12v fluorescent lights?

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Thu May 27, 2004 1:03 pm

I'm looking into lights for my mutant vehicle and camp. I've heard references to people running fluorescent lights off a 12v battery but the only ones I've found have been tiny. Can you buy a balast to run the big 4' shop lights off 12v? Is it cost effective? It would be nice to not have too many things that have to go through an inverter.

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Thu May 27, 2004 2:21 pm

How about a small invertor? Converts 12vdc to 120 ac. They are relatively cheap. Even Costco sells them. I bought one for a few 120 v items I wish to run from the truck batteries.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Thu May 27, 2004 3:16 pm

Yeah, I have an inverter already but I'm hoping for a way to not have to use it all the time. The fan sucks dust inside and it's just another thing that can (and has) stop working. Plus, it's sucks up some power.

Just looking for an alternative to battery-inverter-balast-fluorescent.

burnerboy33 · Post by **burnerboy33** » Thu May 27, 2004 3:20 pm

Try an auto parts store. They have the kits for under caridge lights, Two 4' and two 2' neon lights for about 50 to 75 bucks.

Bob A · Post by **Bob A** » Thu May 27, 2004 6:26 pm

Try these guys I bought a screw in type for my Rv after I rewired the circuit to DC.

http://www.solar-electric.com/lighting.html

The longest tubes I saw were the 18" ones and they cost more than your regular ac shop light.

Just remember that fluorescent lights actually are AC, only the Ballast in these convert the dc to ac. So if you are just trying to save using the inverter they will do it. I don't know how efficient they are compared to a separate inverter, maybe better or worse. I know MY inverter is about 93% efficient and the small ones at car stores etc are usually between 80% -90%

Bob A

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Fri May 28, 2004 6:10 am

Most RVs have 12V fluorescent light fixtures, but they are small. They are more efficient than incandescents. RV supply places sell them, but they are surprisingly expensive, for no good reason. If cost is an issue you could try to scrounge up some from an old camper.
I went to Home Despot and got blacklight bulbs for the ones in my camper.
Even 4' fluorescents are only 40 watts per bulb, maybe you could try to find a smaller inverter that doesn't use a fan, or perhaps try fitting an inverter with a large heatsink to eliminate the fan.
If you really want to have at it, figuring out a way to make a water-cooling system for the heatsink might allow you to keep the dust out of an inverter and keep it from getting hot, probably the two things that will kill it fastest.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri May 28, 2004 10:31 am

You may want to check Target and Pep Boys (as well as other auto stores) for closeout neon, diode and cold-cathode lights. I've had pretty good luck at finding things for under twenty bucks, and some of them are pretty darn bright without having to go inverter on 'em- The LED tubes designed to replace undercarraige neon are particularly bright, very sturdy and just sip the power. You can, in fact, run a pair of them from a single 9v battery for some length of time. The diode clusters that are sold as tail-light bulb replacements are also super bright, similarly energy thrifty and very compact.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri May 28, 2004 12:39 pm

If you have a mall handy, find a Spencer's Gifts. I think they have a website with a storefinder. We browse the cheap crap for bargains and they do occasionaly carry good 12V blacklights, often on clearance.

Anti M

RouseMouse · Post by **RouseMouse** » Fri May 28, 2004 1:28 pm

we lit our large 30 x26' tent with 2 12v 12in floresent lights from home despot run off my autobattery with 3 or 3 charges during the week using a solar panel. my brother lit the house he was in ( while it was rewired over 6 months) with the same system but with more lights and recarging the battery much less often, so possibly for the price of an inverter or such exotic measures you can buy 4 ( or more) smaller lights ?
Besides, dimmer lights on the playa are actualy sorta nice for night travelers

RouseMouse

burningflyer · Post by **burningflyer** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 6:54 pm

Get these fixtures and you can use standard 48" fluorescent black light tubes and forget about using an inverter.

Thin-Lite #153 32 watt (2.4 amps) long fixture. 48" length x 3.4 x 1.6"", 2850 lumens. Uses one standard F32T8/CW fluorescent tube (not furnished).

http://www.solar-electric.com/tl-153.html

Have been using two of these fixtures at bman for five years . . . work great !

12v fluorescent lights?

12v fluorescent lights?

48" 12 volt Fluorescent Fixtures (black Lights)