LED lighting for motorhome and utility vehicle

For the fitting out of a motorhome, several types of LED lighting are available. LED light bars are ideal for general lighting in the living area: kitchen, lounge and bedroom. Recessed LED spotlights provide targeted lighting above the worktop or the table. Flexible LED strips allow for ambient lighting under furniture or on the ceiling. Choose LEDs with a temperature of 3,000 K to 4,000 K (warm white) for a cosy atmosphere. AGM Vision offers low-consumption LED solutions, perfectly suited to the limited electrical circuits of motorhomes.

The majority of motorhomes on van bases (Fiat Ducato, Mercedes Sprinter, VW Crafter) operate on 12V for the living area. Motorhomes on a heavy-duty base can operate on 24V. Check the voltage of your auxiliary battery before any purchase. Some LED light bars are multi-voltage (10-30V) and adapt automatically. The consumption of an LED light bar is very low, between 3 W and 12 W, which preserves your battery autonomy in parking mode. AGM Vision indicates the compatible voltage on each product sheet to make your choice easier.

Installation depends on the type of lighting chosen. LED light bars are fixed to the ceiling with screws or 3M adhesive. Connect the red wire to the positive (+) and the black wire to the negative (−) of your 12V circuit. Provide a switch for each zone. For LED strips, stick them onto a clean, dry surface, then power them via a suitable transformer. It is recommended to use cable with a cross-section of 0.75 mm² minimum and to protect each circuit with a fuse. The complete installation of LED lighting for the living area generally takes a half-day.

This is one of the great advantages of LEDs in a motorhome: consumption is very low. A 30 cm LED strip consumes about 3 to 5 watts, compared with 20 W for a neon tube. Complete cabin lighting (4 to 6 light points) consumes between 15 and 30 watts in total. With a 100 Ah auxiliary battery, this represents more than 40 hours of continuous lighting. LEDs thus make it possible to considerably extend off-grid autonomy, without a generator or mains connection. AGM Vision offers optimized LED solutions to maximize the lumens/watt ratio.

Yes, some LED light bars and spotlights are compatible with a dimmer that lets you adjust the light intensity. This provides dimmed lighting in the evening and bright light for cooking or reading. Make sure the LED is marked “dimmable” before buying. 12V LED dimmers connect between the power supply and the LED, often with a rotary or touch button. Some models even offer a change in color temperature (warm white to cool white). Avoid dimmers designed for 230V bulbs: they are not compatible with low-voltage circuits.