It’s pitch black outside, and you need to conserve as much power as possible so you can stay camping in the woods dry camping longer. It’s only 7 pm, though, and you’re not ready for bed yet.
You switch on your RV lights and proceed to enjoy the great outdoors. But what kind of lights? You’ve got several choices!
First, it’s important to know what type of light bulbs already exist in your RV. There are typically two types:
- 12v – these lights run off batteries
- 120v – similar to the lights at your home, these lights only work with a generator or when plugged into shore power
- LED – some newer motorhomes may have LED lights already
If you’re looking to update your RV interior light fixtures, you might be happy to learn that you can use essentially any fixture you’d like, as long as you have the correct light bulb. This can mean you have a wide variety of options, including decorative RV interior lights!
RV Lights Interior
When shopping for interior RV lights, think about what you don’t like about your existing lights. Do you just not like the look of them, or do you think they don’t emit enough light? Knowing what you don’t like about your current light fixtures can help you pick out new ones that are perfect!
If you’re hoping to keep installation quick and easy, you may want to make sure you’re purchasing a similar type of light fixture, although if you’re unsure about installation, hiring an electrician is never a bad idea!
If you’re replacing RV interior lights, now might also be a great time to upgrade to LED lights. Updating your RV interior lights for an updated look or for more decorative RV interior lights is a simple fix that can have a big impact on the ambiance and overall style of your motorhome!
Here are some reasons to consider LED lights, plus other facts to know about them.
- LED lights use less power to shine and produce more light. 12-volt incandescent bulbs consume 1.6 amps of power. A 12-volt RV LED light consumes 0.12 amps. If your RV has 24 incandescent bulbs that need 1.6 amps of power each, you will be using 38.4 amps to power them all. If all your bulbs were LED, you would only need 2.8 amps to power all 24 bulbs.
- RV LED light bulbs are more expensive, but the power-saving costs and long life make up for the initial purchase price.
- Most of the lights in your RV are incandescent bulbs or halogens. They are affordable, burn bright, and do not hurt your eyes when you look at them. On the other hand, they burn hot.
- 12-volt LED RV lights are available in the following shades: warm white, cool white, and natural white. Cool white is brighter than normal white and sometimes looks bluish. Warm white is designed to have a similar glow as incandescent bulbs. Natural white lies somewhere in between cool and warm.
- There are RV LED lights for awnings and interiors, LED RV tail lights, and special lights made for the exterior that are motion sensitive or have bug repellant.
- Some RVs have at least 24 bulbs. Count the number of bulbs you need to change before heading out to the store.
- LED bulb installation requires no special tools. Simply remove the dome housing of the fixture. Unscrew the incandescent bulb, put in the new LED bulb and you’re done!
RV LED lighting can and will save you valuable boondocking amps. Though these bulbs will cost more upfront than the incandescent bulb, they last up to a decade and provide massive energy savings.
Advantages and Disadvantages of LED Lights
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, have been around for well over 60 years, but only recently has the technology been converted for use in RVs. These days, it is possible to find LED lights that will replace every single light in your RV. The variety of options makes switching to this energy-efficient type of lighting as easy as changing a light bulb. Other benefits include:
- Energy Efficient: LED lights use roughly 10% of the power that standard RV lights consume. This helps prevent a drain on your batteries and allows you to enjoy your RV without plugging into a power source for longer periods of time.
- They won’t fade your interior: LEDs produce no UV light, so there’s no danger of your drapes, furniture, or walls getting faded.
- Mercury Free: LED lights don’t contain lead or mercury like fluorescent lights.
- Long-lasting durability: LED lights can last for up to 60,000 hours – that is almost seven years of light! Compare this number to 2,000 hours for incandescent bulbs and 1,000 hours for halogens. It’s safe to say that you’ll rarely have to replace an LED light.
- Brightness: Most RV LED lights tend to be as bright or brighter than their incandescent counterparts.
