Check the voltage. My Malibu is 12V AC from what I remember.

"Tom Best" wrote in message
om...
I would appreciate some help with a 12 volt question.

I set up a 7 light long string of 12 volt, 40 watt bulbs on a strand
of 12 guage, outdoor lighting, copper wire. The bulbs and bases were
standard Edison screw base types. The lights were connected to a 300
watt DC converter made for outdoor yard lights. In theory, I would
like to take the same string (with lower wattage bulbs) on sailing
trips.

In 4 days, 6 of the seven lights have burned out. One light continues
to burn at normal brightness.

Any ideas or comments on these failures apprecitated.

Thanks
Tom

My apologies to all for bothering you with a stupid question. The yard
light converter converts from 120 V. AC to 12 V. AC. Not DC as I assumed.

I never would have guessed. Thanks for the help.

Tom


"Calif Bill" wrote in message
link.net...
Check the voltage. My Malibu is 12V AC from what I remember.

"Tom Best" wrote in message
om...
I would appreciate some help with a 12 volt question.

I set up a 7 light long string of 12 volt, 40 watt bulbs on a strand
of 12 guage, outdoor lighting, copper wire. The bulbs and bases were
standard Edison screw base types. The lights were connected to a 300
watt DC converter made for outdoor yard lights. In theory, I would
like to take the same string (with lower wattage bulbs) on sailing
trips.

In 4 days, 6 of the seven lights have burned out. One light continues
to burn at normal brightness.

Any ideas or comments on these failures apprecitated.

Thanks
Tom

Thomas,
your query remains as sensible as it did before you mentioned the AC
output. The lamps would have failed from overvolts (not much is
necessary!) or vibration - whether the supply was AC or DC.

Brian W

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 00:33:11 GMT, "test"
wrote:

My apologies to all for bothering you with a stupid question. The yard
light converter converts from 120 V. AC to 12 V. AC. Not DC as I assumed.

I never would have guessed. Thanks for the help.

Tom


"Calif Bill" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Check the voltage. My Malibu is 12V AC from what I remember.

"Tom Best" wrote in message
om...
I would appreciate some help with a 12 volt question.

I set up a 7 light long string of 12 volt, 40 watt bulbs on a strand
of 12 guage, outdoor lighting, copper wire. The bulbs and bases were
standard Edison screw base types. The lights were connected to a 300
watt DC converter made for outdoor yard lights. In theory, I would
like to take the same string (with lower wattage bulbs) on sailing
trips.

In 4 days, 6 of the seven lights have burned out. One light continues
to burn at normal brightness.

Any ideas or comments on these failures apprecitated.

Thanks
Tom

Tom,

Nothing to apologize for. I tend to think that the AC in this case
would not harm the bulbs as Rod said. Do you have a multimeter that
you can use to check the converter to see what the actual output
voltage is? Also, where did you obtain these bulbs and what were
they marketed for?

-JimL



test wrote:
My apologies to all for bothering you with a stupid question. The yard
light converter converts from 120 V. AC to 12 V. AC. Not DC as I assumed.

I never would have guessed. Thanks for the help.

Tom

"test" wrote in message
...
My apologies to all for bothering you with a stupid question. The
yard
light converter converts from 120 V. AC to 12 V. AC. Not DC as I
assumed.

I never would have guessed. Thanks for the help.

Tom


AC/DC a light bulb doesn't know the difference. Remember the High
Intensity desk lamps? Tensor was a brand? A 12v AC supply and a tail
light bulb.

del cecchi

"Tom Best" wrote in message
om...
I would appreciate some help with a 12 volt question.

I would think it would be from excessive vibration if they were
originally for fixed service in the yard.

Leanne

Yeah, vibration, knocking etc.
In Australia our main type of globes are not screw in but bayonet. (push in
& 1/4 turn).
Most globes here for household type use only have 3 supports holding the
element up. It is possible to get ones that have 7 or 8 supports & these can
take much more rough treatment. They are designed for "trouble lights" for
mechanics etc.
Another recent type of globe has just recently taken over the trucking scene
here in Aussie is a type of LED light but I doubt if it would be bright
enough for your purposes. They last "forever" on truck side light useage.
BruceM


"Leanne" wrote in message
...

"Tom Best" wrote in message
om...
I would appreciate some help with a 12 volt question.

I would think it would be from excessive vibration if they were
originally for fixed service in the yard.

Leanne

I would think it would be from excessive vibration if they were
originally for fixed service in the yard.
Agreed.

A good way to check for vibration is to set a dish of water near the bulbs,
rev up the engine while you observe ripples on the surface of the water.

I'd bet you'll see signs of excessive vibration at various throttle
settings. This is bad news for a hot filament (as you already know).


--
(¯`·._.· £ãrrÿ ·._.·´¯)



"Leanne" wrote in message
...

"Tom Best" wrote in message
om...
I would appreciate some help with a 12 volt question.

I would think it would be from excessive vibration if they were
originally for fixed service in the yard.

Leanne