automotive bulbs

850turbo · #1 02-03-2005, 11:02 PM

i know this isnt necessarily flashlight related, but is there any way to run automotive bulbs off of houshold AC current?
thanks

Darell · #2 02-03-2005, 11:11 PM

Would that be a Volvo 850 Turbo? I had a 2000 V70T5 there for a while...

But to your question... yes. Just pick up an appropriately-sized wall wart converter that provides 12VDC, and you're off to the races.

oklalawman · #3 02-04-2005, 06:35 AM

Get and AC to DC converter. Many of your small aplliances
rund on them such as small tv's and radios. Can get them at walmart or radio shack based upon the load you are wanting to run you may have to go somewhere else.

markdi · #4 02-04-2005, 06:52 AM

incandesent headlight bulbs require 45 to 120 watts each.(depends on the bulb)

that would be a big wall wart

each of my reverse - back up light bulbs consume 60 watts-
120 watts total.

and my headlights can consume 760 watts total.

HarryN · #5 02-04-2005, 08:57 AM

I was in Sears the other day and saw their 12 V automotive battery chargers. The mid size ones could drive 5 amps, which is roughly your need for one of these. There are manual and auto charge versions. Many stores sell similar chargers.

I do not know if it is a good idea to run a lamp directly off of a charger or not. The "intended concept" is to charge the 12 V battery and run the lamps off of that.

Wim Hertog · #6 02-04-2005, 10:41 AM

I think a normal 75W 12V halogen transfo will do (for 1 bulb). These bulbs work just as wel on AC.

850turbo · #7 02-04-2005, 03:15 PM

yep, I have a 95 volvo 850 turbo, and I'm in the process of doing a manual swap. I'm deffinitely a car fanatic in addition to a flashaholic, but more specifically a volvo enthusiast. V70 T-5... nice, I wouldnt mind driving one of those.

also, thanks for the info. i'll go by radio shak sometime and get a transformer

cobb · #8 02-05-2005, 05:46 PM

What about running ten of the same kind in series?

45-120 watts? You must have halogen bulbs all the way. Most of those peanut bulbs are 2-15 watts blink/brake about 15 watts. The only real heavy drawer of amps is the halogen head lamps. Now if its a european version you may have additional 55watt halogen red rear fog lamps in the rear. Some imports have the blanks in place for them and lenses.

Some battery chargers require a load to run and wont run to just power stuff.

You thinking about cutting hte rear half off you car to make a couch and having the rear lights function from AC?

yuandrew · #9 02-05-2005, 08:52 PM

Find an old computer power supply

AT is the easiest to use

An ATX might also work if you know how to get it to turn on without the motherboard connected

Hint: Connect the green wire to a black wire

PlayboyJoeShmoe · #10 03-02-2005, 05:55 PM

This can't be in any way shape or form related to your question...

But I just HAVE to say it!

My Truck has the usual one ugly headlight that Fords are known for. It was always dimmer than the other side.

So I modded a stronger bulb (the designations are lost in my going away mind) to fit the holder for a standard bulb. It's like a 65W low beam compared to a 50W.

So both headlights put out good light.

An analagy to what you want to do uses MR11 and MR16 lamp assemblies in flashlights...

Zelandeth · #11 03-03-2005, 04:12 PM

Want to run current greedy DC things needing 12V. Simple power supply. Get yourself an old computer PSU. They come in flavours of anything from 75W up to ...well, a lot. My PC has a 550W PSU. I used to have a H4 bulb in a desk lamp here running off an old 100W IBM PSU. Worked fine for a long while. Eventually took it apart when the bulb went, as I just bodged it together out of spare parts as a quick fix....which ended up lasting a year plus!