- Generate minimal heat: Halogen and incandescent lights burn at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. LEDs burn at anywhere from 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit. This cooler temperature minimizes the chance of your fingers getting burned, or of the interior of your RV heating up. You won’t have to keep your energy-sucking air conditioner on at all times.
- Produce instant light: LED lights come on instantly and at full brightness. No more waiting for the light to brighten, as you would with fluorescent lights.
- Toughness: LED lights are able to withstand the ups and downs of RV travel and won’t break because of jarring vibrations.
- Variety: They are available in many colors, which allows you to customize your rig to your taste.
- Higher initial cost: The upfront cost of LED lights can be as much as 10 times the cost of incandescent bulbs. But after this initial expense, you will find that converting to this type of lighting will save you money on energy.
- Voltage Sensitivity: The 12-volt house system in RVs tends to experience voltage fluctuations. These fluctuations can be damaging to LED lights. To compensate, RV LED lights use voltage regulators. For this reason, you must choose LED lights specifically made for RV use.
- Overheating: Although not a common occurrence, LED lights can overheat. This occurs if the ambient temperature is high enough and if the light lacks adequate ventilation.
Important Considerations
If you have decided to add LED lights to your RV, there are some important points to consider. These include:
- RV LED lights have a color temperature rating that will tell you how white or warm the light will be. Lights that have a higher color temperature rating produce a whiter light. Lower color temperatures produce warmer colors. If you prefer the warm color of standard incandescent lighting, choose an RV LED light that has a color temperature rating of 2,700 K.
- Warmer color temperatures tend to promote relaxation, while cooler color temperatures promote concentration. Consider this information when you are choosing the lighting for specific rooms. For example, you would use a warmer LED light for your bedroom and a cooler one for your work area.
- The brightness of RV LED lights is measured in lumens. As an example, a common 116 incandescent light bulb produces roughly 400 lumens. LED lights produce directional light, which tends to appear brighter so fewer lumens will be needed to brighten the interior of your RV.
- Because of the higher cost of LEDs, consider getting a warranty. This will protect you if a light should fail or become damaged.
- When you are switching from RV LED bulbs, make sure to check the dimensions. This will ensure that your bulb will fit in your light fixture. LED bulbs may be larger than the halogen and incandescent bulbs that they replace.
Background on RV LED lights
If you’d like to know a little more about these lights before deciding to illuminate your own RV with them, let’s take a look.
What is an LED RV interior light?
LED stands for light-emitting diode. These lights have been around since the early 1960’s but until recently, the bulbs were fragile and expensive. LED lights give off a bright, rich light without consuming a lot of electricity. LED’s are also much safer than traditional bulbs as they emit little to no heat. You’re not going to burn your fingertips if you touch one!
Most recreational manufacturers did not begin installing LED’s as RV interior lights until recently. Interior LED lights were simply too expensive. The good news is, today, any RV owner can update their personal lighting with a huge variety of affordable LED options.
Why LED RV lights are an affordable investment:
If you own a motor home or trailer, you know just how important it is to keep your electrical usage low. RV parks usually ask rig owners to pay for electricity along with their space rent. While electric rates vary across the country, using the average of .14 cents a kilowatt, the cost of running your lights can add up. On the other hand, if you’re boondocking, conserving power is crucial.
Low-wattage LED lights can offer hours of comfortable illumination. Imagine clean, bright light without draining your battery or your solar reserves.
Just how much energy will I save?
The average 60 incandescent-watt bulb will cost $4.80 cents a year. Most bulbs will average 1,000 hours of use. In comparison, a 12W LED light (the kind used in RVs) will cost $1.00 to run. This LED bulb will work for up to 25,000 hours, providing the same volume of light as its incandescent friend.
Many recreational vehicles have fluorescent or halogen lights in their interior. While fluorescent and halogen lights are more efficient, they often give off a “tainted” light. Tainted lights can distort and give things a yellow or green hue. Halogen lights run hot, and while they’re more cost-effective than an incandescent bulb, they can burn your light fixture or ceiling over time. If you prefer fluorescent-style fixtures, look for LED copycats, such as LED tube lights, to replace your current old-fashioned bulbs.
