Replacement LEDs

[chay1950]

I replaced 2-1141 bulbs with the Sylvania 7506. The box says that they are compatible with most bulb outage detection circuits and compatible with the 1141.

I read somewhere on this forum about bulb ODC, but can't find it now.

Are these bulbs safe to use? I've used them now for a few months without any issues.

[Bill]

This is an interesting question, and the answer should be on the package.

It appears that there are two or three kinds of 7506 bulbs. One is an incandescent bulb, which draws about the same current / power as an 1141 or 1156 incandescent lamp, commonly used in automotive applications. Because this 7506 is electrically similar to those others, it will behave the same in a blown-bulb outage detection circuit (ODC), but there doesn't seem to be any advantage to using this 7506. All of these bulbs draw right around 1.5 amps / 20 watts.

There is also a pure LED version of the 7506, made by Sylvania. Like most LED bulbs, it draws considerably less power for equivalent brightness. This bulb draws around 2 watts. Because of the much reduced power, it probably will NOT work in a blown-bulb detector, because the detector, expecting 20 watts but seeing only 2 watts, may conclude that the bulb is blown even when it is not. If you are using this bulb for interior lighting, this is fine because there is no blown bulb detector in lighting circuits. It also works well for automotive applications like running lights or backup lights, which are not monitored by a blown-bulb detector.

There may be a 3rd kind of 7506. This is an LED bulb, but the base contains a resistor which draws extra current. The idea is to draw enough power to satisfy the blown-bulb detector, and this sounds like what you are describing. Of course, by using these, you get the ruggedness of an LED, but you lose the small-current advantage of an LED.

Since you didn't say whether you are using these bulbs for an automotive function (tail-lights, directional signals) or for interior lighting, it is hard to answer your question. The thread you are looking for on this forum advised against using CANBUS bulbs, which are the third kind. You can probably find this thread using the Search function.

Bill

[Shane826]

Know how when a turn signal bulb goes out on your car, the indicator & other bulbs on that circuit flash faster to let you know one is out? "Compatible with bulb detection circuits" means that system still works with these LED bulbs. It also means you're really not saving any electricity in your camper with them because they are a higher draw to match an incandescent bulb on your car. Will they work? Sure. Do they help battery life if you're boondocking? Nope. You want to use the same style LED but without the whole bulb detection deal.

[BrucePerens]

ODC compatible and CANBUS bulbs waste lots of power to convice the outage detection circuit that they are incandescent bulbs. And their prices are absurd! I've seen $20 for 2 bulbs! I bought 20 multi-LED panels with both bayonet and flat sockets, with no resistors, on eBay for $17.

LED replacements for flourescent tubes have a different problem, the power used by their inverter/ballast.

Just use plain 12V LED lights wherever poßible. In this case you get the opposite of what you pay for.

[chay1950]

Thanks for all the replies. Everyone was very helpful. I'm using 2-7506 inside my 2720SL. They are 12.8v/1.7w, which is .13amps. The box says that they are compatible with most bulb outage detection circuits and compatible with the 1141. I paid about $20 for 2 bulbs. I've also bought a package of 10 LED lights for less than $15 on Amazon. but, they give out a soft bluish light that is not very bright. I never boondock, so I'm not really worried about how much juice they use. It would be nice to get the brightest LED bulb for the least amount of money.