Electrical help for some crazy idea I got

[Dan!]

Basically, I want to set up some 'floodlights' for when im at my bike jumps and it gets dark :dance:

My idea was, use an old car battery (which I have in my garage doing nothing) and buy some cheapy headlight bulbs for a car, then do some jiggery pokery with the wiring so I can just run the headlight bulbs off the battery.

Obviously it'd need a switch which is simples, and im guessing its going to want a relay so it doesnt melt the bulbs :think: but thats pretty much where im confused! Any body care to explain what I need to source?


Main things which I have or can get cheaply:

- Battery
- Battery terminals
- Headlight Bulbs
- Long length of fairly thin wire
- Fairly short length of thick wire
- On/off toggle Switch


Thanks

[Connor]

Only thing you need that isnt on the list is the relay you mentioned, but tbh Id be a pikey and not bother and see how long it lasts then if it doesnt last that long, Id think about setting up a relay. Im sure cully will be along shortly to end this thread

[Dan!]

I cant see normal headlight bulbs taking 340amps very well :think:

[Connor]

Only one way to find out

[darrenjlobb]

Are you going to put the bults in some form of headlight housing? Be useless on there own..

You can connect the bulbs straight to the battery no issues.... Put them in parrelel to keep them all at full brightness...

Only need a relay if you want to switch them on and off, unless you get a high current switch... otherwise just have them connected direct....

[Dan!]

Yeah just looking at cheapy spot lights on ebay now. Any idea where else I could get them cheap? Obviously quality etc is pretty un-important, I just want something to mount the bulbs in lol.

Cheers for the advice though darren, I seriously thought the bulbs/wiring would just melt :S

[Connor]

Go to a scrappy and get some cheap random headlights off anything you see?

[Dan!]

Thats a good idea actually. Hmmm. Cheers for the idea Con x

[Connor]

Youre welcome

[Megamonkey]

To be fair I got a work lamp that connects to a battery direct or cigarett lighter thats a pretty good light. Think it was got from Halfrauds.

[cully]

if the headlight lamps are connected straght to the battery the only issue will be having thick enough wire that dont melt ie:not speaker wire!
you only need a relay if the switch your using cannot switch the full load of the lamps

the other issue you will have is the time you need light
il explain
say your battery has a capacity of 55AH, that will supply 55amps for 1 hour
1 std 55w lamp takes 4.6amps so the battery will power 1 lamp for 11.9 hours
2 lamps 9.2 amps so battery will power 2 lamps for 5.9 hours
4 lamps 18.4amps so battery will power 4 lamps for 2.9 hours

ect
the 55ah battery would be a heavy duty diesel type in brand new condition older batterys with smaller ratings will proform a lot less than the lable says

dan your best bet would be to buy a small petol 2.5kw generator and run 4 500w halagon floods you could probably get this for around £100

[Dan!]

Thanks Cully.

Just had a look at petrol generators on ebay but theyre all £150+ Shame because portable 500w halogen lamps are only £15 and 2 or 3 of them would be perfect.

And about the light duration thing - If 3 or 4 lamps could last for 2 hours that would be fine tbh, its only so we can ride our bikes for a bit longer when it gets dark

[cully]

dan you will get generators on ebay for a lot less money ive bought severel from ebay the last being a 5Kw diesel electric start for £70

[ben87]

you can also reply to my facebook messages and pms.....?

lol

[4WayDiablo]

Ooh light paint yourself doing some trixorZ

[mark_airey]

Well I have nothing to add to this, think everything I was thinking when I read the first post has been covered.

- Use complete headlight units.........
-Battery fine.......
-No switch required

Cheap petrol generator would be the best way to go though IMO and a few work lights as you say

[Dan!]

you can also reply to my facebook messages and pms.....?

lol

Sorry ben, everytime you message me I just text Diggers asking him for the bolts (because they are at his house!) and he's bloody useless. :roll:

[mark_airey]

Where have you been looking for generators??

After a quick scan of ebay I have found

this which would be great for what you want - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/small-caravan-..._500wt_949

this which would be fine as long as you get 110V work lights - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/honda-generato..._500wt_949

and this which might be a little bit OTT for what you need but would run as many lights as you like and probably anything else you want........
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAXMAN-700-KVA..._500wt_949

[1616six]

i have a couple of complete sets of astra headlights you can have cheap dan

& didnt i give you a set of crystals for free.. ??

[Dan!]

Where have you been looking for generators??

After a quick scan of ebay I have found

this which would be great for what you want - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/small-caravan-..._500wt_949

this which would be fine as long as you get 110V work lights - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/honda-generato..._500wt_949

and this which might be a little bit OTT for what you need but would run as many lights as you like and probably anything else you want........
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAXMAN-700-KVA..._500wt_949

Cheers mate, il have a look through them now!

i have a couple of complete sets of astra headlights you can have cheap dan

& didnt i give you a set of crystals for free.. ??

I have a pair of astra headlights aswel (mk3 ones though) but I though circular spot lights might be better? And yeah you did actually, I gave them to be but he's got some new headlights now, so il try steal them back Cheers for reminding me

[Jake]

Lmao at that last generator mark !

& dan feel free to use the halos in your shed if you need carriers HID kit

[Dan!]

Lmao at that last generator mark !

& dan feel free to use the halos in your shed if you need carriers HID kit

Yeah another good shout, cheers mate

[mark_airey]

Lmao at that last generator mark !

& dan feel free to use the halos in your shed if you need carriers HID kit

What?? I was thinking, lighting, TV, games console, stereo, small town.......... wasn't quite sure what he was wanting to run

the only problem with batts and headlights is that it will drain the batt fairly fast and once its flat your buggered until you charge it again, at least with a generator it will just keep going as long as you like!

Edit:- what about this?....... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wind-Turbine-3..._638wt_932

[Jake]

Only 25k.. bargain, can sell all the extra energy generated back to the government too

[Blaze tub tom]

If u do put a relay in the circuit...
30- 12v (battery feed)
86- switch power ( on/off switch would feed into that terminal)
86- earth (.... Earth "/ lol)
87- normaly open switch output (will give power to your lights when switch is engaged)
87a- normally closed switch output (lights will be constant on untill you engage the switch)
Proberly best just not to use 87a not really needed for what you want

Hope that helps bud

[jo3]

you could always set up a leisure battery in your boot with a one way circuit, so you can full power from that and if it dies you can still start the car and you can just keep the car running for a bit if ur leisure batter dies and it wil still power it, and then your alternator will keep the both batterys charged all the time, you just might wanna think about upgrading the alternator tho depending on what your powering. but a couple of lights you prob wont need to.

http://www.campervanconversion.co.uk/ca ... trics.html