Ok, take a moment to count your RV interior lights. There’s a ton of them, right? By replacing your old lights with new LED RV interior lights, you will have an initial investment that will save a bundle over time.
Now that you know WHY you need new LED lights, here’s HOW to buy them without any hassle.
Step #1: Choose The Correct LED RV Lights For Your Interior
Examine the base of your bulb. Some original bulbs have single filaments, while others have a pin. Examine your current bulb and use a simple conversion chart to decide which LED light is right for your rig.
Step #2: Choose The Right Color For You
Believe it or not, light varies in color and this variation can affect your RV interior. In this chart, you can see how the light spectrum varies. To keep things simple, let’s divide your choices into three colors. You can choose natural light, cool light, or warm light. Natural light feels like sunlight and most closely mimics light you find in nature. Cool light is oftentimes the brightest light and appears the most white. Warm light offers a gentle “blush” and provides a traditional interior color.
Step #3: Choose Quality Components
All LED bulbs are not created equal, so reading product reviews and speaking to LED providers is an important step. While you can buy LED lights on sites like eBay and Overstock, you may not always know what you’re getting. This is where some basic research can go a long way. Keep reading to find our best LED bulb suggestions with links on where to find them!
Step #4: Ask Some Questions
- Was this light designed specifically for RV use?
- Is it rated with the correct voltage for RV use? (usually 10-30)
- Does the light use aluminum heat sinks for longer RV life?
Taking the time to talk to an LED RV light expert can help you make the correct decision the first time around. Don’t skimp on the research. You don’t want to buy bulbs all the time (that’s the point, right?) Do the research now to find the right bulb for your current fixtures.
Types of LED Camping Lights
First, think about what type of lights you’d like for your outdoor space. You might want string lights that can hang from your tent or awning to another spot, creating a perfect little area to pull up a chair and relax. Or maybe you want a lantern that you can bring with you from your campsite to the trailhead for an early morning sunrise hike.
Once you’ve determined which type of outdoor lights you’d like to purchase, you’ll want to decide how to power them. It’s likely that you’ll be able to find one style powered in a variety of ways. The most common include solar-powered, battery-powered, or rechargeable.
Most of the lights you need are going to be 12v RV lights for lighting the inside of your rig. While you’re looking, you may want to consider RV LED lights – they cost more up front, but they require less power to run each time they’re on, and they last much, much longer. Over time they’re a worthwhile investment!
Let’s take a look at the different kinds of lights you’ll need to operate your RV, and which of them could be replaced with LED lights.
Lights to operate your RV safely
For starters, you’ll need lights to make sure you can safely operate and drive your RV. There are, of course, the standard headlights that every vehicle needs. You’ll also want some RV fog lights and RV tail lights. If you camp with a trailer, rather than a motorhome, you’ll also need some RV trailer lights. Bargman RV lights are trailer lights that are simple to install and very popular with recreational campers. RV docking lights are going to be useful as you set up camp.
Once the RV is parked, you’ll also want RV step lights and RV running lights to make sure people can see to get safely in and out of the vehicle.
Decorative Interior LED RV Lights
Looking for something with a little flair? Decorative RV interior lights might offer the perfect bang for the buck. Here are a few creative ideas to spark the interior decorator in you.
Battery-Operated LED Floor Lamps
Tabletop and floor lamps can add the cozy feeling of home in a dark corner of your rig. Battery-operated floor lamps come in different styles and finishes. They give bright reading light and usually run on 4 C batteries. Reviewers love these easy-to-use lamps and there are many models to choose from. Some models even offer rechargeable features, so you never have to worry about running out of battery power.
Under Cabinet LED Lights
Strip lights are all the rage when it comes to LED. Why turn on all the kitchen lights when a soft strip of LED under-cabinet lights will do? Strip lights come in a variety of colors and are adjusted to fit your specific cabinet needs. Light ropes make great guide lights and are also used along the walkways between your bed and bathroom.
