Author Topic: 12 volts low energy lamps.  (Read 2508 times)

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Galagedara

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12 volts low energy lamps.
« on: January 10, 2005, 06:13:51 AM »
Recently I bought some 12Volt low energy lamps a set of 3. This came with a step down transformer with an out put of AC. I wonder I could use this lamps 12Volt DC. I bought this lamps in view of powering them with a wind turbine. I have future plans to make a wind turbine. Any body who can answer my question will be greatly appriciated.


For the first time I will attempt to construct Hughs Piggott's small mechine.


Kind Regards!


Leonard Fernando.

« Last Edit: January 10, 2005, 06:13:51 AM by (unknown) »

richhagen

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Re: 12 volts low energy lamps.
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2005, 11:47:29 PM »
Do you know the type of lamps?  If they are incandescent, then you can probably use them on DC fine.  An incandescent lamp is esentially the equivelant of a resistor in the circuit.  It will likely conduct roughly the same current at 12VDC as at 12VDC RMS.  Rich Hagen
« Last Edit: January 09, 2005, 11:47:29 PM by richhagen »
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richhagen

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Re: 12 volts low energy lamps.
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2005, 11:48:32 PM »
Whoops, the last sentence should read:  It will likely conduct roughly the same current at 12VDC as at 12V AC RMS.  Rich Hagen
« Last Edit: January 09, 2005, 11:48:32 PM by richhagen »
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1mordance

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Re: 12 volts low energy lamps.
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2005, 08:15:53 PM »
 Would probably be simplier& cheaper to use the backup lights from junk automobiles
« Last Edit: January 10, 2005, 08:15:53 PM by 1mordance »

wooferhound

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Re: 12 volts low energy lamps.
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2005, 10:20:03 PM »
Your best bet would be to use a 12VDC Compact Fluorescent Bulb, 13 Watt


You can buy them here for about $11.oo

http://www.wondermagnets.com/cgi-bin/edatcat/WMSstore.pl?user_action=list&category=Electricity%3
BRenewable_Energy

« Last Edit: January 10, 2005, 10:20:03 PM by wooferhound »

Galagedara

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Re: 12 volts low energy lamps.
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2005, 11:04:48 PM »
Many thanks for the rfeed back guys! Well this lamps I have is the floracent type I forget to mention it! In any case I have use for the same. My question is even if I buy the 12 Volt low energy florecent bulbs can I powewr it with DC? I am thinking if I rectyfy the AC from the geny to a battery bank! I have Dc thats my problem. May be the lamps can handle DC. I know there is some Electronics in those lamps!
« Last Edit: January 10, 2005, 11:04:48 PM by Galagedara »

richhagen

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Re: 12 volts low energy lamps.
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2005, 10:15:31 PM »
The 12V compact flourescents Wooferhound mentioned at Wonder Magnet are made to run off of DC.  You can connect them directly.  Check the specifications of the bulbs when shopping, they should state the type of power they require, AC or DC, and the voltage.  Rich Hagen
« Last Edit: January 13, 2005, 10:15:31 PM by richhagen »
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Galagedara

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Re: 12 volts low energy lamps.
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2005, 10:08:48 PM »
Many Thanks guys really appricited the coments etc. Keep on going the fun!


kind Regards!

Leonard.

« Last Edit: January 14, 2005, 10:08:48 PM by Galagedara »

no1cowboy

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Re: 12 volts low energy lamps.
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2005, 05:08:10 PM »
I also run on 12v and buy 12volt lights it is much easyer then messing with the electronics of the ac products also if you have a regular light fixture with standard edison typ base you can use any 12v lights in them as long as they have the same edison typ base. there are many 12v light products out there and getting easyer to find all the time.
« Last Edit: February 11, 2005, 05:08:10 PM by no1cowboy »

chipncricket

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Retrofit Medium Base Lamps
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2005, 01:48:12 PM »
Buying medium base to bayonet base ( standart auto light) conversion run around $7.00 a piece. We said nuts to that. So here's our easy free last stop before the junkyard fix. (I imagine that ya'll probably figured this one out a long time ago)


  1. Find a dead standard light bulb.
  2. Break the glass (hammer and paper bag work well)
  3. Useing  needle nose pliers, break any remaining glass away from the tim base.
  4. Remove the insulator and contact by popping them out so you have a hole in the    bottom of the base.
  5. Take a 1056 auto tail light buld and push it through the hole in the tin base (do this backwards so the raw edges are pushed into the base)
  6. Push the auto buld through the base right way too. It'll seem loose don't worry about it.
  7. Screw the bulb assembly into a standard medium base socket lamp, etc. The buld will tighten up in the base when you do this. Plug in to 12V source and ta-da retro-fit light!


So far we have had no problems with this conversion. We have had no shorts, but sometime we do have to reset the bulb in the base. They will loosen up sometimes. This has worked well for almost a year on several bulbs. You can do candlelabra bulb bases using the smaller dash lights.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2005, 01:48:12 PM by chipncricket »