cfl area lighting

just a bit of background

me and a few friends are skateboarders and we go out at night to many unlit areas

a few years ago i got a full size camera tripod and attached 2 dichoric
50w halogens to the top of it it was powered by a 12v 12ah sla battery

im guessing 2000+ lumens, runtime was not too good though maybe just over 1hr

so next i stuck 9 crees on a big pc heatsink 3 sets of 3 there were some resistors in there but i think the crees were running about 1200ma each
again over 2000 lumens well over double the runtime

so...

i need another similar light low cost and i was looking at cfl

so question is 12v cfls what l/w do they run at
also any recomendations the housing and mounting i will take care of
its just the bulbs im after

want to keep the price under £30 / $45 and lumens over 1500

CFLs are not more efficient than LEDs (in lumens/watt). So your best bet would be to just refine your LED setup.

not sure if you are right - remember my system is running the leds at 1.2a
its got resistors so theres waste there

im getting about 2000 lumens out of 40-50w thats only 40-50l/w

are cfls worse than that

also remember cost - drivers more leds etc all cost money

i want to keep my current system and have another system

i have plenty of sla's

Just caught this, look at this web site then look for these in the UK. Somebody over there has to have them, they work pretty well.

Before I send you there, I have used the TCP reflector cfl floods for a number of years. The first generation used an aluminum reflector that had a screw out clear plastic cover. I use those for back of my house driveway illumination at night. 3 on one side and 2 on the opposite side 6 foot higher light up the place.......really, really well. The new styles have everything encased and I believe everything is plastic (have those too, they work just about as well and are far more bug proof and weather proof)

Here is the link to the reflector I believe was used in my TCP floods, you would tape/glue/modify your 12 volt CFL's to somehow hold these (duct tape comes to mind) onto your ballasts....

http://www.servicelighting.com/TCP-...ory-Screw-Base-Compact-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb

Here is what the new versions look like because you can't buy my first generation floods anymore:

http://www.servicelighting.com/TCP-...eflector-Flood-Compact-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb

Get them in at least 5000K temp......I use 6500K in the driveway.

Bob E.

Until now I didn't know 12volt CFL even existed. I'm also not clear as to what voltage levels CFL runs better native at; 12 or 120? Until I have that answer it's tough to conclude which is more efficient.

http://www.solarpowergetics.com/servlet/the-289/Getics-Compact-Flourescent-Light/Detail

These are also 4100k, which I consider perfectfor general work lighting.

this is what i had in mind...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=320296410756

or this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=320296410777

less power but still interesting...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=200284131363

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270326699818

12 volt CFLs are available from a number of sources, the fleabay ones are very cheap but often of doubtful qaulity.
I have found this UK suppler to be very good
http://http://www.windandsun.co.uk/lighting_fluorescent.htm
They sell 12 volt CFLs in a range of wattages in both warm and cool white.
The efficiency is similar to a line voltage CFL but if useing a battery supply no inverter losses.

The very best LEDs are now more efficient than CFLs, however most afforadable LED lights sold in the high street are still far behind CFL efficiency.