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Topic ClosedLED Bulbs - polarized?
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: LED Bulbs - polarized?
    Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 10:42pm
I learned something new, cool.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 40 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:04pm
Ahhh, I see, now! That clears it up, thanks!

Originally posted by HuronSailor

If anyone cares, here's a link to a technical article about polarized LEDs...

You totally just fed my geek/nerd craving for the day. Big smile
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Posts: 704 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 1:29pm
I believe the term "polarized LED" is referring to a minor difference in the LEDs material as opposed to normal LED lights. Supposedly this results in a slight increase in efficiency over normal LEDs.

I wouldn't worry about it, just order the normal LED lights. As they said, if you plug 'em in backwards, they won't light, so just flip 'em around.

If anyone cares, here's a link to a technical article about polarized LEDs:
.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :.
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 1:00pm
Just got mine yesterday, installed them today.. mine were/are not polarized... I did just better than 50/50 at getting them right the first time. lol.

I ordered from ebay, like $20 to do the whole camper. She likes them.
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Posts: 40 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 10:26am
Goose: they are not all polarized, or at least that's what the site indicates. Hence my question - do I need to get polarized, non-polarized, or does it matter?

I'm kind of thinking that Terry is right in saying not to worry about it, though. I'm guessing that the non-polarized bulbs have circuitry in them that figures out which way the current is coming from and switches it to go to the diodes correctly...
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Posts: 672 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 9:59am
  Yes, Terry is right they are polarized. If you put the LED in the socket and it does not light then just rotate the bulb 180 degrees and put it back into the socket and it should work. I put single LED's in the marker lights on our POD and had to flip a couple of them around.    Goose
Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Posts: 1950 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 4:41am
LEDs are diodes so they only pass electric in one direction.  So I would say that they are polarized then.  The LEDs from SuperBrite are a direct replacement for the type of bulbs in our campers.  So really, you don't have anything to worry about.  Plug and play.


Here is a chart showing the Lumen of regular house bulbs:

Incandescent Bulbs
(watts)
Minimum Light Output
(lumens)
40 450
60 800
75 1,100
100 1,600
150 2,600

This isn't exactly what you are looking for but it gives some idea of the Lumen output.

Terry
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Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565
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Posts: 40 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2011 at 7:05pm
Looking at SuperBrightLEDs.com for replacement bulbs. Do I need polarized bulbs, or does it matter?

Also, looking at the lumen ratings on the LED bulbs - I'm not sure how to compare them. Does anyone know what the stock bulbs' lumen rating is?
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