I thought I posted this before, but don't see it, maybe it was a different post I was replying too or again I lost one! I think it might be Inverter fans come to think of it.
For small lighting needs at a low cost you might want to try Cold Cathode lights like for computer cases. They come in all kinds of colors including plain white. Though I never tried the whites, my 12" red puts out alot of light, and the UV ones are pretty cool too. I've had some of the various colors.
Nice things about those are they are already 12v ready, cheap, practically no heat (lower temps than flouresents I think) and not fragil, also light wieght and I think low power usage (though I never acually checked it). Kinda hard to break one without actually trying to unless you pull a wire loose!
I looked just now and the extra tubes were around $3 each, the kits with inverter and one tube plus wiring and switch was around $5, one inverter will power 2 tubes, so for a 2 light set your looking at about $8. I buy all this type stuff from Bestbyte.net and have been happy with everything I have bought and the service. Flat rate $5 shipping for normall stuff, large items like cases or monitors might be more, but all I ever buy there are fans, lights and other small custom type items.
http://www.bestbyte.net/Product.cfm?ProductID=866&CategoryID=28&Keyword=
I am not affilated with them in anyway, just a happy customer!
That should take you to the white kits. All my color kits came with a boxed inverter and looks different than the one in the picture shown, the title does say boxed inverter though and 2 light capable which is what I do have and like.
Rather these are better than a 12v floresent not sure, probably alot less expensive and I do like them much better than any LEDS I have played with as far as actuall lighting. I like Leds for some things and have a 100 or more laying around not yet used
For flashlights I take recharable halogens, the big fat ones with UPS type batteries inside and mod them to LEDs. With the halogen bulb the battery lasts maybe 20-30 minutes, with LED I never had one go dead yet, but I do get alot less light too.
I use the LED ones for general walking around in the dark, use the halogen ones for spotlighting to see if that's a skunk or opossum scrathing in the distance!!
For the cost of my Leds and the amount of light 12 make I would think the cathode kits will make more light for less money than LED, as far as power used for an equal amount of light that I am not sure about. I never strung that many leds together yet!!