TheSamba.com :: View topic - anyone replaced the N177232 bulb with LED

Sun Mar 04, 2012 8:09 pm

Anyone replaced the N177232 festoon bulbs in the interior overhead lights with LED's? If so how do you like them and where did you get them? There are many different companies that make them in different configurations of LEDs.

Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:48 pm

I swapped mine out months ago, and really like the light output. Teh ones I used look more or less like these:

Got mine out of China on Fleabay .. took about a week to get here, under $3 (shipped) for two. There's dozens of listings if you search "42MM 16 LED", look for neatly-made units (I prefer SMD versions) and established sellers with lots of feedback.

Just remember that polarity matters with these things .. if you put it in and it doesn't work, swap the ends.

Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:21 pm

Yes, I bought them from Super Bright LEDs http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Ffestoon.html

Bought the warm white with six leds. They work great without the harsh cold white light some leds put out. I have them in the fixture over the table, the between seats overhead, the rear overhead, glove compartment, the light under the rear seat and the light in the closet. They seem brighter than the incandescent bulbs and they don't get hot.
In the engine compartment I use the cool white ones in split bus fixtures.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:07 am

thanks - 42 mm is the correct size?

Opposum - is this the one you bought and was it cool white or warm white?

Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:40 am

we have a customer who did the 6 LED, "cool" ones and they work well.

i've never had a battery drain or insufficient light problem with "old" style bulbs myself.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:59 am

Yes, 42mm is the correct size. I used the warm white for all the interior festoon type lights. The warm white leds cast light similar to and as bright as the incandescent bulbs.
In the engine compartment I used the cool white bulbs, they cast that high intense almost glaring typical white led light.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:03 am

Are these bulbs "much" brighter then regular incandescent?

Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:04 am

Opossum wrote: Yes, 42mm is the correct size. I used the warm white for all the interior festoon type lights. The warm white leds cast light similar to and as bright as the incandescent bulbs.
In the engine compartment I used the cool white bulbs, they cast that high intense almost glaring typical white led light.

thank you

Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:35 am

borninabus wrote: i've never had a battery drain or insufficient light problem with "old" style bulbs myself.
You've obviously never left the dome light on all night. :lol:

Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:23 pm

tristessa wrote: borninabus wrote: i've never had a battery drain or insufficient light problem with "old" style bulbs myself.
You've obviously never left the dome light on all night. :lol:

Real pain in the morning unless you are on a hill. Been there. Wife opens the door to get in and leaves it open......

Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:57 pm

tristessa wrote: borninabus wrote: i've never had a battery drain or insufficient light problem with "old" style bulbs myself.
You've obviously never left the dome light on all night. :lol:

IMHO a strong battery should be able to light the dome light all night and still start the Bus..

Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:07 pm

ccpalmer wrote: tristessa wrote: borninabus wrote: i've never had a battery drain or insufficient light problem with "old" style bulbs myself.
You've obviously never left the dome light on all night. :lol:

IMHO a strong battery should be able to light the dome light all night and still start the Bus..

Try it and let us know.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:13 pm

SG, I used to do a lot of weekend electrical projects with LEDs and always bought from Super Bright LEDs. IMHO they have really good prices, top notch selection, and good quality products.

I used to run 10 5mm White LEDS in the interior of my pop-up camper (before my westy days) running off my Jeep's starting battery. I left the lights on for hours sometimes and never had any issues with draining the power. They are the best bang for your buck in terms of lighting these days.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:52 pm

sallittjob wrote: SG, I used to do a lot of weekend electrical projects with LEDs and always bought from Super Bright LEDs. IMHO they have really good prices, top notch selection, and good quality products.

I used to run 10 5mm White LEDS in the interior of my pop-up camper (before my westy days) running off my Jeep's starting battery. I left the lights on for hours sometimes and never had any issues with draining the power. They are the best bang for your buck in terms of lighting these days.

That is what I am thinking. We have LED floods outside the house and they are very bright for minimal use of power.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:18 pm

I think I'm gonna swap my dome lights over to LEDs now, thanks guys.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:38 pm

skid wrote: I think I'm gonna swap my dome lights over to LEDs now, thanks guys.

same here....i will probably do a engine compartment light at the same time....:D

Mon Mar 05, 2012 4:13 pm

skid wrote: I think I'm gonna swap my dome lights over to LEDs now, thanks guys.

X2

This upgrade is priced right.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 4:21 pm

I use one of these in my engine compartment. Magnetic back. Works fantastic and doubles as a flashlight

$3.99 at Harbor Frieght.

-dasdachshund

Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:44 pm

Opossum wrote: The warm white leds cast light similar to and as bright as the incandescent bulbs.

I just got my order a couple of days ago. I am disappointed in them. The light from the 6-LED "warm white" is absolutely nothing like the light cast by my festoon incandescents. The light output is also nowhere near as bright.

I'll try to take some pics for comparison and post later.

Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:18 pm

dwill49965 wrote: Opossum wrote: The warm white leds cast light similar to and as bright as the incandescent bulbs.

I just got my order a couple of days ago. I am disappointed in them. The light from the 6-LED "warm white" is absolutely nothing like the light cast by my festoon incandescents. The light output is also nowhere near as bright.

I'll try to take some pics for comparison and post later.

This is what you want.