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The standard lighting that comes with your RV often ends up creating excess heat, and can go out immediately with no warning. If you find yourself often having to replace your RV's bulbs, perhaps it’s time you upgraded to using LEDs. Referring to Light Emitting Diodes, LEDs are becoming a more popular choice for RVers, and can actually save you money in the long run. They not only can replace incandescent lights, but fluorescent and halogen ones as well. View the full selection of individual RV LED light bulbs.

There are a number of benefits that make switching to LED lighting a logical choice. For one thing, they remain cool to the touch, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally burning your fingers. Because they emit less heat, your RV won’t warm up as fast, which is something to keep in mind during those warm nights. Not to mention if you have standard bulbs that get too hot, they can actually cause physical damage to your RV in the form of burn marks. LEDs also use less power, so they’ll create less of a drain on your battery, which is especially crucial if you happen to be boondocking. LEDs can be more expensive to purchase, but will last much longer than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, saving you money on having to buy replacements. Some can last up to 50,000 hours or more, so you may only need to buy them once for the lifespan of your RV. Finally, if you ever plan on selling your RV, having LED lighting can increase its value.

When purchasing LED bulbs, there are a few things to keep in mind. You’ll first want to make sure the base of the bulb is compatible with your light fixture. The type of bulb you currently have can affect the type of base it has. Also, be aware the shape of the LED bulb may be different from the bulb you are replacing. Making sure the bulb is the right color temperature for your space is also important. LEDs use a Kelvin color temperature scale. The lower the number, the warmer the light is. Warm light is more yellow, cool light is bluer. Daylight emulates the look of the daytime sun. Brightness for an LED is measured in lumens, which is different from color temperature. Brighter lights in cool white or daylight are good for accent lights, task lights, or reading lamps, while warm white LEDs are better for lighting large areas. When choosing bulbs, look for ones that have voltages for RV fixtures, preferably in a range so they can better handle power fluctuations. Make note of how many bulbs you need and the different types you are replacing, and look for ‘plug-and-play’ type LEDs. Plug-and-play means the bulb can be mounted into the fixture without the fixture having to be re-wired. If initial cost is a concern, keep in mind you don’t have to change all your RV's bulbs at once.

There is a wide variety of LED lights and light fixtures available for your RV. Individual bulbs from brands such as Star Lights or Ming's Mark can replace RV fridge lights, vanity lights, spot lights, fluorescent tube lights, standard incandescent bulbs, and more. Whole LED fixtures are also available for replacing ceiling lights, overhead lights, and reading lights.

Making the switch to LED bulbs in your RV