bill for your location, but I had the RV Guy (Albuquerque genius) install two of these. One at the end of each of the two couches. We like to read, but I HATE those overhead lights. I slide down on my backside pretty fast, and I want a light over my shoulder - therefore, these little goose neck ones are perfect!http://tinyurl.com/4cn7kSMALL GOOSENECK LAMP For 12 Volt DC powerLITTLITE HIGH INTENSITY LAMP is a high quality 12 volt DC, 18" flexible gooseneck lamp. Best for lighting a small area for computer work, or reading in bed. Flashlight size 5 watt (l/2 amp) quartz bulb has life of 240 hours at full intensity, greatly extended when lamp is slightly dimmed. All metal construction. Screws down to table or wall, or use the weighted base accessory to make a movable table lamp. NEW model has 10-LED lamp (6 white & 4 red) for warm color, good for 5,000 hours light at 1/10 amp current.(Lamp cannot be retrofitted to LTL3)[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: West Marine Berth Lights-to Steve S. Reply #8 – August 17, 2005, 08:58:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56951QuoteI also have a 30'IB with those not so effecient lamps on either side that throw their light all over the bedroom. In fact, that's why I changed mine. I now have a pair of "berth lights" from , West Marine Model #2660918. They have flexible goose necks so that you can direct the light where you want it. Their bases, although smaller than the stock lamps, will still cover the mounting holes. These lights employ Xenon bulbs so do not touch them with your bare fingers. Use latex gloves or tissue paper or something on that order because if you get the oils from your hands on the bulb it will soon be history and they are not inexpensive.I'm quite happy with mine.Steve S. Lazy Bones Steve, thanks for this fine suggestion. I plan to order a pair. After spending the last 3 weeks in our 2002 30', we realized the stock lamps are not the best - even with one bulb removed and a 3x5 note card tucked in to shield the bright light.Was installation easy? Anything to look out for?Chris Horst
Re: West Marine Berth Lights-to Steve S. Reply #9 – August 17, 2005, 10:29:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 56960Quote Steve, thanks for this fine suggestion. I plan to order a pair. After spending the last 3 weeks in our 2002 30', we realized the stock lamps are not the best - even with one bulb removed and a 3x5 note card tucked in to shield the bright light.Was installation easy? Anything to look out for?Chris Horst ChrisNot a problem, two wires and two screws is all it takes. You might want to pick up some shorter screws at your local hardware, the ones I got with the lamps were overly long. And, as I recall, did not match the brass color of the lamps.Steve S. Lazy Bones
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