12V undercounter lighting from Lowe's

[madjack]

I bought a set of 6 halogen lights from Lowe's this weekend for my tear. They say they are 12V, come with a 120 adaptor and are designed to go under the counter in a kitchen. The set of 6 cost $35 and they are 10W bulbs and ~3" wide. Has anyone used these or see a major problem. They can be surface mounted or recessed. What about the heat (halogen)?

...you might want to checkout these offerings...
http://tinyurl.com/6tsax
madjack [/url]

[BrianB]

Wow Brian I LOVE this idea! Can you tell us more about how it would work?

-Andrea

Well, I still want to do it, but I've changed my mind about using LEDs. LEDs, if you don't know, are like small lightbulbs. The biggest strike against them is that they heat up when they are lit, so I'd worry about them being wedged in small holes in the ceiling and setting the trailer on fire (not likely, but possible).

So I figure I'll go the traditional route which is done with fiber optic cable. It's relatively cheap and doesn't have the heat concerns as LEDs.

To install it, you'd simply drill many many tiny holes into your ceiling panel and stick a strand of fiber optic cable into each one. Then simply wire it to a bright LED and a swtich and you're done.

I have to get to work so I can't get into too much detail, but I'll answer any other questions you might have tonight.

[BrianB]

Actually, here's a good installation guide right here:

http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Ceiling.htm

and it would look something like this:


The neat thing would be that you could leave it on for weeks and it wouldn't drain your battery.

[mikeschn]

Hmmm. I'm having a hard time finding the little dipper, and even the big dipper for that matter!!!

Mike...

[campadk]

Well, I still want to do it, but I've changed my mind about using LEDs. LEDs, if you don't know, are like small lightbulbs. The biggest strike against them is that they heat up when they are lit, so I'd worry about them being wedged in small holes in the ceiling and setting the trailer on fire (not likely, but possible).

Actually Brian, the beauty of LED's is that they are NOT like lightbulbs.. not even small lightbulbs. They aren't burning a fillament creating heat in order to produce light. LED's are a solid state device and run quite cool using typically 1/10 the power of a light bulb thus they don't generate much heat at all. Even those bright ones used for head lamps for hiking, cross country skiing in the dark run pretty cool. The lamps with 4 bright LED's can illuminate up to 40ft and run on 3 AA batteries for something like 120 hours. In a tear you could almost leave them on full time!

[BrianB]

Actually Brian, the beauty of LED's is that they are NOT like lightbulbs.. not even small lightbulbs.

I was putting it into layman's terms. Not knowing how much electronics knowledge she had, "small light bulb" is easier to understand than "a diode that emits light when an electrical current passes through its gallium arsenide substrate producing a single wavelength of visible light."

LEDs can get extremely hot if operated at higher than their rated voltage. While I wouldn't plan on doing that, a spike in the voltage could cause one or more to intensely heat up before melting. Small chance, but possible. That picture of the burning teardrop that Mike posted a while back was enough to make me think twice.

[mikeschn]

[Andelburg]

Andrea,

You can't steal this idea for your Cassette until you show us some photos of your Cassette!!!

Mike...

LOL--Ever since you made that request it's been raining, snowing, or FREEZING here. I haven't had the courage to venture outside for the photos!

Okay--If I brave the arctic temps for some pictures, THEN can I steal Brian's idea?

Whoa, hold it--I just read the rest of the thread and saw the teardrop inferno. Maybe I'll just stick with my battery lantern!

-Andrea

[Dave Nathanson]

That burning TearDrop didn't get that way from LED lights overheating, I can guarantee you that! If you happened to be there when it happened you would know the story of how it wasn't an accident, and how strangely enough no TearDrops were harmed in the making of that photo.

[mikeschn]

Dave's right of course... but a good visual can often make a point bettern than hundreds of words!!!

Mike...

That burning TearDrop didn't get that way from LED lights overheating, I can guarantee you that! If you happened to be there when it happened you would know the story of how it wasn't an accident, and how strangely enough no TearDrops were harmed in the making of that photo.

[Guest]

OK,
Let's hear the "Rest Of The Story!"

[mikeschn]

All I know of it was that somebody had this cardboard tear (which is why I heard about it in the first place!) and he told the people nearby that he didn't want it anymore, or something like that, and set it on fire. Much to the consternation of those around! As it turned out it was just a nicely painted cardboard mock up, but it sure fooled a lot of people!


Dave

[Guy]

It is really Mike's teardrop after those halogen lights went in

[fornesto]

Returned 'em to Lowes. Thanks for the heads up.

[Denzagrad]

All I know of it was that somebody had this cardboard tear (which is why I heard about it in the first place!) and he told the people nearby that he didn't want it anymore, or something like that, and set it on fire. Much to the consternation of those around! As it turned out it was just a nicely painted cardboard mock up, but it sure fooled a lot of people!


Dave

I believe this page shows the tear drop fire story.

http://mybenroy.com/C52001/index.htm