Project Synopsis:
Project Goal:
Convert a common desk lamp to use battery power. Learn how long a full 12V battery pack (8x 1.2V AA) will power the bulb.
Project Impact:
I can fulfill one of my goals of bypassing traditional energy infrastructure by moving some small portion of my power use off the grid and harvest solar energy into common rechargeable batteries then using those batteries to power a low voltage LED bulb that looks like a common household desk bulb. Will anyone notice the difference?
Project Budget:
$10 USD
Project Instructions:
My instructions got a bit more detailed than I’d planned with pictures and all so I put them into this blog post – Desk Lamp Conversion.
Lessons Learned:
- A19 is not the socket size of a light bulb! Here is a link to the article which opened my eyes: What is the difference between E26, E27 and A19?
- The positive end of a light bulb (and socket) is the tip, the negative end is the ring.
- Powerful LED bulbs can pull a lot of electrical current using 12V. Be sure and size your wires appropriately otherwise they could get hot and start a fire.