Converting RV Lights to LEDs - PART 5 - Docking & Patio Lights
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- Опубліковано 10 жов 2024
- In Part 5 of our LED Your RV series, we're replacing our RV's docking and patio lights with cool, bright, low-power LEDs. We're also giving away a $250 prize from M4 Products in our latest RVgeeks contest!
It's easy to replace incandescent exterior RV lights with LEDs, which are much brighter, but use only 1/4 to 1/8 the power.
On Monday, September 15, 2014, one lucky RVgeeks viewer will win a $250 online shopping certificate from M4 Products. Visit our brand new website to enter today:
thervgeeks.com/...
M4 LED Products is offering a special discount for RVgeeks viewers. Visit their website at M4Products.com and enter the discount code "RVgeeks5" at checkout to receive a 5% discount on your entire order!
Watch the other videos in our LED Your RV series:
Part 1 - Incandescent & Halogen: • Converting RV Lights t...
Part 2 - LED Color & Brightness: • Converting RV Lights t...
Part 3 - 18" Fluorescent Tubes: • Converting RV Lights t...
Part 4 - 12" Fluorescent Tubes: • Converting RV Lights t...
Part 6 - Security, Entry & Reading: • Converting RV Lights t...
Our complete playlist of LED conversion videos:
• LED Your RV!
FEATURED & RELATED PRODUCTS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:
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If you've seen our video about converting our RV's fluorescent lights to LED strip lights (if not, you can view it here: • HOW TO: Convert Fluore... ), you may have noticed that it took a while before we shared any more tips about switching to LEDs.
The reason for that is because we've been experimenting with converting our RV's other lights (halogen, incandescent and even other fluorescent light options). But it was a bit frustrating, since options for LED color and brightness can be confusing, and many suppliers don't accurately convey the information you need to choose the color temperature and brightness you want.
Then we heard about a company on the iRV2 discussion forums called M4 Products. The information on their website was really thorough, and the owner's fast, detailed response to our questions made us confident that his lights would be the right color and brightness.
After so much trial & error, buying from M4 was the best experience we've had. Since we were heading toward southern California, where M4 is located, we made an appointment to stop by to see about upgrading more of our lights.
Being a fellow RVer, Steve, M4's owner, was incredibly knowledgeable about LED applications for RVs, and the quality of his products was obvious. We've looked at, and tried, our fair share of LED bulbs, and Steve's are the best quality and best value we've found so far.
Click here to visit M4 Products:
M4Products.com
The piano music is my own performance of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag from 1899.
WONDERING WHAT'S THE BEST GEAR TO USE ON YOUR RV?
Here's all of our favorite equipment that we use ourselves and recommend to friends:
thervgeeks.com/...
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Full-Time RVers since April, 2003, we share DIY (do it yourself) RV maintenance, repair, travel, upgrade and operational tips & tricks.
Many RVers are eager to learn more about using, maintaining and caring for their rigs. We hope our experience can help others go DIY, saving time & money, plus the satisfaction of a job well done.
We're handy RVers, not professional technicians. We're happy with the techniques and products we use, but be sure to confirm that all methods and materials you use are compatible with your equipment and abilities. Regardless of what we recommend, consult a professional if you're unsure about working on your RV. Any task you perform or product you purchase based on any information we provide is strictly at your own risk.
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Visit m4products.com and use Coupon Code RVGEEKS5 to get a 5% discount on the same great M4 LEDs we use in our own RV.
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RVgeeks
Do you sell them new led lights that come with the wires attached to the tube?
Hi Carol! We’re just a couple of RVers who use (and love) M4 LEDs and don’t actually sell anything. You’d have to check to see what’s available on their website at
m4products.com
"Sort of Ok to Awesome!" That illuminating upgrade looks super easy compared to those fluorescent fixtures.
I've seen your DIY skills, Brian, so I know you're not the least bit intimidated by those fluorescent fixtures! But those docking lights are ridiculously easy, aren't they? lol
Great video, very timely too! Updating my 1984 Starcraft and will be changing out the lights to LEDs.
Excellent! :)
Love m4 products.
wow! quite the improvement!
Another great video.
What color are those LEDs? Is it M4's cool white (5500k) or the natural white (4500k)?
