Prudent RVer & Boater
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Ten years ago fluorescent lighting was used extensively in many new motorcoaches and trailers. It was the best choice to replace hot incandescent bulbs. It reduced the power consumption by a factor of two or three and gave the same amount of light, and the expected lifetime of the tubes was longer. But fluorescents have the disadvantage of an electrically noisy ballast and a funny color of light. The tubes also emit some UV light, not good for your eyes or skin, and they contain mercury, an environmental hazard.

The fluorescent market consolidated in recent years, and the primary supplier today is ThinLite Corporation  out of Camarillo, CA. Their 600 series and 700 series of fixtures are the most commonly found in new RVs and RV parts stores.

About five years ago LED manufacturers began to offer different versions of LED LightSticks that were glued to the back of the fixture and provided a medium quality replacement for fluorescent tubes. Those products are still available, but they usually fail to offer enough light and did not have protection from the vagaries of the 12volt RV electrical system. LightBlasters has improved on that concept with its ThinLUX Linear Lighting, designed for counter and canopy lighting, which can be used in the same manner in a fluorescent fixture.

A more advanced method for replacing fluorescents was developed by Prudent RVer with LightBlasters called  fLEDescent™ .  This easy-to-install solution places higher power HyBright.3 and HyBright.4 LED chips on a flexible metal plate that allows positioning of the LEDs nearer the lens cover, providing a brighter and more consistent source of light. Circuitry is added to regulate the voltage going to the LEDs to protect against spikes and over-voltage conditions that burn out LEDs. And, with the improved white colors of LEDs with their higher color rendering indices (CRI), the fLEDescent solution is the best on the market for modifying an existing 12-volt fluorescent light fixture in an RV or boat.


All LED products offered are Made-In-USA by LightBlasters™ in Mesa, AZ using Hybright LEDs. They feature solid state construction designed to last as long as the LEDs, circuitry to allow operation in the variety of electrical environments and power sources found in RVs and Boats, and heat sinks to protect the LEDs and ensure their extended lifetime of 11 years of continuous usage.

The fLEDescent product comes as a kit for modifying an existing fluorescent fixture. The kit contains instructions and an aluminum mounting plate to go inside the fixture, LightStrips to be mounted on the plate, and a wiring harnass with mounting hardware.

You can download the Instructions here to preview the process. The Adobe PDF Reader is required to read the instructions.

The different kits have different sized mounting plates and different quantities of LightStrips, keyed to the following set of representative ThinLite fluorescent fixtures:

ThinLite model	Tube length	Fixture width	Tube	Fixture amps	Fixture watts	lumen rating	useful** lumens
612	12"	5.53"	F8T5-cw	1.4	16	800	500
616	18"	5.53"	F15T8-cw	2.2	30	1650	1100
652	12"	7.3"	F8T5-cw	1.4	16	800	500
656	18"	7.3"	F15T8-cw	2.2	30	1650	1100

**NOTE: Though fluorescent tubes have a high rated lumenosity, they fail to deliver that amount of useful light because their position in the fixture blocks some of the light getting out and because too much of the measured lumenosity is in the high frequencies, including ultraviolet. The useful lighting is about 65% of the total.

The table shows there are two standard tube lengths, 12" and 18", which determine the length of the mounting plate. The width of the required mounting plate depends upon the width of the fixture. The 652 and 656 are wider to cover the hole in the ceiling left after removing a recessed 700 series ThinLite fixture.

fLEDescent panels are standardly 5.75" in width. This is near the size that will fit under the lip of the fixture with a slight curve outward. For the wider fixtures, the panel simply rests on the back of the lens cover. 7" panels can be provided as an option. This is explained in the instructions. Or you can order the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) kit where you can mount the LightSticks and cut the panel to fit your requirements.

