can a 12v halogen (20w) be driven by 12.5 volts?

[cutlerylover]

I just bought a 12V 20W halogen to use in my mag hotwire but the battery pack is readign a little over 12v...Its more like 12.5 volts...if I try this halogen with this battery pack will it damage the bulb? Or is that not enough extra voltage to do anythign destructive to the bulb?

The bulb...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062389&cp=&sr=1&origkw=halogen&kw=halogen&parentPage=search

The adaptor I am going to use to use the bi-pin halogen in my mag hotwire...

https://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1408

 

[Brighteyez]

No you can't use it. It will blow up and spew toxic gases throughout your house and make it inhabitable for years <just kidding>

Sure you can use it, though your batteries sound a little weak. Generally, 12 volt bulbs are run at 13.2-13.8V in a car, and about 14V in some of the low voltage home lighting systems. You're not over voltage at all, if anything you might be a little low if the 12.5V is what you're reading with the batteries hot off the charger.

EDIT I just saw that adapter from lighthound that you were intending to use. You might want to check to see how long you might be able to use that bulb before the adapter starts melting. <not kidding here>

 

[molite]

I'll be interested to see if your adapter can handle the heat.
I think Fivemega has a brass/ceramic one that is better at handling the heat.

 

[cutlerylover]

No you can't use it. It will blow up and spew toxic gases throughout your house and make it inhabitable for years <just kidding>

Sure you can use it, though your batteries sound a little weak. Generally, 12 volt bulbs are run at 13.2-13.8V in a car, and about 14V in some of the low voltage home lighting systems. You're not over voltage at all, if anything you might be a little low if the 12.5V is what you're reading with the batteries hot off the charger.

EDIT I just saw that adapter from lighthound that you were intending to use. You might want to check to see how long you might be able to use that bulb before the adapter starts melting. <not kidding here>

Ok, so good news and bad news....Anyone have any idea how long the adapter will last before meltdown? I am not planning on using this light more than 2 minutes at a time...What else can I use besides that adapter then? besides getting the bi-pin bulbs potten in a PR base...? Is there somethgin better than that adapter for this task?

 

[cutlerylover]

I'll be interested to see if your adapter can handle the heat.
I think Fivemega has a brass/ceramic one that is better at handling the heat.

Ok thanks, Ill look into it! Anyone have a link to the fivemega adapter?

 

[Brighteyez]

Actually it's more like bad news and more bad news ...

Just out of curiosity, what combination of batteries are you using that is giving you a 12.5V reading. About the only workable combination that would give you that kind of a reading should be 10 NiMH batteries in series.

Ok, so good news and bad news....

 

[cutlerylover]

Actually it's more like bad news and more bad news ...

Just out of curiosity, what combination of batteries are you using that is giving you a 12.5V reading. About the only workable combination that would give you that kind of a reading should be 10 NiMH batteries in series.

well I said good news because I already bought the bulb and now I know its gonna work, even if its a little underdriven, thats ok, should still be about 300 lumens or so if the adaptor works...I was thinking about getting the 12v 50W halogens so that the lumens would be closer to the WA1198 bulbs...but now I am worried about the adapter melting...Stinks because I have the metal reflector and the glass lens and I thought I would be done, lol, I guess not...now I have to work out something so I can use the bi-pin bulbs...

Im using 9 x 4/5 sub C 2200mAH battery pack in a 5D maglite with a PVC tube so that the battery pack fits right... with each 4/5 C cell using 1.2 volts each...it should be 10.8 volts...but hot off the charger it reads 12.9v, and even after I let the pack sit for a few days its been steady at 12.5v...

I know it doesn't sound like a great setup, but I got this light with a potted WA1185 bulb and it instaflashed because fo the battery pack not comming down to the right voltage...so if anythgin maybe I was use the halogen to bring down the battery power to the right level so that I can use a WA1185 bulb again without blowing it up...

 

[cutlerylover]

By the way I just sent an email to lighthound askign about the heat issue and the adapter, but Im sure they will not have an answer because the adapter was not meant for that use...So now its a guessing game, and I guess trial by error...but I don't want it to melt on me... :shakehead

 

[mdocod]

that bulb would actually probably be better in a hotwire at about 15-16V

try to find a 12V bulb rated for lower life for use in that and it will be a lot brighter...

or try to find a ~9V bulb rated for like 3000 hours and drive it at ~12V...

 

[cutlerylover]

Ok, its all new to me, the hotwire mods that is...I just want to double check here before doign anythgin because I instaflashed both potted WA1185's that came with my mag85...It was a silly noob thign to do, lol, and too expensive to keep doing, so I am just trying to figure out what will work...I appreciate everyones help a great deal!

 

[molite]

Sorry to here you insti flashed the potted 1185, you gotta let the pack rest after charging.
Your running the 1185 at it's limits which gives the desirable white light instead of the underdriven pukey yellow. However, the 1185 on a 9x setup is a popular setup.
Thinking back most of my insti-flash has happened on the potted bi-pins. Once I switched over to bi-pin sockets and bi-pin bulbs it has been a rare thing.

info you need...
Here is Fivemega's adapter, it says closed, but PM him I think he has more.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=143052
Also this is the ultimate hi temp socket, (from KIU) for 100watts and beyond.
You have to be handy with a soldering iron.
You will loose your fast action cammed focus but with the 1" of threads on the Mag head you still have plenty of focus action you just have to turn head alot.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=132235

And the bulbs to use for a 9x set up are in the sticky at the top of the ican forum:
Looks like you should get a 700L light.

