Light fixture replacement

[Loneoak]

We need to replace the light fixture over the dinette. Can we use any kind of fixture, or does it have to be RV specific?

[Lloyd]

If it is AC you can replace it with any AC light fixture of your liking.
Mine was AC, and I snaked a wire and converted it to DC.

[Loneoak]

How would you tell? This light works when shore power is not plugged in.

[Lloyd]

Then you have a DC light. That is what I converted mine to.

[Loneoak]

So then I need an RV specific fixture, right?

[Lloyd]

If the light only operates on battery power, I guess that's correct.
Go in here and look around. See if you can find something that fits your fancy/needs.
Command Electronics

You will probably be able to find cheaper some other place, but you won't find better.

[stormseeker]

Originally Posted by Loneoak

So then I need an RV specific fixture, right?

It can be a boat or rv fixture as long as it is 12 v. Amazon seems the sweet spot for price and selection unless you want to order from a Chinese factory via Ebay. I've done a bit of that. Since its all made there anyway, you may as well eliminate the middlemen if you are sure you won't want to return it. Amazon Prime is great for free shipping and returns but a little more expensive. It is still much cheaper than Camping World and the like.

Bottom line: Google 'rv 12 v light' and refine from there. May as well make it LED while your at it. Good hunting!

[baileyrorys]

I'll second the idea of looking into an LED replacement. However, they do make 12 V LED bulbs that screw into standard fixtures. So, many options.

[travelin texans]

Seems strange that so many on this & other forums have had so much trouble with the LED lights going out prematurely that anyone would still be promoting them. I tried a couple of the LED replacements in a couple different fixtures & they didn't last as long as the halogens & cost 10 times more. Maybe if I boondocked & needed to save battery use, but I don't & have bought my last LED til that's the only choice. Please by all means if that's what you want, do so, just my .02 cents.

[stormseeker]

I'm not sure how many problems with LEDs there are other than the ultra cheap strips installed by Crossroads--and they may have gotten a bad container load. Of the others, I'm guessing that they are a small percentage of the total and that the majority are happy enough to not complain. Its the luck of the draw and one "Aw shucks!" kills a thousand "Attaboys" as we all know. From personal bad experience, I will have nothing to do with marginal cheap OEM tires and I am sure there are bad LED experiences too. LEDs are great if they work. Being cooler and using less energy, they stress the whole system less. If they don't work, not so much. My LED's haven't died yet so we'll see.

My thought on buying an LED fixture was that the manufacturer would (hopefully) have picked good quality, bright LEDs in self interest to avoid returns, saving the buyer some hassle. To each his own.

[mark5w]

Lloyd has the website for top of the line led's. Lloyd?

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by mark5w

Lloyd has the website for top of the line led's. Lloyd?

Originally Posted by Lloyd

If the light only operates on battery power, I guess that's correct.
Go in here and look around. See if you can find something that fits your fancy/needs.
Command Electronics

You will probably be able to find cheaper some other place, but you won't find better.

[Loneoak]

The problem with our light fixture is that the globes shook loose on our last trip and came down. The glass globes did not break, but one of the plastic things that holds the globe in place broke in many pieces. If I can replace that plastic piece, I will, but I am not optimistic. The light still works, it just looks funny without globes.