Intro to RV LED Lights

RV interior LED lights are one of the fastest, most affordable updates you can make to your recreational vehicle. In this post, I will share a quick and easy guide to choosing the perfect interior RV lights that will be sure to last for years to come. If you’ve ever wanted to update your lights this simple step by step approach is for you! First, let’s start with a little background.

What is an LED RV interior light?

LED stands for: light-emitting diode. LED lights have been around since the early 1960’s but until recently the bulbs were fragile and expensive. LED lights give 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. (in other words, you aren’t going to burn your fingertips if you touch it)

Most recreational manufacturers did not install LED’s as RV interior lights until recent years. Interior LED lights were 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 owner to pay for electricity along side their space rent. Electric rates vary across the country. Using the average of .14 cents a kilowatt, the cost of running your lights can add expense. If you are boon docking (dry camping, off grid) managing your electrical usage 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 to run over a period of a year. Most bulbs will average 1,000 hours of use. In comparison, a 12 W LED light (the kind used in RV’s) will cost a mere $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 “tainted” light. Tainted lights often distorts and makes things seem either yellow or green.  Halogen lights run hot and while more cost-effective than an incandescent bulb they will burn your light fixture or ceiling over time.   If you prefer fluorescent style fixtures look for LED copy cats such as LED Tube lights to replace your current old fashion bulb.  You can also update to an all new LED Tube Light fixture produced by Thin-Lite and available at Amazon.com

Ok, take a moment to count your RV interior lights….yep that’s what I thought. There’s a ton of them. By replacing your old lights with new LED RV lights in the interior of your unit, you will save a bundle over time.

Now that you know WHY you need new LED lights here’s HOW to buy them WITHOUT all the hassle.

Step #1: Choose The Correct LED RV Lights For Your Interior

Examine the base of your bulb. Some original bulbs will single filaments while others will have a pin. Examine your current bulb and use a simple conversion chart to decide which LED light is right for your rig.

M4Products provides an image based cheat sheet that can help you get started.

Be sure to take note of the number on the bulb or on the light fixture.

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. For simplification let’s divide your choices into three colors. You can choose natural light, cool light or warm light.

Natural light feels like sunlight. It is a combination most like walking in the sun.

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 are getting. Buyer Beware! 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?) so do the research now and find the right bulb for your current fixtures.

 

Feeling creative? Here are a few other ways to merge LED lights into your rig:

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 – Table top 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 finish. They give bright reading light and usually run on 4 C batteries. Reviewers love these easy to use lamps. 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 adjusted to fit your specific cabinet needs. Light ropes make great guide lights and are also used along the walk ways between your bed and bathroom. ( for those late night strolls. )

Solar Ice Rocks – Ok, so these clever glass like rocks are usually used outside. Yet today, every interior designer knows, 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 mount anywhere your rv interior needs light. Think closets, cabinets or under the bed storage!

Reading Lights LED 12 Volt – The RV lifestyle is all about “slowing down and enjoying life.” 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!

Decorative Exterior LED RV Lights

Home is where you park it and decorative exterior RV lights can help make a parking lot 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 will attached to any motor home, fifth wheel or travel trailer. They provide simple, bright light when you need it most.

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.

Ready to replace a lightblubl or two?  Turn those old, yellow lights into crisp, cool, efficient LED bulbs in no time flat using this simple guide. Don’t forget, while RV interior LED lights may cost more than traditional bulbs they can last for 10 times longer. They will also use a mere fraction of the energy required by your old units.

If you are ready to make the switch but dont know where to start, you may want to try using 921 LED replacement bulbs. And do not worry we got you covered, just keep reading for some for our best suggestions!

Best LED Replacement Bulbs For RV 921

Many people have switched their incandescent bulbs for LED bulbs. Incandescent bulbs heat up, and the heat eventually damages the filament and other parts of the bulb, leading to them burning out faster. Because LED bulbs do not heat up, these bulbs last much longer and use less energy. They contribute less waste overall and are more eco-friendly and cost-effective than incandescent bulbs.

921 LED Replacement Bulb RV

If you do switch your bulbs from incandescent to LED lights, you’ll notice a difference in the type of light in your RV. Incandescent bulbs do give off a warmer glow than LED lights. This is because the filament inside is actually burning and creating light, more like the warm glow of a fire. LED lights produce softer, cooler light. It is easier to see in the light of an LED bulb, but the light is less flattering and “homey” feeling. However,  many LED lights have improved in recent years and work to mimic the more flattering incandescent lights.

Best RV LED Replacement Bulbs

1.) 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.

Price: $23.99 for 20 bulbs

2.) 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 do say the light is dimmer than other options, which is a pro or a con depending on what you prefer.

Price: $8.99 for 10 bulbs

3.) 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.

Price: $17.55 for 4 bulbs

4.) SRRB Performance 12-volt Replacement 921 Wedge LED Bulb

You can get SRRB bulbs that produce either 3000k warm white light or 4000k natural bright light and they can be used indoor or outdoors. They have a lifespan of 30,000 hours so they last much longer than incandescent bulbs. These LED lights are also much more eco-friendly than traditional bulbs.

Price: $16.99 for 4

5.) GRV T10 921 LED Bulbs

These bulbs are a great quality for the price and if you need to replace several bulbs at once this could be a good option for you. They’re also very lightweight, making them a good choice for RVs where you may be concerned about that. The soft, warm white light is dimmer than some very bright LED lights and you may need some extra lighting. The bulbs have a 50,000 hour lifespan and use very little energy.

Price: $16.86 for 10

6.) VehiCode RV LED Interior

Vehicode is a well-known automotive parts brands, 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 are looking for!

Price: $13.95 for 10

 

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 is 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!

 

 

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