Range Hood Light Upgrade

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Robert, I really like it. Coupled with the Dickinson cooktop it is a 1st class galley. I posted some feedback in July in this other thread:

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...tml#post151365

Ah, that's right, I remember this thread now. I must be getting senile. [emoji23]

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

My ideal vent light would have 2 settings, bright one for cooking and dim one for night time.

I replaced my range hood bulb with an LED that was approximately 2-1/2 times brighter. But I fail to understand the desire for a low level nightlight. IMO, my Escape is already lit up like a dim Christmas tree at night, given the blue light coming off the stereo, the refrigerator, the blinking red light on the propane detector, and the flashing of the solar monitor, etc., not to mention ambient light from outside in many urban/suburban areas, campgrounds, or even when boondocking in more remote areas around the time of the full moon. It seems sometimes like I am trying to sleep on the Las Vegas strip. If I really wanted a nightlight in the range hood, I would tap into its 12v power, install a small toggle switch on the side of the shroud, and install a single white LED somewhere inside the shroud rather than go through the effort and expense of "upgrading" something that is used infrequently though functions perfectly well when needed. Just my 1 cent worth (seems I am short a penny!).

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Ah, that's right, I remember this thread now. I must be getting senile. [emoji23]

Hi: rbryan4... It was probably a "Senior moment". Get used to them... they occur more frequently as you age!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[escape artist]

Hi: C&G in FL... What happens in Vegas... stays in Vegas. I thought you weren't supposed to sleep there just "Gamble".
Bring your penny up to Canada... we cancelled ours. Cost too much!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[cpaharley2008]

When I mentioned night time use, I meant before bed. I have enough nightlight on as you mentioned, I have installed red lights inside lower cabinets which can be seen thru vents.
Night time meaning after dinner, dishes drying, fire outside, coming in for some libation and going back out.

[Red Dog]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

I thought I might document my upgrade to the range hood lighting. The little incandescent light bulb that can with the trailer was pitiful. It really needed some lighting improvement. The 5050 led's in a 6x8 array seemed to be the best choice so here it goes.

I purchased these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks Tom! I put these in my list on Amazon, but may have to look for them locally.

[wolfnjan]

Thanks as well, Tom, for doing the product research and posting such clear instructions. I immediately ordered the led light you mentioned and installed it in a matter of minutes. Upgrades don't get any easier or less expensive. I'm very pleased with resuits as well and would recommend this to anyone. What a difference!

[Allan Bornestig]

Hello tdf Texas.
Thanks for the idea and excellent info re installation of the LED in the range hood.
Got the lights from Amazon and installed one today.
Incredible improvement, Thank you.
Allan.

[Red Dog]

TDF-TEXAS,

Thanks Tom...I ordered a couple of them today!

[dkirk]

Thanks!
I have received mine and will install this weekend

[Chapitre]

I ordered and installed these lights, but they get very hot- too hot for the plastic cover which then emits an obnoxious odor- anyone else having this problem?

[tdf-texas]

I'm not sure what is causing this. I turned on my light and ran it with the vent fan off for several hours and it never got hotter than warm to the touch.

You might want to check that the metal bracket that the light is attached to is still directed down. If you look at my pictures, you will see that the metal bracket is not parallel to the cover but pointed down towards the range. Try bending the bracket back so that it is away from the plastic cover. This gives it some air space to cool and should fix your problem.

[cpaharley2008]

plus LEDs do not normally produce heat, like conventional bulbs

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Chapitre

I ordered and installed these lights, but they get very hot- too hot for the plastic cover which then emits an obnoxious odor- anyone else having this problem?

LEDs produce lots of heat - roughly half of the power going in comes out as heat - but much less than an incandescent bulb of the same brightness. I've replaced bulbs with LEDs in several fixtures and the result is always much cooler.

Unless the LED unit uses more power (in watts) than the bulb it replaces, there will be less heat. I don't see a power spec on the first units linked, but Dave's similar units are rated at 2.5 watts... which is much less power (and so much less heat) than the stock bulbs.

Is the LED unit just sitting too close to the cover?

[Chapitre]

I'm pretty sure I installed it where others have put it- I taped it on with foil tape to ensure that it stays adhered to the metal part where the regular light would more or less be and not drop down on the plastic. It does get fairly hot- you wouldn't be able to touch the light once it is on for any length of time.
The plastic starts emitting the odor within 2-3 minutes.

[Chapitre]

Is there another kind of bulb that would work?

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Chapitre

I'm pretty sure I installed it where others have put it- I taped it on with foil tape to ensure that it stays adhered to the metal part where the regular light would more or less be and not drop down on the plastic. It does get fairly hot- you wouldn't be able to touch the light once it is on for any length of time.
The plastic starts emitting the odor within 2-3 minutes.

Only a bad ass guess, but I wonder if the foil tape has anything to do with it. I can't see it though. I am a bit mystified why and LED light that would get so hot. I have installed many hundreds of LED lights, and though warm, I have never found one I could not touch for at least a short while.

If you got a two pack of bulbs like tdf did, try plugging the other one in and leave it hanging. After turning it on, see if it gets real hot too.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Chapitre

Is there another kind of bulb that would work?

LED's seem to have a high degree of variation in quality. I can say that something doesn't seem right if the bulb is hot and smells. I would try a different bulb from a reputable source. My suggestion is a direct replacement type bulb like this:

www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/rv-miniature-wedge-bulbs/921-led-bulb-12-smd-led-disc-miniature-wedge-retrofit-rvb/2803/#tab/Specifications

or this

www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/rv-miniature-wedge-bulbs/921-led-bulb-9-smd-led-disc-miniature-wedge-retrofit-rvb/2805/

The bulb you are replacing should be a standard automotive type 921 bulb. Although starting around 260 lumens they supposedly degrade to about 105 lumens and operate in the 2800-3000K color range. The bulbs I suggest should maintain their rated lumens and I would get the warm white 3000K as a closer match to the incandescent look. For the larger bulb you may have to modify the mounting as it looks like the LED could be too far left if using the stock socket location. Because these shine down only where you need the light it should be more effective. From experience, these bulb bases sometimes fit very tight. So tight that you may think it is the wrong bulb base, but it is correct.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

LED's seem to have a high degree of variation in quality.

This is very true. When I changed the bulbs in my 2009 19 to LED I bought a 10 pack cheap off of eBay. They were awful to install, gave poor light, and a couple failed after a short while. I then went to superbrightleds and bought some much more expensive ones, that worked great with nary a problem.

Still, I got suckered in and bought these strips off of eBay form China. $9 USD for 10 with free shipping. They took over a month to get here. I tried one, and it is plenty bright. Before I install them, I should try running one continuous for a week or so, and see what happens. Who knows, maybe I will end up going with strip lighting from Lee Valley that I have successfully used a couple dozen times now.

[gocamp]

Originally Posted by Chapitre

Is there another kind of bulb that would work?

Yes there is, it was posted here. Their bulb burnt out and they replaced with the same shape buld but with LED insides. Not that Square Flat LED. I can't find the thread. Maybe Donna might remember.