halogen fixtures

[bobso]

First post here.

I am putting in a lighting system for my business using 12V halogen bulbs with the two pins on back. The system is from batteries at 24V and I am going to wire the lights in pairs. Sound right?

I have no fixtures yet and was planning on making some up. If some are available at a reasonable price I would buy them.

Has anyone done this and are there some resources I can be directed to?

thanks,

bob

[BT Humble]

It really depends on the type of business!  For instance, are you lighting a glass-case display area, or doing overhead lighting of shelving?  Do you want to use recessed-into-the-ceiling "down lights", or do you want track lighting that can be moved around?  Do you want lights on stalks that can be aimed, or will fixed-position units be satisfactory?

I'm afraid that with the information you've given so far it's very much a "How long is a piece of string?" answer.  I do want to help though! ;-)

BTH

[bobso]

sorry,

Overhead lights. There are fourteen foot ceilings so they will hang.

I've already got an idea for the shade/reflector part but was wondering how to make a two pin socket to hold the bulb.

Can you buy just the socket someplace?

thanks

[whatsnext]

just buy them at the hardware store assuming they have them where you are. I like halogens as they make a lot of specialty bulbs that may work perfect in your situation. I bought some 12 watters the other day and they put out a ton of light.

[bobso]

I already have the bulbs.

I am going to make the fixtures to hold the bulbs myself.

I am looking for sources to buy the little receptacles that the bulbs plug into.

I haven't seen them for sale anywhere including the hardware store.

[bobso]

whatsnext, maybe I owe an apology.

Did you mean they sell the sockets at Home Depot?

[wooferhound]

It sounds like you are talking about those 12 volt MR-16 bulbs

I made some fixtures for some of those bulbs, I bought the sockets from a local residential lighting store but Home depot may actually have them.

I made the fixtures from Muffler Adapter fittings. They adapted 2 inch to 1½ inch muffler pipes. Then drilled and tapped some holes for screws to hold the bulb in. Bent a metal strap to make the Yolk so the fixture could be mounted and aimed. This thing got pretty hot so I piled up some washers to act as a heatsink on the Yolk screws.

Heres a Pic . . .

[bobso]

Yes Woof they are MR16 and the nearest HDepot does not sell them.

BTW, are those cobwebs for diffraction?

Now that I know what they are called, I did a goog for mr16 and found them for two bucks ea. at superbrightleds.

thanks to all for the help, maybe I'll post a pic of my finished fixtures.

[ghurd]

Home Depot, Lowes, etc. have tons of them.

Look for track light parts, sometimes low voltage yard and walkway lights.

The 'parts' selection is better in the store than online.

G-

[bobso]

That's what I hear but Sat. I drove 120 miles to the nearest home depot to find they didn't have any. Oh well, nice day for a drive!

Next time I'm in the big city I'll check out Lowe's.

thanks