Australasian Touring Caravan, Motorhome & Camping Club, Inc.

Last week at the request of a member I did a LED light demo, for want of a better word, for the gathering at Casino to show the new breed of white LEDs. Below are 2 website's worth visiting and the url's pertaining to those lights. Members can purchase them direct at very good prices and postage free if they so wish. The suppliers have no connection with me, nor do I gain from this. I am merely passing on relevant info.

The 2 are sites immediately below are worth a look before deciding which way to go both are similar but go different routes

Lawrie Beales does some great conversions with the 60 LED cuttable strips. As you will see on the site, all the information is there in easy to follow steps, including where to purchase any of the bits needed. He even converted the light in his fridge to an LED. Also on Lawrie's site is a step by step instruction on making 3 way fridges work better (with pictures).  Lawrie's site is below.

http://www.dreampod.net/boroma/leds.htm

Barry Powell takes a slightly different tack. This is more of a lower cost option, but with good results. There is clear advice again with links to suppliers. Barry's site is below

http://longlucas.bravehost.com

All these lights require some handyman skills. It is relatively easy to fit them as seen on the websites and the results are stunning. Ask Ray for a look at his conversion which took all of 15 minutes and cost $50. He now uses 10% of the previous power and has far more light. We even converted his little reading lamp to LEDs.

This is the 12 LED round block. They are triple emitters so really the 36 LEDs do generate some heat, but nowhere near as much as incandescent bulbs or halogens and give out more light than 2x20w bulbs for 4w of power draw. They make ideal reading lights as well as an area light as they have a reasonably wide beam

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15648

This is the new 24 square block. A slightly different type of block 3w draw and a good area light with their 150 deg beam rather than a reading light. However they are OK as a reader

http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.18010

This is a complete 32 LED fixture including switch. It is great for an over bench or table area light and at $US12 ($AUD 19), these have a wide spread and a good built in reflector. They are used mainly as an area unit rather than a reading type light

http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.15976

This is the 96 LED silicone enclosed strip that is in my overhead oyster lights now priced at $US16 ($AUD25) and are great for large areas but pretty much superseded now by the 12 LED triple emitters. These, however, are fully weather proof and in fact can be run under water

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7556

Once you start looking at deal extreme your mind will pop with what is available. Remember it is data intensive with all the pics, and everything is in US dollars, so add 50% to get $AUD. BUT there is no postage.  Personally I buy in min lots of 3 and that way the price is better AND they send them registered post. All payments are via PayPal so it is safe and assured

For those that want easier plug and play type light fittings try here;

http://www.ledshoponline.com/ledlowvoltagebulbs38acdc.htm.

The prices are higher but then it is all plug and play

TIP: remember that the numbers on fittings are easily explained:

The numbers multiplied by 1/8" will give you the fitting size

Examples

MR-16 is a 2" fitting.

GR-11is a 1 3/8" fitting.

Etc.

Have fun and remember that by using LEDS you will gain a better and clearer light with lots less heat and between 50- 90% power savings. This means that you need less batteries and solar than you first thought so you save money as well as weight. And that means less fuel to drag the lot around or maybe the ability to carry more beer :)