On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 08:32:09 GMT, "Falky foo"
wrote:

Hey, thanks much for all the help recently. I want to replace the bare-bulb
interior bulkhead lights on my 25' sailboat. So I took one off today and
looked in it and it said it was rated for up to 220 volts. Does this mean I
can go out and buy cheap Target fixtures and install 12v bulbs in 'em and
they'll work? West Marine's fixtures cost about about 5 times more than
they're worth it seems to me. Thanks again!

If you can find a fixture that will accept the type of 12 volt
lightbulb you use, it will work fine.

The rating @ 220 volts means that the fixture will handle about 18
amps at 100 watts. So it has plenty of capacity.

I've never taken a marine fixture apart, but one reason for the
difference in price may be the way it's manufactured - I believe
marine units for interior spaces are sealed, or relatively sealed,
against moisture, vapor and such But I'm not sure about that.

In any case, I'd rather pay a little more for a fixture made and
designed for the application rather than not.

Later,

Tom