Power supply for light on work bench

[tombear]

Being something of a Luddite could some one please advise me on a wee project I have.

at the weekend I picked up a proper UK made Anglepoise lamp in a charity shop for a fiver. Great condition and with the perfect small head with a 20 watt halogen bulb you can manoeuvre relatively close to any fiddly work job. Unfortunately being the said Luddite I didn't notice the sticker saying 12 volt low voltage supply, which given the size and placing of the said sticker surprised even me when it was pointed out to me by the eleven year old. Anyhoo I now need some ( cheap ) device that steps down UK mains to 12 volts to run it off. Is there such a thing and what should I be asking for and what should I be paying so I don't get ripped off?

The firm doesn't seam to make this model anymore, and looking at the prices I couldn't afford a new one even if they did. They have stopped listing low voltage jobs but thankfully it takes a standard M76 bulb and nothing out of production.

i already have a 240v job that takes a normal bulb I use with a artists daylight bulb for when I need to see the proper colour of things, a great bit of kit I rescued from the skip when we were clearing out the office before it closed.

Atb

tom

 

[Shewie]

I used to use a 12V power pack when I was into CB radios as a kid, just a small box which converted 240 into 12v, about 8x6x4" with + & - terminals on the front.

No idea what they're called though sorry

 

[Mesquite]

What about running it off of a battery charger?

 

[dwardo]

Maybe look at converting it to LED much cheaper to run but maybe more expensive granted.

 

[cyberwolfuk]

use a charger/adaptor, you find loads on carboot for about £2

 

[British Red]

It needs a low voltage transformer

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOW-VOLTA...2686?pt=UK_Light_Fittings&hash=item45f1d2e12e

You can wire them internally or externally with a plug (laptop type) - the lamp should have a small socket if so

 

[rik_uk3]

Maplins are pretty good for this sort of thing.

They have a live chat (via text box) so you can ask for help.

 

[tombear]

Thanks folks! Thus armed I will ask herself to sort me one as the eldest has come down with a evil cough so I won't be going anywhere until he's back at school. Saying that he's sounding much better than this morning.

Atb

tom

 

[bigroomboy]

Check how many amps it needs. Many laptops run at 12v and if it can supply the current could be modded to work. If not maplins it the place but I expect you will be paying much more for the transformer than the lamp then.

 

[Jared]

A standard PC power supply unit?

Will require a bit of modding to make into a desktop power supply.

 

[ged]

Most of these lamps came with a built-in transformer, but if yours didn't then you can probably pick one up at a charity shop for a couple of quid. I know the shops around here have them all the time.

You can run the lamp from AC, no need to get into DC power supply territory.

 

[wingstoo]

May be you could just use a Coleman unit

240 plug in to 12v car socket. Just need to put a 12v plug on your lamp.

 

[bigroomboy]

A standard PC power supply unit?

Will require a bit of modding to make into a desktop power supply.

Yep good one. You can find the! Everywhere and they definitely have the beans as I have one I use to teat hid lights. You need to connect 2 pins together on the motherboard socket to get it to work. Can't remember which ones but there are plenty of guides on Google. Then just use any of the molex connector for 12 or 5 v usually

 

[tombear]

The jobs a good un, a little electrical bits shop in Accringto provided me with a transformer for LV lights for a few quid which only took a couple of minutes to wire in and the lamp works great!

cheers!

Tom