Solar Ice Rocks
These clever glasslike rocks are usually used outside but, of course, you can repurpose anything! Here’s a tip. Charge your solar ice rocks outside during the bright summer sunshine. In the evening, bring them inside for elegant, candle-like ambience. OOH. Romantic!
Fulcrum 30010-301 LED Battery-Operated Stick-On Tap Light
Simple lights where you need them, when you need them. Stick and tap, that’s it! These round lights can be mounted anywhere your RV interior needs light. Think closets, cabinets or under the bed!
Reading Lights LED 12 Volt
The RV lifestyle is all about slowing down and enjoying life, and for many of us, slowing down includes reading a good book. RV interior reading lights are easy to install and offer crisp, cool light right where you need them, when you need them. No more using a flashlight under the covers – now you can read with ease!
RV LED Dome Lights
While we explained interior RV LED lighting earlier, these dome lights are a popular and specific type of lighting for your indoor area. Their dome-like shape helps to distribute the light more evenly, plus they’re sure to look both sleek and modern.
Decorative Exterior LED RV Lights
Home is where you park it and decorative exterior RV lights can help make any campsite a home. Here are a few of my favorite ways to brighten up the night.
Exterior LED Lights
Motion-sensing lights give both clarity and safety in unfamiliar surroundings. SolorBlaze exterior lights can attach to any motor home, fifth wheel, or travel trailer. They provide simple, bright light when you need it most.
LED RV Awning Lights
When entering or exiting your RV, particularly during sundown, you’ll want an RV LED light to provide you with ample visibility that’s also reliable. Forget flickering halogen light bulbs or incandescent lighting that only lasts for up to 2,000 hours.
Christmas Comes Early
Solar-powered LED string lights can transform trees, table tops, and awnings into a night-time wonderland. These simple-to-use, affordable LED lights make camping fun again. Choose from different colors and bulb shapes.
LED RV Tail Lights
Did you know that you can also replace your existing RV tail lights with LED versions? Again, they’ll last much longer than traditional bulbs, plus their ongoing brightness puts you and your family’s safety first.
8 Best LED Camping Lights
Here are a few of our favorite outdoor camping lights to help keep your campsite bright and shining!
Dimmable LED Rope Light
Although many modern RVs’ awnings come pre-equipped with LED rope lighting, if yours doesn’t, you can always provide the same effect yourself.
This strip of LED rope light emits a soft, natural glow that will make your outdoor area feel much more inviting; and it’s dimmable so you can adjust the brightness to your needs. It’s also waterproof and battery powered, making it easy to use anywhere else you might imagine, inside or outside your RV.
Black Diamond Moji Lantern
As its name suggests, the Moji lantern does look just a little bit otherworldly, and that might just be appropriate — because as far as outdoor camping lights go, this lamp’s simply stellar.
The frosted globe design brings bright, ambient light whether you’re at your campsite, vehicle, or picnic table. It also comes equipped with a fully dimmable switch, allowing you to adjust the brightness as needed.
As a final cherry on top, the lantern comes in six different colors, so you can pick the one that works the best with the rest of your outdoor camping decor.
MPOWERD Luci Inflatable Solar Light
One hundred percent solar-powered, super lightweight, and collapsible, this inflatable lantern is a perfect emergency light source. One seven-hour solar charge will provide half a day of bright light, and at 4.4 ounces, the lantern is easy to clip to a backpack or hang in a tent.
The lantern is also totally waterproof and submersible. In short, you’re not going to find a way to ruin this thing!
Coleman LED String Lights
All the fun of string lights with all the nostalgia of an authentic-looking Coleman lantern… but miniature-sized! Adorable, right?
This kitschy string of lights operates on three triple-A batteries, and it’s super easy to set up and take down. Sling it along your awning or set it up in a line on a surface. You’ll get 20 hours of bright light — and endless conversation — with each fresh set of batteries.
