🚀 go-pugleaf

Where did you have in mind?  
Home made fixtures not only are legal,
but most hardware stores sell kits for amateurs.
It's a hobby some places.

Al

Wes <wesk@prodigy.net> wrote in message news:Gz7ha.44$5u2.26@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...
> Not sure what country you're in, but you will NEVER pass a local code
> inspector in the US (if in an area that requires inspection) with home made
> fixtures.
> 
> Another issue to consider.  The greatest concern you face with 12v systems
> is voltage drop.  If you have LONG runs, this will become a significant
> problem.  DO NOT use small cable... #12 is the preferred roadway if running
> under 75ft (IMO)...  and another issue to consider is amperage.  Remember
> that #12 cable is good for 20 amps.  I'm sure you're very aware of the
> formula to figure your max allowable... and I'd urge you to consider no more
> than 300 watts on ANY circuit.  DO NOT pump up the transformer in order to
> put more fixtures on that circuit.
> 
> In fact, most major manufacturers in the US rate all transformers at
> 300Watts or less.  And in 12V landscape lighting, UL will not permit any
> circuit above 300 Watts.
> 
> Hope that helps, and feel welcome to drop me a line for more info.
> 
> Wes
> 
> 
> "DaveC" <anon@bugus.net> wrote in message
> news:0001HW.BA977EAD001869E90E6B7920@news.covad.net...
> > I've been asked to help light a small office building hallway. The
> > fluorescent lamps are way too harsh for the office workers, and the
> tenants
> > favor the overhead QH approach.
> >
> > I've looked at the local home centers' lighting departments and see quite
> a
> > selection of LV systems using overhead steel cable with 3 hanging
> reflector
> > bulbs (with a choice of trim, or not) tapped in at appropriate intervals.
> >
> > Price for the above from $70-100us.
> >
> > Being encouraged by what I saw, I decided to see what I could build from
> > scratch.
> >
> > As you probably can guess, I'm running into current supply/demand
> > limitations. Each of the 2 hallways could use about 15 lamps. Lamps are
> > available in 20 and 50w versions, which at 12v, draw approximately 1.7a
> and
> > 4.2a, respectively. I now see why the cost of such a system is mostly for
> the
> > supply.
> >
> > Looking for a ready-made 12v supply, I find this at Jameco for $70us that
> > provides 12.5a:
> >
> > <http://www.jameco.com/cgi-
> >
> bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/Jameco/searchResult.d2w/report?sort=BPA&search=1234
> 22
> > >
> >
> > This would allow me to run 7 of the 20w lamps, or only 2 of the 50w lamps.
> >
> > I can't see buying 2 supplies to run the 15 (well, I guess we could rev
> that
> > to 14) lamps in each hall. I seem to be butting up against Ohm's Law.
> >
> > Maybe build a simple, unreg'd, analog power supply with massive
> transformer
> > and rectifiers for 30A?
> >
> > Any other ideas (or links to sites) to help me reach a solution would be
> > greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > --
> > Dave C
> > dave+usenet3016@mailblocks.net
> >
> >
> 
>