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Date:         Wed, 13 Feb 2002 23:40:09 -0600
Reply-To:     Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.NET>
Subject:      Re: low-voltage lighting
Comments: To: Bradley Flubacher <flub@ADELPHIA.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <DGENLFPHAGAJIKHDOHDAKEOCDAAA.flub@adelphia.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

One thing I forgot, be sure the lamps are really 12V DC and not 12V AC. You could be in for a melt down if you get that backwards! There are also some inexpensive 12v florescent fixtures that provide much more light letting your battery last much longer, days instead of hours. Just do your math and remember that the average starter battery will let you draw 40 amp/hours before the bus won't start. 8 amps for 5 hours = 40 amp/hours. this assumes that the battery is in top condition, the weather is warm, and the engine fires-up right away. A second battery is recommended for running that much lighting.

Chris Smith

At 09:14 PM 2/13/02 -0500, Bradley Flubacher wrote: >Precisely the type of undercabinet lighting I was referring to. I wasn't >sure of the wattage, however. I wonder if lower wattage bulbs can be put >into the fixtures if needed. > >Thanks for your input! This will probably be much more cost-effective than >RV style lighting- maybe brighter and more attractive too. > > >Bradley Flubacher >State College, PA >'81 diesel rabbit >'82 diesel westy >'82 diesel van >'84 GL wasserboxer > >-----Original Message----- >From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf >Of Chris Smith >Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 6:36 PM >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >Subject: Re: low-voltage lighting > > >At 12:42 PM 2/13/02 -0500, Bradley Flubacher wrote: > >I've been considering going out to my local home improvement store to buy > >some under-counter low voltage lighting. As you probably know, they're 12v > >lights. I thought it might be a nice addition to my poorly lit westy. I'm > >not sure how many amps each light draws, but if I can get them on a 10-15 > >amp circuit, would there be any reason NOT to use this kind of lighting? > >To find out the draw of each lamp simply divide the wattage by >12(volts). this will give you the amperage that they draw when >running. Remember that incandescent lamps draw more when being turned >on. 15 amps of lamps will pop a 15 amp fuse if they all get turned on at >the same time. Most of the lamps you'll find are probably 20 watt fixtures. > >20(W) divided by 12(v) = ~1.67(A) > >This should add a nice touch to the interior but will drain a battery if >left on too long. > >The set I found was a pack of 5 undercabinet 20W halogen lamps. total draw >is just over 8 amps, or about 5 hours on a standard small car battery. The >TURD is using about 5 times as much battery storage so I can get a couple >of nights on the lights between charges. > >Your results may vary, please do not try this at home, if the is not what >you expected, please alter your expectations. > >Unemployed Bum


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