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LED Journeys Continued

So in my previous posts I have been fortunate enough to discover good
replacements for 922 - wedge style external lights and shower light. I  also found a good replacement for the hot halogen hockey pucks (891 Replacement) .
We are also happy with 1383 Replacements (those finger burners over the
bed). My next step is the desk lamp.

Vanity Lights - Desk Application

And what about those Vanity lights (2099) - the over sink lights are non
replaceable for aesthetic reasons (unless I go to a new fixture), but tha  t is not the only place they crop up. We have them over the desk, and they
are about 13w per bulb! Nor are these lights bright enough for some desk
tasks. So the challenge is to find a bayonet replacement that will  generate more light and use less energy.

Desk Lamp

Here is an interesting idea - the spider light. These LED towers are
made to insert through small openings and then pop open. The benefit for
this application is that we get downward focused light, which is what we
need over the desk.

Closed "Spider" Light

When the sophisticated rubber band is removed the panels pop open
revealing 30 lensed LEDs.

Spider Light deployed

This allows the light to be focused directly away from the bayonet
soc ket, which is what we need for the over desk light.


Bayonet socket

A quick test though shows a couple of problems. Problem number one is
that the splayed lights contact the fixture glass diffuser. Second problem
is that the flair after the bayonet socket starts within the socket case  for the existing fixture. I reduced one of the socket cases to test, but I was
not happy with the result. So while totally cool and a bit Rube Goldberg -
I just needed another answer. It came in a suggestion from Ron Hall - Ron
found a bulb from "tuningpro" available on ebay that is shown

"tuningpro" 1156 Replacement

This bulb worked fantastic and here it is in the lamp

3x19 LED bulbs over Desk

It is important to make su re you also test with diffusers on - because
LEDs have a reputation for generating very specific frequency and
directional light. So for example if you put a red filter over a while LED
you get exactly no light past the Red lens. So the light output can be
greatly reduced if the wrong or colored diffuser is used. In this case
everything worked out great.

Over Desk Lamp with LEDs

The diffuser did reflect some of the light from the LEDs, but not enough  to prevent the desk from being well illuminated. The quality of the light is
also improved so that there is a good amount of project light on the desk
for close up and fine work.

Honestly these bulbs could also function as 1383 replacements except
that they are cool rather than warm white. If you can live with Cool white
then these are a very good light source t hat cuts down on generated heat.
They are also very inexpensive ( you can get at an RV or Marine specialty store. Note that this price is also
for two lights!

Well that is the end of the LED journey for me. I have enough light and
better quality light at much reduced wattage. The remainder of the lights
are seldom used, or will just be left off while boondocking. I have still
not found anything that is compelling enough to motivate me to change out
the fluorescent fixtures.

Suggestions welcome

Kevin (Real) McCoy [KF5FUZ / WQJE447]

("Roscoe Ventura" Jayco Seneca HD SS 34 Diesel 2006;

Unlimited 2007)

LED Journeys Continued

So in my previous posts I have been fortunate enough to discover good
replacements for 922 - wedge style external lights and shower light. I  also found a good replacement for the hot halogen hockey pucks (891 Replacement) .
We are also happy with 1383 Replacements (those finger burners over the
bed). My next step is the desk lamp.

Vanity Lights - Desk Application

And what about those Vanity lights (2099) - the over sink lights are non
replaceable for aesthetic reasons (unless I go to a new fixture), but tha  t is not the only place they crop up. We have them over the desk, and they
are about 13w per bulb! Nor are these lights bright enough for some desk
tasks. So the challenge is to find a bayonet replacement that will  generate more light and use less energy.

Desk Lamp

Here is an interesting idea - the spider light. These LED towers are
made to insert through small openings and then pop open. The benefit for
this application is that we get downward focused light, which is what we
need over the desk.

Closed "Spider" Light

When the sophisticated rubber band is removed the panels pop open
revealing 30 lensed LEDs.

Spider Light deployed

This allows the light to be focused directly away from the bayonet
soc ket, which is what we need for the over desk light.


Bayonet socket

A quick test though shows a couple of problems. Problem number one is
that the splayed lights contact the fixture glass diffuser. Second problem
is that the flair after the bayonet socket starts within the socket case  for the existing fixture. I reduced one of the socket cases to test, but I was
not happy with the result. So while totally cool and a bit Rube Goldberg -
I just needed another answer. It came in a suggestion from Ron Hall - Ron
found a bulb from "tuningpro" available on ebay that is shown

"tuningpro" 1156 Replacement

This bulb worked fantastic and here it is in the lamp

3x19 LED bulbs over Desk

It is important to make su re you also test with diffusers on - because
LEDs have a reputation for generating very specific frequency and
directional light. So for example if you put a red filter over a while LED
you get exactly no light past the Red lens. So the light output can be
greatly reduced if the wrong or colored diffuser is used. In this case
everything worked out great.

Over Desk Lamp with LEDs

The diffuser did reflect some of the light from the LEDs, but not enough  to prevent the desk from being well illuminated. The quality of the light is
also improved so that there is a good amount of project light on the desk
for close up and fine work.

Honestly these bulbs could also function as 1383 replacements except
that they are cool rather than warm white. If you can live with Cool white
then these are a very good light source t hat cuts down on generated heat.
They are also very inexpensive ( you can get at an RV or Marine specialty store. Note that this price is also
for two lights!

Well that is the end of the LED journey for me. I have enough light and
better quality light at much reduced wattage. The remainder of the lights
are seldom used, or will just be left off while boondocking. I have still
not found anything that is compelling enough to motivate me to change out
the fluorescent fixtures.

Suggestions welcome

Kevin (Real) McCoy [KF5FUZ / WQJE447]

("Roscoe Ventura" Jayco Seneca HD SS 34 Diesel 2006;

Unlimited 2007)