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spencerin
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2021 20:52
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Are light sockets for 12V incandescent bulbs the same as those for standard 120V bulbs? If so, is it safe to conclude I can find 12V incandescent bulbs with the same bases?
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paulz
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2021 21:24
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Well, I took one of the 12v LED bulbs that came with my old HF solar kit and screwed it into a 120 lamp, connected to 12v. It's our main overhead light.
If that helps..
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2021 21:27 - Edited by: gcrank1
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What you want are 'Edison base' bulbs, and LED, Not incandescent bulbs.
LED bulbs use SO much less power! My old RV Edison base 12vdc incandescent bulbs (from an RV dealer) killed me for years. That said, with dc I found I could do Ok with 25w bulbs rather than 50w and use 1/2 the amps.....that helped, some.
Amps x Volts = Watts
12v needs BIG wires to run any distance, and the more amps you want/need to carry the bigger the wires get. And the more amps you carry the more heat and danger there is.
12v MR16 bulbs are more efficient than incandescents. I used them in my transition period. Wish they made an Edison screw in base that would take the two little prong plug-ins from the MR16s.
But LED's give far more illumination (the Lumins rating) at a fraction of the amps draw; ie, your battery bank will last way longer.
But, after decades of 12vdc experience I switched to a 300w pure sine wave inverter at my battery bank where it is all changed to 120vac which simplified my wiring, fixtures, switches and costs! Yes, the inverter takes a few little amps at idle and use but the LED lights more than make up for it. I use the cheap, commonly available 120vac LED Edison base bulbs for regular household use. All 4 of our lights use way less than 1 25w incandescent and give off WAY more lumins.
Im a 120vac convert.
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2021 21:32
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I need incandescent for the heat generation.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2021 21:37 - Edited by: gcrank1
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Sure, they WILL do that! They get HOT
What are you making?
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2021 23:35 - Edited by: spencerin
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Need something to heat my water pump pit in the wintertime. I believe it's fairly common practice to make sure it's insulated and then have a light bulb in there to keep things unfrozen.
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SE Ohio
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2021 07:57
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I’m assuming you are off grid and using 12 volt power from solar/ battery bank to run 12 volt incandescent bulbs for heat. 60 watts at 12 volts would mean 5 amp draw 24/7.
I wonder if the heating could be accomplished by propane, possibly cheaper investment? A pilot light would probably be sufficient to keep everything warm and the right-sized propane tank would be very low tech. Just thinkin’
SE Ohio
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2021 20:16 - Edited by: gcrank1
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So if I did this right.....
The math says a 12vdc 60w incan. bulb draws almost 5amps/hr = 120a/24 hrs.
That means a min. 240ah bat-bank if FLA and at a C rate of 24a the scc needs to be min. 30a, better 40a and a solar array of what, about 400 or more Watts?
All Just To Run A Light Bulb 24/7
If you are planning on running anything else on the solar the sizing needs to go UP.
It gets expensive fast.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 29 Aug 2021 07:34
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With a small insulated box you could probably get away with less than a 60w bulb, depending on how low of temps you plan to keep water running.
I'm sure its possible to get a temp sensor that will turn on/off so your only running that light when its actually needed and not 24/7 as that sure does add up.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 30 Aug 2021 14:48
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Why not just use heat tape? Or a 12v battery warming mat. Or really any heater that's made to be outside. Even if its 120v you can figure out the actualy watt useage with ohms law
They have to make some kind of RV 12v heat tape though. Speaking from experience 12v incandescent bulbs are prety un reliable and considered this is in a sump pit I wouldnt go this route.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 30 Aug 2021 19:44
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My incan. Edison base 12vdc bulb experience over 30+ years is the opposite, Ive never had one blow. We used 50w and 25w bulbs. The little RV 12v bulbs for the typical chap rv fixtures are another story, cant recommend them at all unless you were going for lighting, not heat, thus using LED bulbs.
I think the filaments in the E-base bulbs are much more heavy duty, and not vibrating on dc like they do on ac they ran and ran. The spares I bought turned out to be just more bulbs in the box now that Ive gone to the inverter and 120vac with LEDs.
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 30 Aug 2021 22:49
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Probably won't go the solar route if I'm using a light to heat the pit due to amp draw. Although a timer or temp-based trigger would limit ample draw. But I enjoy the ideas and opinions as they keep me from making a bad decison.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 30 Aug 2021 23:05
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You could use a thermostat like the one linked to below to turn the light bulb or other heat source on and off. This one is for AC.... WILLHI WH1436A 10A Temperature Controller 110V Digital Thermostat Switch Sous Vide Controller NTC 10K Sensor Improved Version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V4TJR00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_J2MNHARX6HSBGV66E41 2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
There are others that require the user to do some assembly that will operate on DC and switch DC loads. I can find and link to one of them later if needed. I only have my phone and an iffy data connection until I get back home tomorrow.
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 30 Aug 2021 23:36 - Edited by: spencerin
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If you wouldn't mind posting a 12V DC link, I'd appreciate it.
I did just find 2 12V heat tapes on Amazon, one of which was self-regulating and draws just over an amp/meter at 50*. Seems like a good place to start.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 30 Aug 2021 23:47
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I had some luck with my connection.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Inkbird-ITC1000-12V-Digital-Temperature-Controller-2-Relay-T hermostat-Fahrenheit-/323138130556?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mk rid=711-127632-2357-0
I have a few units like this in use. They require a mount, a box or whatever and a 12 vdc power supply. Built in relay for the switching. There used to be lots of sellers on ebay. I could not verify tonight how many. Assorted voltages so be careful to read all the specs. 10 amp max for the switching relay IIRC.
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