Easy Question I'm sure- Help a beginner...

Ok, I've spent the last few hours sifting through a lot of information, but
I haven't had any luck. I was wondering if anyone here would be willing to
help or point me to a site that can...

How do I know how much voltage I can run through a flatbed scanner lamp?
Can I run it DC or do I have to keep it AC and how do I know? I don't want
to blow the lamp or something.

I am an artist and I'm interested in merging eletronics with my art. I have
tons of things taken apart that have died and specifically want to use the
motors and various styles of lights, but I'd prefer right now to hopefully
keep the circuit building down to a minimum. Is it as easy as splicing
wires together?

Anyway, thanks for your time and sorry for such a beginner question.
*blush*

 

How do I know how much voltage I can run through a flatbed scanner
lamp?

Get the part number off it. Ask the manufacturer.
(I doubt that the scanner maker produces its own lamps.)

DC of the same level as the original AC RMS value
will give identical results on a resistive load.


BTW, fingerprints on quartz lamps can cause draamatic failure.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ingerprints+"quartz+lamps"&btnG=Google+Search