12v fluorescent LED replacement bulb

[demonboy]

... do they exist yet? Kinda bit like this one but 12v, not 220v.

 

[majdrew]

I think this is what you're looking for..

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/caravanmotorhome-leds-tube-lights-c-100_155.html

 

[demonboy]

I was looking for the bulb only and couldn't find them on ultraleds, but these are a compromise, if necessary. It would mean re-covering my headboards and fitting a new lap, rather than just replacing the bulbs on my existing ones.

 

[stephenmartin]

You could try using the mains voltage types powered from a 200 watt inverter from maplin.....thats what I did....my engine room is like a disco

 

[beserksail]

Is the anchor light bulb at £14-99 any good from Ultraleds.

 

[William_H]

The typical 12v flourescent tube light uses a transistor switching inverter through a transformer to provide about 100 vollts AC with spikes of higher voltage ie not sine wave. The inverter and particularly the transformers are not all that reliable and of course produce radio interference (worse in some cases.) and inefficiencies.

While it is desirable to produce a replacement tube for domestic 240V flourescents where you start with the higher voltage I think to do this in a boat running on 12v system is just too inefficient and complex. I would suggest that if you want to keep the original fitting that you retain the base plate and lens and fit 12v LED clusters inside in place of the original inverter.

You may be able to get a suitable commercial LED array or use individual LEDs with simple resistor current limiting using 3 or 4 LED bulbs in series and as many of them as you want in parallel.

Just another opinion olewill