The 60-Day Lantern
If you’re looking for simple reliability, it doesn’t get much better than this. UST’s 60-day lantern is so named because it does just that: it lasts for 60 full days on one charge if it’s kept in its “low” setting. One charge will get you 41 hours of the “high” setting, with a bright 1200 lumens.
The lantern is also water resistant and rubberized, making it difficult to break, and the whole thing weighs less than a pound altogether.
LED Tent Lightbulb Lanterns
Last on our list are these oh-so-cool, battery-powered tent “lightbulbs”. They come in a pack of four in several different colors. Each has a clip that allows you to hang them in more than one spot. Whether you’re playing a game of cards, diving into a good book, or going for a starry night walk, these little lights are the perfect addition to any campsite. The portability and small size also make them super easy for kids to carry and grip!
Best LED Replacement Bulbs For RV 921
Many people have switched their incandescent bulbs for LED bulbs. LED bulbs contribute less waste overall and are more eco-friendly and cost-effective than incandescent bulbs.
Best RV LED Replacement Bulbs
Super Bright 921 LED Bulb
The Super Bright bulbs are a quality, very bright bulb. In fact, they’re so bright, it’s recommended you only use them with a light cover. Even with such a bright light – 684 lumens – the bulbs don’t consume much power, just about 3.8 watts. They don’t heat up, flicker, or buzz, and they have a good lifespan. They also come with a one-year warranty.
Voltage Automotive 921 Bulb
This is a great quality RV bulb from a company that has been around for more than 25 years. The bulbs come with a one-year warranty and can be used for license plate lights, side markers, interior lights, dashboard lights, and more. Some users say the light from this bulb is dimmer than other options, which is a pro or a con depending on what you prefer.
Kohree 12-volt Replacement 921 Wedge LED Bulb
With 400 lumens, these bulbs are nice and bright. They also have a 360-degree beam angle, meaning every part of your RV will be well-lit. Their color temperature is 3000K, which means the light shines warm and soft, rather than harsh like many LEDs. The bulbs have a 25,000-hour lifespan and do not flicker. Finally, they’re easy to install and low-energy.
VehiCode RV LED Interior
Vehicode is a well-known automotive parts brand, and it offers a variety of LED bulbs designed specifically for RV interiors. With a variety of lights, shades, and sizes, they are a diverse marketplace with everything you may need!
How Many Lumens Does a 921 RV Bulb Have?
Lumens indicate the brightness and intensity of your lightbulb. The more lumens, the brighter your light. There is no specific number of lumens for a 921 bulb, but they are generally between 200-220 lumens.
How to Change RV Ceiling Light Bulb?
How many RVers does it take to change a lightbulb? Just one…although you may want a buddy to spot you if you’re climbing any ladders.
When you’re ready to change your RV ceiling light bulb, turn off the lights first and allow them to cool. Begin by removing the old lightbulb and setting it aside. If there is a dome or other fixture over the bulb, you’ll need to unscrew that or slide it sideways to access the bulb. Twist or push your new bulb into place, depending on the type. Check to make sure it’s firmly in place. Wrap your old bulb in paper or packaging so it doesn’t shatter, and dispose of it. Used bulbs, as a general rule, cannot be reused or recycled.
Finally, turn on the light and check that your bulb is working.
921 vs 912 – Which One is Better for my RV?
Although 912 bulbs are more efficient than 921 LED bulbs, they are also more expensive and fit in fewer fixtures. They have polarity sensitivity, which needs to be taken into consideration. Generally, people prefer 921 LED replacement bulbs because they are cheaper and more versatile.
There are a lot of reasons to make the switch from incandescent bulbs to LED lights. LED lights last much longer, saving you the trouble of having to buy and replace them often. They’re more energy-efficient and create less waste, making them eco-friendly. And although they are more expensive, the fact that you will purchase fewer in the long run could make them much cheaper overall.
LED lights have also come a long way since the harsh light of the original bulbs. Now, you can choose from soft warm lighting or brighter lighting, depending on what you’re doing and your personal preference. If you haven’t yet switched to LEDs, now’s the time!