Super Bulbs
WA1306 9.60V - 1.10A (3 Li-Ions >550 mAh, FM700L)
CL 809: 10.5 V - 1.20A (3 Li-Ions >600 mAh/9 NiMH-1185 LOLA)
WA1331 9.60V - 1.93A (3 Li-Ions >1000mAh/9 NiMH-1185 MOLA, FM700L)
WA1166 11.6V - 1.97A (3 Li-Ions >1000mAh, FM700L)
WA1185 9.60V - 3.15/3.41A (3 Li-Ions >1600mAh/9 NiMH/andrewwynn)
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=114094

molite

 

[cutlerylover]

Thank you Molite for the wealth of info! Ok so I guess the WA1185 bulbs would be just fine if I bring the voltage down on the pack 1st right? If I can't get the fivemega adapter...If the heat does not melt the other adapter I bought could I use the 12V 20W halogen to run down the pack a bit? I could use the light in bursts so that there is not enough time for the adapter to heat up enough to melt?

 

[molite]

Just resting the pack for an hour would be fine.
But yes, that 12v 20w will handle up to 18volts and would quickly bring down voltage to keep you from flashing the 1185.
The thing about hotwires is overdriving the bulbs to get really white light and much more lumens than what bulb is rated for.
Running a 12v bulb around 12-13v is going to be yellow not bright white, but you should get great bulb life, your pack will quickly settle down to 10.8v to give even more yellow light.
Most all of us around here are using a 12x setup at 18v fresh off the charger
14.4 nominal to push 12v halogens.
The bulb link I gave you are the tried and tested bulbs from the pro's.
Running a 10v bulb at 12volts just gives awsome light!
I'm sure there are lots of bulbs out there like the one you have that have not been discovered yet.

oh and the heat will melt that adapter. that is probbaly a .25amp adapter
watts/volts=amps so your bulb is pulling almost 2amps= melting

your batts can probbaly handle up to 10 amps for 30min....100watt bulb???
need kiu socket

check the sub c graphs:
http://www.cheapbatterypacks.com/main.asp?sid=720395&pgid=loosecells&chem=NIMH

 

[cutlerylover]

Ok thanks again for the information! Its appreciated! The bulb I have is 12v 20watts (suppose to put out 350 lumens) So maybe it was not the voltage that instaflashed the WA1185's that I had, I think it could have been because I touched the bulbs when putting them in? At least as far as the seond one goes thats very possible, I can't remember if I did, but its very possible...

Right now I have 3 hotwires...I have a 2C ROP runnign on 3 CR123's which is great! thats my only working hotwire right now...I also have...



-5D maglite host
-UCL Lens
-Camless Medium stippled reflector (.377 hole)
-9 x 4/5 sub C 2200mAH battery pack
-PVC sch. 40 battery tube spacer

...I just need the right bulb...

Then I also have...

-2D maglite host
-Borofloat Lens
-Camless Medium stippled reflector (.377 hole)

and a spare Pelican 3854 LOLA bulb to work with if needed...


So I guess I just need to save up some money and buy the right parts to complete these hotwires...which means a good battery holder, 6 or 8 (depedning on the holder) rechargable batts with charger, and the appropriate bulb to complete the 2D mag...and the right bulb to sue in the 5D mag and Im set...

Its just that I have been soooooooooo broke and can't afford the right parts right now (if I can even find them for sale, it seems like everythgin is sold out)
:sigh:

So I was trying to figure otu a plan to get them going...but its just not the best options, I was being impatient and its not going to work...I just need to forget about my projects" for a while and think about somethgin else, lol...I know these hotwires are not worth doing unless done right, so I guess I will just have to wait...

I have just on last question for now...How hard are the KUI bi pin switchs to get in the mag host? Can a noob do it without damaging the switch or light? Or does it take some practice? Because I think thats the best option...at some point buying that so that I can use the Bi-pin bulbs instead of potted ones...

 

[molite]

My favorite way to power a 3854 bulb is 2x18650 lith using dsd charger
Dsd charger from lighthound:
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2179
However they are $4 bucks at dealextreme.
But ligthound is so awsome to deal with.
Protected 18650's are safer and more money but I think you have to double click to fire up the 3854.
I prefer unprotected, they are way cheaper and you don't have to double click.
read up on lith batteries care and handling. (around $6 each for unprotected get minimum 2200mah, 2600mah is better.)
If you go the 18650 route they don't have protruding buttons on top.
so buy some little magnets like this:
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1689

The 2x 18650 powering the 3854 will work in a 2d or 2c host with pvc sleeve.
read the entire sticky at the top of the incan forum you will find all your answers.

I've only installed a KIU socket in D size mags but I beleive the C host is easier.
Must be handy with soldering Iron!!

Good luck!

 

[cutlerylover]

Ok, Thanks again...I woudl probably have to get a CPF member to install the KIU socket then sicne I never used a sodering gun before, nor do I own one...but Ill figure that out when I go down that road...for now I just need to read a bunch more and save my money, Thanks again for all the help!

 

[dca2]

No you can't use it. It will blow up and spew toxic gases throughout your house and make it inhabitable for years <just kidding>

:hahaha:Find that bulb and you could make a fortune fixing up run-down houses!