200 lumens for    for a 4 Stick Kit Kit options for 4 to 20 Sticks Add to Cart ships from stock	fLED-LS3: a  Do-It-Yourself kit offering 220 to 1100 lumens using 4 to 20 LS3 LightSticks. Replace two fluorescent tubes in a fluorescent fixture with LS3 LightSticks to produce the amount of light you want. Cut down the provided 12" by 7" panel to the size that fits your fixture. You also place the LS3 LightSticks in the pattern that fits your needs for special applications. Multiply the specifications by 2 to 5 for larger kits. 4 LS3 LightSticks (optional 4 to 20)       3 HyBright.3 chips per LS3      each LS3 independently regulated 36 LEDs  w/4 LS3, "natural" white      4,700K color temperature, no UV 220 lumens  w/4 LS3      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 5.75 or 7-inch mounting plate included 12.5 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 18 volt operating range 0.28 amps nominal w/4 LS3s 3.5 watts w/4 LS3s 100,000 hour lifetime LightStick options: half: 4 LS3, 220 lumens @ $35.98 std: 8 LS3, 440 lumens @ $70.98 hi: 12 LS3, 660 lumens @ $105.98 super: 16 LS3, 880 lumens @ $140.98 duper: 20 LS3, 1100 lumens @ $175.98 Additional features to consider: Add PWM dimmer control
Add to Cart ships from stock	fLEDC-LS3: replace the FC8T9 circular fluorescent tube and ballast in a ThinLite 109 (rated at 1000 lumens, 650 actual) with 10 LS3 LightSticks to produce 550 lumens of useful light. 10 LS3 LightSticks       3  HyBright.3 chips per LS3      each LS3 independently regulated 90 LEDs, "natural" white      4,700K color temperature, no UV 550 lumens useful light      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 12.5 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 18 volt operating range 0.60 amps nominal 7.2 watts 100,000 hour lifetime
for 4ea LS3 kit Add to Cart ships from stock	fLEDP-LS3: a  DIY kit offering 220 to 440 lumens using 4 or 8 LS3 LightSticks to replace the one or two F8T9 fluorescent tubes in a ThinLite 161 or 162 patio light. The LS3 LightSticks produce an equivalent amount of useful light and don't draw bugs. 4 LS3 LightSticks (optional 8)       3  HyBright.3 chips per LS3      each LS3 independently regulated 36 LEDs  w/4 LS3, "natural" white      4,700K color temperature, no UV 220 lumens  w/4 LS3      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 12.0 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 18 volt operating range 0.28 amps nominal w/4 LS3 3.5 watts w/4 LS3 100,000 hour lifetime
for the first panel Save on bundle of 2 or 3 Add to Cart ships from stock only a few left, suggest you go with fLED6-ZLS	fLED6-S: a 5.75" x 6" panel providing 240 lumens from two SLM12 LightStrips of HyBright.4 LED. Use 1 panel for 240 lumens of  natural white background lighting, 2 panels for 480 lumens for 12" fixtures to replace two F8T5 tubes, or 3 panels for 720 lumens for 18" fixtures to replace two F15T8 tubes. 2 SLM12 LightSticks per panel         6  HyBright.4 chips per SLM12      each SLM12 is fully regulated 48 LEDs per panel, "natural" white      4,700K color temperature, no UV 240 lumens per panel      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 12.5 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 18 volt operating range 0.32 amps nominal 4.0 watts 100,000 hour lifetime Additional features to consider: Add PWM dimmer control Additional SLS3 LightSticks
SOLD OUT use 2 ea fLED6-ZLS	fLED12-S: a 5.75" x 12" panel providing 600 lumens of natural white light from two SLM30 LightStrips of HyBright.4 LEDs. The panel provides 600 lumens of natural white light from HyBright.4 LED LightStrips. Use a single panel for a 12" or 18" fixture, or combine with a fLED6-240 to provide 840 lumens of light in an 18" fixture. 2 SLM30 LightSticks per panel         15  HyBright.4 chips per SLM30      each SLM30 is fully regulated 120 LEDs per panel, "natural" white      4,700K color temperature, no UV 600 lumens per panel      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 12.5 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 18 volt operating range 0.80 amps nominal 10.0 watts 100,000 hour lifetime Additional features to consider: Add PWM dimmer control Additional SLS3 LightSticks
440 lumens for    Add to Cart ships from stock	fLED6-ZLS: a 6" plate offering 440 lumens using 2 ZLS LightSticks. Replaces two fluorescent tubes in a fluorescent fixture with ZLS LightSticks to produce the amount of light you want.  2 ZLS LightSticks     each ZLS independently regulated      ZLS has power regulation brightest LEDs available      4,700K color temperature, no UV 220 lumens  per ZLS, 440 total      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 12.5 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 30 volt operating range 0.4 amps nominal at 12v 4.8 watts 100,000 hour lifetime Additional features to consider: Add PWM dimmer control
Add to Cart ships from stock	fLED12-ZLS: a 12" plate offering 1320 lumens using 6 ZLS LightSticks. Replaces two fluorescent tubes in a fluorescent fixture with ZLS LightSticks to produce that extra amount of light you want. 6 ZLS LightSticks      each ZLS independently regulated      ZLS has power regulation brightest LEDs available      4,700K color temperature, no UV 1320 total lumens      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 12.5 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 30 volt operating range 1.2 amps nominal at 12v 14.6 watts 100,000 hour lifetime

fLEDescent Accessories

each or buy in packs of 4 Add to Cart ships from stock	LS3 : single or a package of 4 each55 lumen LightSticks, each with 3 voltage-protected LED chips, braided pigtails LS3 LightSticks        3  HyBright.3 chips      each LS3 independently regulated 9 LEDs  per LS3, "natural" white      4,700K color temperature, no UV 55 lumens  per LS3      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 12.5 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 18 volt operating range 0.07 amps nominal per LS3 0.88 watts per LS3 100,000 hour lifetime
each or buy in packs of 4 Add to Cart ships from stock	SLS3 : single or a package of 4 each 60 lumen Super SLS3 LightSticks with voltage-protected HyBright.4 LED chips and braided pigtails. The SLS3 are used for upgrade of the fLED6-S or fLED12-S by adding an additional 60 lumens per LightStick. SLS3 LightSticks        3  HyBright.4 chips      each LS3 independently regulated 9 LEDs  per SLS3, "natural" white      4,700K color temperature, no UV 60 lumens  per SLS3      wide-angle      all light directed through lense cover 12.5 volts nominal, regulated      10 to 18 volt operating range 0.08 amps nominal per SLS3 1.0 watts per SLS3 100,000 hour lifetime
Add to Cart ships from stock	PWM.G: Dimmer and ON/OFF Control This inline circuit dims your LEDs. Tap the control wires together for the PWM.G to turn power ON or OFF, or hold together to vary the power pulse width modulation (PWM) from 20% to 100% and back to dim the LEDs. Release when the desired level is reached. The module handles up to 10-amps of 12-volt DC and comes with adhesive backing.  NOTE: this module interrupts the ground connection in the PWM circuitry. It can only be used in applications where both the ground and +12v wiring are directly available. The PWM.G can be used for fLEDescents inside a fluorescent fixture that has an onboard power switch. The power and ground wires are routed from the house circuits to the fLEDescent panels. The control wires are routed to the fixture switch. In this configuration, toggle the switch ON then OFF to change the state of the light. Turn the switch ON and the dimming circuitry becomes active and changes the light level from 100% to about 20% and then back over about 10 seconds. Turn the switch OFF when the desired level of lighting is reached.

Go Green with LEDs!