12v lighting

[pokell]

What is the benefit of using 12v lighting with a transformer against mains lighting as they both use 50w bulbs?

 

[Taylortwocities]

This has been discussed so many times.

To save doing it again
PLEASE use the search facility. Type in "GU10 MR16" and you'll get loads of stuff.

Here's your starter

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2056821#2056821

Or see similar topics at the bottom of this page.

 

[bernardgreen]

Historically a 12 volt incandescent lamp could be made with a shorter thicker and hotter ( blue white hot ) filament thus the glass envelope could be much smaller. This also made it easier to focus the light into a beam for fittings designed as down lighters and other mood and effect fittings.

Is there any real advantage in using 12 volt instead of 230 volt ?

In my opinion 12 volt lamps are only advantagous where

[1] a small lamp is essential
[2] use of 230 volts would present a safety hazard
[3] precise and / or complex control of lighting is required.
[4] where fall back to battery operation is desirable but that would require more than just a 230 to 12 power converter ( "transformer" )

 

[ericmark]

On the Plus side because the element is thicker and with modern inverters the voltage more controlled we have for tungsten lamps.
1) Brighter
2) Last longer
3) Can be used where high voltage is not permitted.
Negative side
1) Cost more
2) Need an inverter which often fails with lamp
3) No safety system to prevent dichroic from being fitted in error.
4) Can't be converted to cold cathode.
5) Bulb holders regularly fail.

The standard 12v lamp can't be used with a standard battery supply as the standard 12v battery is between 13.2 and 14.8 volt while on charge.

 

[bernardgreen]

The standard 12v lamp can't be used with a standard battery supply as the standard 12v battery is between 13.2 and 14.8 volt while on charge.

The ones designed to be used in vehicles can be used directly on batteries. They are also mechanically resistant to vibration and mechanical shock.

For the normal domestic 12 volt lamps running on battery during power failure would not be exposed to the on charge voltage.

The voltage drop along cables would remove some of the excess voltage if the lamp could not cope with 13 volts, most lamps can cope with a 10% over volt without any significant reduction of life. ( cheap lamps excluded from that )

If not then regulating a 12 volt supply from a battery is not a difficult task with modern electronic methods.