***** There's only 1 choice on the the docking lights from M4: "White" which we would say is between natural and cool white.... a bit on the bluer side of the spectrum, but a very "white white" so to speak. The COB patio light is the "cool white" version (COB04-CW is the part #), but that one is also available in both natural and warm white. This docking/patio light combination makes them all pretty nearly the same color, but with the patio light the slightest bit bluer/cooler. Steve at M4 is very responsive if you want to ask him for further details or specs. m4products.com
Great video. Thank you. I wish I could enter.
We have another great giveaway coming up in about a week! Be sure to subscribe to our video blog, and you'll receive notification about how to enter: thervgeeks.com
Any follow-up to your dock light swap. I have a 2005 Newmar with many of the exact same light fixtures s you have. I had an issue with my dock lights in that the new grommet and light fit very loose in the body of the coach. Not sure if the originals were slightly thicker or why they fit tighter. I found I could easily insert the new light with the grommet attached into the hole in the coach. Once in, it has a around ¼” of movement up and down. I didn’t feel comfortable with that and believe that Newmar might have made the holes a tad too big for the new lights although the originals seem to fit OK. I ended up using some silicone, and once the light and grommet were firmly seated in the coach, I lifted the outer rubber of the grommet and injected some silicone so it would fill the gap and keep the assembly in place. I did this on the top, bottom and two sides. Fingers crossed this works OK. I am curious if yours fit tighter since your coach is so similar or if you have had any issues since this installation. The new M4 docking lights are so much brighter and a cleaner light they will be very helpful when I take the dog out after dark. All of the M4 products I have bought to date have been a great update and will help in the future as we plan more boondocking. Saving the tube lights for the winter since the coach will be in an indoor storage facility and it is a good project while there is snow on the ground.
Hi Bob! We did notice when we installed the M4 docking lights that there was a little more play between the new rubber mountings and the opening in the bodywork, but there wasn't enough play for them to even come close to falling out, and we've never had any problem with them (actually had to think back to that install to recall that detail). We love that you're happy with the noticeably brighter light from them, since we comment on it just about every time we use them. LOL Safe Travels, fellow '05 Newmar Owner! 😀
We recently made the swap in out yacht, amp draw went from 42 amp with all the lights down to 6 and the difference in output is amazing
LEDs Rock! We have friends with a pretty large motorboat (48') and they're looking at LEDs, even with their massive battery bank. It's amazing how much light comes from such a small amount of power.
Great video thank you. Can I ask what camera and editing programme you are using it all seems very professional. Hope you don't mind the cheeky request.
Very best wishes... Mark
Thanks so much for the comment, Mark. The vast majority of the footage on our newer videos (over the past 2 years) has been shot with our Canon EOS 7D, which replaced our woefully inadequate Sanyo Xacti. We also have the occasional shoot with our iPhone (the entire Scotland video was shot with that). You're about to see our very first video that integrates footage from our new GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition! One of our upcoming videos (very soon) will be about leveling a motorhome, which has cool footage shot beneath the RV using that amazing little camera. ALL of our video has always been processed in iMovie, which I know is pretty basic compared with programs like Final Cut Pro or Premier Pro. With a day job taking up most of our time, I just haven't had time to even think about learning one of those! Not a cheeky request at all. :)
RVgeeks Noted thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Very interesting reading your thoughts about your visit to the UK, well Scotland is part of the UK( I live in the Midlands) as I type, no idea how thats going to pan out. I am an avid fan of your exploits even the more mundane aspects. Please keep on keeping on.... again best wishes to you and yours..
I love your videos! Hopefully you have time to answer a question, I would like to know how many watts you have saved total with LEDs Thank you
Wow. Never did all the math by adding up every light in the RV before, but since we never have them all on at once, here's some individual info that should help. We had lots of incandescents (921 wedge base) that used 1.4 amps each (17.92 watts). We replaced them with M4's 921-24-5050 warm white LEDs which use 0.17 amps (2.04 watts) each. That's 1/8th the power for every bulb we have on. We also had a lot of halogen G4 pin-based bulbs which used 8.33 amps (10 watts) each. We replaced those with M4's G4-6-5630-NW natural white bulbs which use 0.07 amps (.84 watts). That's about 1/10th the power for every bulb we have on. Plus the LEDs are much, much cooler, especially compared with the halogens, with are insanely hot. Hope this all helps.
