J
Jeff
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
Jim Thompson said:[snip][snip]Have you considered low voltage Halogen's? They used to come with a linear
transformer, to drive the halogen bulb at 12V. Common wattages were/are 20
and 50W. Newer ones use a SMPS with a crude unrectified output. Power
density of such SMPS is extremely high. We have a under cabinet low voltage
halogen system, which uses 3 x 20W bulbs, all run off of a single SMPS
that's about 1" x 3/4" x 2", including the standard size replaceable fuse!
Most of these newer low voltage halogens with the SMPS should last much
longer, since the SMPS should give a regulated output, and the filaments in
the halogen bulbs are much heavier for a given wattage.
Helluva good idea! Maybe automotive headlamps? They're quite rugged.
Very rugged indeed, but at the expense of efficiency, since they don't run
as hot as other halogens. They also will be difficult to adapt to normal
fixtures.
Commercially available low voltage halogens should be available all over the
place, at hardware stores and lighting centers - just look at the fixture to
see if it has a designed in, vented box or hump to hide a SMPS, or look at
the bulb spec's. Low voltage bulbs are generally always 12V.
A quick google search for halogen fixtures found this site:
http://www.pegasusassociates.com/products/HalogenFixtures/HalogenFixtures.ht
ml
Most fixtures that are labeled "low voltage" should have a SMPS to convert
line voltage to 12V. Watch out for the ones labled with magnetic
transformers, since they won't help much. Line voltage fixtures don't use
step down techniques. An added advantage of the 12V lights, with good
quality bulbs, gives a nicer white light, at least IMHO.