Have you considered switching to LED lighting in your PUP? Do you have any older model PUP or are your light bulbs dull or yellowish in color? I would like to share an easy and cheap way to upgrade your lighting system in and outside of you PUP and help you to conserve costly battery or generator energy.
Our First Major Upgrade to The Camper
When we bought our 1994 StarCraft camper, we notice that the lights inside and out were very dull and barely lit the PUP cabin and that was because they ran on halogen light bulbs. Upon further inspection and first use of our camper (in the backyard), we notice that we employed a lot of energy usage, believing our battery was bad, even though we knew it was new and fully charged we connected and turned on the battery monitor. Our battery monitor showed us how much energy we were wasting with the lights on.
After coming home from our first camping trip (LOL, it was in our backyard), I decided to explore countless hours on the internet and learned that changing your PUP campers’ lights to LED were not only energy efficient but could provide brighter elimination. Upon further research I notice you didn’t need to change your entire lighting system nor need to put in new wiring but to replace the actual light bulb inside the light instead. Game changer and much cheaper, I think! LED lighting was a certainly a not brainer for us.
Note: Some PUP models do need to switch out the entire lamp system. This requires you to find the proper electrical lamp for your camper and completely remove the old lamp from the ceiling and install a new LED model. Some cases you will need to rewire your PUP. This will take about an hour to do.
How to Replace Your RV Light Bulbs to LED
- Always clear your area, you will move around a bit and make sure you are not connected into an energy source. Keep light off has the halogen bulbs heat up quickly and can burn you when removing.
- Check the sides of your light cover and pinch inwards to pop off your light covers. Carefully to not force it open and break the latch.
- Examine what type of light bulb you will require by slowly twisting it off or pulling outwards out of the socket. We had two types. Be careful to not pull out or break the base.
- Check each lamp for type of light bulb and count how many you will need, we had two types: a sliding bulb and a weaving bulb (similar to a normal house bulb, were you twist it in but considerably smaller)
- Purchase the correct size, color, and watt LED bulbs
- Replace each bulb carefully and turn on the energy source for testing. Do not put the covers on till you know each light is correctly working. In come cases you need to push in the light or twist it further in. Do not over do this process you can break the lamp and the LED bulbs.
Caution! Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, be careful to safely dispose of them when finished.
What Details I Learned
- LED light bulbs can help save energy use when using your battery or generator, you can also monitor energy usage is with a battery monitor.
- LED lights are also brighter and offer different tints to the light from a light blue to a clear bright bulb.
- There are multiple different LED light suppliers for campers, finding the right brand, size, product, color, shape and price for your camper and your budget requirements.
- Where to buy is important. If you are not sure what type of replacement LED bulbs you need, take one out! Bring it to your nearest hardware store, and they can help you. If you feel knowledgeable and comfortable buying them online, it maybe the best and cheapest route for your needs. I found mine on Walmart and Amazon.
- Not all lights can be switched with a bulb, one of my campers needed entirely new lamp devices.
- LED lights last longer and don’t heat up as hot as halogen
- Check wattage! 60 watts were very bright especially at night! Wowsers!
- Careful remove the old light bulbs, I mistakenly pulled to fast and broke the bulb inside. I needed small plyers to remove the rest of the bulb.
- Replaced all light bulbs for under $15.
Afterwards, we noticed a huge difference in battery usage and have extended the life by days. We can now camp longer and use less electricity. They best part is that we notice the brightness in the camper. Coloring at night or playing board games are now more visible. The lights bulbs illuminate the entire cabin from one side to the next and I have had to add additionally black out curtains to the side bunk for more privacy.