RVgeeks Thank you! that is helpful . It seems like it is worth the investment and a must have if running off grid most of the time
What’s the part number to the oval LED dock lights you have on this video. I can’t find them.
The part number is TAIL-6OVAL-CLEAR-C and they’re listed on M4’s floodlights page. Here’s a link right to them: m4products.com/6-clear-led-oval-docking-or-backup-lamp-with-rubber-seal/
How does the LED lights do with bugs? Have you seen more less or the same amount of Bugs around the lights at night?
We tend to avoid leaving the lights on too much or too long, so we don't see too many bugs either way, but I'd have to say that the amount of bugs seems about the same as incandescent.
Any dimmer switches on your rig? I want to install them on mine and I can't figure out how to make it happen, I have only one wire coming and going to my factory installed led lights. I'll check m4 products, thanks for the link!
smacdiesel We haven't installed any dimmers yet, but we're determined to figure out a way to tackle them. Newmar has a challenging wiring setup because of the fact that our dimmable lights achieve that via a single wire running 6 volts to several lights. We rarely used the dim level anyway, so it wasn't that big a deal to give it up to go LED. But if we could, we'd like to get that ability back, if for no other reason than we like the idea that a 2-position switch should do two things, not one (both "up" and "down" on those switches currently gets us "on" as opposed to bright or dim). M4 does sell dimmers, and we're going to see if we can tackle this in a future video.
Thanks, I have a similar setup in my Winnebago, a single wire. I checked m4's website and their offerings are slim on dimmers. I really like to dim my lights, I look forward to learning how you fix this, very little out there in terms of information. Thanks again for excellent content!
Won't be neccesary guys. Just got a new RV came with all LEDs
Congratulations Randy! What'd you get!?!
Told you like 3 days Ago lol
Randy Lahey Sportscoach! Sorry we brain farted on that Randy. We've been overwhelmed with e-mail about the launch of the new website and the contest and didn't make the connection. Congratulations again, and have a great time in Mexico (be careful though)! :)
+RVgeeks damn, he expects you to remember his comment out of everyone else's?
No worries Tray. Randy is actually such a frequent commenter that we usually do remember! :)
I went to the geek's web site to enter the contest, but it aint working.
Hi Randy. We've been watching the entry totals click up continuously all day, and it just updated to a higher number a minute ago, so we know it's working. Can you try entering on a different browser or device? If you're still having trouble, you can use this link right to Raffelcopter: www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6599ef986/
Any new updates?
We love our M4 LEDs, and have never had one fail. We've done a whole series of LED videos. Maybe one of these will be helpful. ua-cam.com/play/PL57sd9ryLVgPQyoip80QRxQdApGrSbKkC.html
Good stuff guys. But really, you gotta dump that whacky intro music..
Having played ragtime piano for my entire adult life, branding our videos with my own performance of Scott Joplin's first published piece is a very personal way of making our content even more our own. Sorry, but if people can't handle 10 seconds of exposure to classic Americana that's outside their usual bubble, they'll either have to turn off the sound or watch some other channel.
RVgeeks Well then apologies are in order, I didn't realize your intro music was your own handy work. I've played music for 45 years myself. Anyway, I've purchased quite a few LED upgrades from M4 on your recommendation. Thanks again for the vids.
MrSparks54 No worries. I know that Ragtime isn't for everybody, but I feel compelled to share my little 10 seconds anyway. lol Didn't mean to sound snarky. Glad you're liking your LEDs. Hope you entered the contest!
Can't stand today's mechanics , car mechanics, airplane or whatever that have to wear latex gloves for most any task. I see that and just tell them I'll do it as I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, not to mention you have no feel for the work you are doing!
Hi Pete. I have two simple reasons for wearing nitrile gloves when I’m working. First, I have very dry skin, and washing my hands more than necessary just makes it worse. Second, when I had cancer surgery, they removed lymph nodes from under my right armpit as part of the surgery. The doctor (and others since) told me I should try to avoid cutting my right hand or arm, as I can get infections much more easily due to the lymph nodes not being there. I figured it would be weird to wear a glove only on my right hand, so I wear two. It actually helps me feel what I’m doing better, as I can pick up a dime a lot easier with a nitrile glove on than with the dry skin on my bare hands.