Reading Lamp
Carl A.
up with a wall. The lamp is bright enough for most tasks, but definitely
too weak to make for comfortable reading.
Can somebody recommend a very bright 12V lamp, preferably with a flexible
goose neck. Sort of like the old Tensor lamps, but for 12V.
Thanks.
--
Carl A.
http://pages.prodigy.net/chainnj/Journal.htm
Chris Bryant
<<..>>
>Can somebody recommend a very bright 12V lamp, preferably with a flexible
>goose neck. Sort of like the old Tensor lamps, but for 12V.
>
>Thanks.
A couple of ideas- the first:
http://www.littlite.com/ can usually be found at music stores- these
are very nice, and the halogen models are bright. (One of the new, big
mega stores is Mars Music http://www.marsmusic.com/ .
An RV alternative is Liteco:
http://www.litecousa.com/ I don't see the halogen ggose neck on the
website, but I'm sure they make it.
--
Chris Bryant
Bryant RV Services- http://www.bryantrv.com
On RVing-RV TV about RVs, by RVers: http://www.onrving.com
On RVing Forums- http://www.onrving.com/forums/default.asp
Carl A.
"Chris Bryant" <Bryan...@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:a61mntkou33qp21va...@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 15 Aug 2001 18:38:23 -0400, Carl A. wrote:
> A couple of ideas- the first:
> http://www.littlite.com/ can usually be found at music stores- these
> are very nice, and the halogen models are bright. (One of the new, big
> mega stores is Mars Music http://www.marsmusic.com/ .
>
> An RV alternative is Liteco:
> http://www.litecousa.com/ I don't see the halogen ggose neck on the
> website, but I'm sure they make it.
Thanks, Chris. As usual, your helpfulness is (should be) an inspiration to
all!
Neon John
"Carl A." wrote:
>
> My van came with an airplane-type lamp mounted about where the ceiling joins
> up with a wall. The lamp is bright enough for most tasks, but definitely
> too weak to make for comfortable reading.
>
> Can somebody recommend a very bright 12V lamp, preferably with a flexible
> goose neck. Sort of like the old Tensor lamps, but for 12V.
I couldn't find a light bright enough so I made a couple for my
rig. On my side of the bed I have a 55 watt halogen fog light
mounted to a large spring clip that looks like a large metal clothes
pin. A cig lighter cord with an inline switch supplies power.
Wifey doesn't need so much light so on her side is one of the round
yellow halogen clip-on work lights (Regent #MCL-35 from Lowes or
other Big Box Stores, about $15). In place of the 150 watt halogen
bulb is a 20 watt, 12 volt mini-PAR halogen lamp. These are the
little integral reflector lamps that are so popular in track
lighting and for store accent lighting. What is nice is that they
are available in wattage from 10 to about 100 watts at 12 volts.
The reflector in the Regent fixture is trimmed with a Dremel tool
and cutoff wheel to accommodate the PAR lamp. A cig lighter cord
with in-line switch supplies power.
The Regent light is very nice for this application. I have a second
that I'll start using with a 55 watt PAR bulb as soon as I remember
to convert it :-) What is really nice is that the reflector on the
mini-PAR lamps has a dielectric mirror coating that reflects visible
light but passes infrared. The result is the light coming out of
the fixture is almost completely cool while the heat is rejected to
the fixture body. Nice when it is a bit warm out and the light is
shining right over your shoulder.
When I'm reading outdoors and don't want to drag the lantern out, I
bring out my Statpower portable battery pack and the Regent
fixture. It clamps to the back of my recliner and shines perfectly
over my shoulder. The Statpower pack will run the thing at least
all night. I also have a 50 ft 12 volt cig lighter extension cord
but the battery pack is a lot more convenient.
John
--
John De Armond
johngdDO...@bellsouth.net
http://personal.bellsouth.net/~johngd
Cleveland, occupied TN
Steve Wolf, W8IZ
etc. You'll find quite an assortment. Many are very bright.
Madeleine
van and for when I want to sit outside to read at night. I believe you just
gave me my solution.
Where did you buy the cigarette lighter cord and ending? Are they available
at a place like radio Shack?
--
Peace, Love and Serenity,
Madeleine
"Neon John" <johngdDO...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:3B7B2FD9...@bellsouth.net...
Neon John
Madeleine wrote:
>
> Thanks for the ideas. I have yet to find a really good reading light for my
> van and for when I want to sit outside to read at night. I believe you just
> gave me my solution.
>
> Where did you buy the cigarette lighter cord and ending? Are they available
> at a place like radio Shack?
I bought a large box of cords at a hamfest (amateur radio swap meet)
years ago. Rat Shack has cig lighter cords, though the quality
isn't anything to write home about. Look at the rat shack product
and see if it fits your needs. If you buy a Rat Shack cord, get the
super heavy duty one. The standard cig lighter cord will melt the
plug off at the (minor) current involved. Voice of experience. If
not, watch the flea markets and such for junk 12 volt operated stuff
that had a salvageable cord. I find that some of the junkiest stuff
has very nice cords.
Both the World's Longest Flea Market on US-127 from Alabama to
Kentucky AND the Huntsville, AL hamfest (Von Braun Civic Center) are
this weekend, just in case you want to scrounge and live on this end
of the country :-)
John
S. Bourg
> My van came with an airplane-type lamp mounted about where the ceiling joins
> up with a wall. The lamp is bright enough for most tasks, but definitely
> too weak to make for comfortable reading.
>
> Can somebody recommend a very bright 12V lamp, preferably with a flexible
> goose neck. Sort of like the old Tensor lamps, but for 12V.
>
> Thanks.
Try the #1383 bulb - a mini spotlight - if it fits. They fit my
fixtures, which are very small. They heat up the fixture little, and
produce a bright, even illumination over about a 60 degree angle. Far
superior to equivalent wattage halogen fixtures I use also, and much
cooler running.
Steve
SAScheffey
Police, Fire, Medical specialty store. But, they have interior lights for just
your purpose. The flexible light in there probally will not work, but in the
Police section there is a dome light which is very bright. I have one in my
patrol car and it blinds me. The draw back is that it is approximately 6"
round and has a red light in it also, which would not be of much use to you.
Carl A.
"SAScheffey" <sasch...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010816121223...@mb-fq.aol.com...
Thanks. I went to Home Depot and bought a track light type of fixture that
takes a 25 Watt halogen bulb and has a 110V to 12V transformer. Stripped out
the transformer, replaced the dimmer switch with a toggle switch, installed
a 35 Watt halogen bulb, and mounted the lamp on the ceiling where the
airplane type fixture was. Pulled the van into the garage (nice and dark)
and tried it. Absolutely perfect for reading.