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Posted by vic on February 20, 2007, 9:11 pm
Can someone explain the benefits of 12 volt track lights.
Does a 50 watt 12 volt light use 50 watts? Is there any operating cost
inherent in using a 12 volt system vs a standard 120 volt track
lighting system?
Thanks for your help!
Vic
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Posted by Mark Lloyd on February 20, 2007, 9:48 pm
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>Can someone explain the benefits of 12 volt track lights.
>Does a 50 watt 12 volt light use 50 watts?
Yes. What did you think "50W" meant?
Current will be 50W / 12V = 4.17A
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> Is there any operating cost
>inherent in using a 12 volt system vs a standard 120 volt track
>lighting system?
The transformer will be less than 100% efficient, using some power.
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>Thanks for your help!
>Vic
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com
"Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is
not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has
no place in the curriculum of our nation's public
school classes." -- Ted Kennedy
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Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on February 20, 2007, 10:11 pm
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> Can someone explain the benefits of 12 volt track lights.
> Does a 50 watt 12 volt light use 50 watts? Is there any operating cost
> inherent in using a 12 volt system vs a standard 120 volt track
> lighting system?
> Thanks for your help!
One big advantage of 12V systems is safety. It allows Joe Sixpack to do his
own wiring with no fear of killing himself. It is especially beneficial
with the outdoor lighting systems.
You still have to burn a given amount of power to light a bulb. Not much
difference there.
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Posted by Jim Yanik on February 20, 2007, 10:19 pm
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>
>> Can someone explain the benefits of 12 volt track lights.
>> Does a 50 watt 12 volt light use 50 watts? Is there any operating
>> cost inherent in using a 12 volt system vs a standard 120 volt track
>> lighting system?
>> Thanks for your help!
>
> One big advantage of 12V systems is safety. It allows Joe Sixpack to
> do his own wiring with no fear of killing himself. It is especially
> beneficial with the outdoor lighting systems.
>
> You still have to burn a given amount of power to light a bulb. Not
> much difference there.
>
>
>
I suspect there's some loss in converting your 120VAC to 12V.
How much depends on the method;switcher or iron-core transformer.
--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
kua.net
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Posted by Dave Martindale on February 20, 2007, 11:52 pm
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>Can someone explain the benefits of 12 volt track lights.
The wires connecting to the bulbs don't need particularly good
insulation, allowing all sorts of creativity in how the system is put
together and what carries the current to the bulb.
Also, a 12 V 50 W lamp has a fairly thick robust tungsten filament. The
same wattage lamp at 120 V has a very thin and fragile filament.
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>Does a 50 watt 12 volt light use 50 watts? Is there any operating cost
>inherent in using a 12 volt system vs a standard 120 volt track
>lighting system?
Yes, it uses 50 W. 12 V lamps are generally halogen, so they are whiter
in colour and more efficient (more luments per watt) than a standard
cheap 120 V incandescent bulb. But 120 V halogen lamps are just as
efficient.
There is some loss in the transformer, but it's probably less than 10%
Dave
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>Does a 50 watt 12 volt light use 50 watts?