Indirect lighting problem, identification?

[Robin McHood]

Attached photo is one of the lamps which fit a track system in RH to provide indirect lighting above the top cupboards. These are tungstem filament lamps in a (custom?) plastic holder which clips into the track. There is no ident of any sort on the lamp other than a 1 one one end and a 2 on the other. One of these lamps managed to burn a hole in my favourite gilet which was stuffed untidely in one of the lockers.... Google etc has failed to identify these lamps nor in my 55 years in electrical engineering have I come across these before. So I'm hoping a funster out there knows what they are as ideally I'd like to replace these with LEDs, preferably that would plug into the existing track. Any wisdom out there?

 

[autorouter]

Are they 'festoon' bulbs, of the type found in some car interior lights? They come in different sizes 31mm, 36mm, 42mm for example. LED versions are available. For example

269 Osram Long Life LED Retrofit Cool White 12V 31mm Festoon Bulb

269 OSRAM LED Retrofit Bulbs enhance the look and feel of your interior or numberplates with a crisp light. Fit and forget with up to 4,000 hours bulb life and 6 year warranty.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

 

[Manic]

Buy some led strip and stick in place of this light set up, no heat and less power consumed.

 

[Robin McHood]

Are they 'festoon' bulbs, of the type found in some car interior lights? They come in different sizes 31mm, 36mm, 42mm for example. LED versions are available. For example

269 Osram Long Life LED Retrofit Cool White 12V 31mm Festoon Bulb

269 OSRAM LED Retrofit Bulbs enhance the look and feel of your interior or numberplates with a crisp light. Fit and forget with up to 4,000 hours bulb life and 6 year warranty.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

Unfortunately not, they look like the glass envelope of a festoon bulb but instead of metal caps they have plastic ends which clip into the rail and trap the wires from either end of the bulb, thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Robin McHood]

Buy some led strip and stick in place of this light set up, no heat and less power consumed.

I agree, however the access to the track the lamps are clipped into isn't easy. Also the track runs through the top of all the cupboards and therefore its a ready made 12v source. My hope was to track down whoever made it, see if they do a direct led plug in replacement, otherwise I'm going to see if I can deconstruct the exiting lamps and fit a suitable led to each one which will be a faff. Cheers!

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[peterc10]

Buy some led strip and stick in place of this light set up, no heat and less power consumed.

I agree - replace with LED strips.

 

[tonyidle]

You could solder one or more LEDs & appropriate resistor across the existing holder. Carefully break out the glass & solder to the exposed metal ends.

 

[Robin McHood]

You could solder one or more LEDs & appropriate resistor across the existing holder. Carefully break out the glass & solder to the exposed metal ends.

Yep thats the fall back plan it will be fiddly, as you can probably see from the lamp unit photos. There aren't any metal ends like a normal festoon lamp just the thin wires from each end of the filament. This is the one that melted my gilet!

 

[pappajohn]

Just a guess but they may be 120v/230v.
They appear to have a mini PCB which MAY be a crude inverter.
I had similar inverters on my RV in the 12v dual fluorescent lights which are of course 230v.

 

[tonyidle]

They appear to have a mini PCB

Must be mini - invisible to me .

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[pappajohn]

Must be mini - invisible to me .

I can see at least one resistor above the clear plastic end clip and what looks like a veriboard at the other end.
These inverters really are basic.

 

[tonyidle]

Yep thats the fall back plan it will be fiddly, as you can probably see from the lamp unit photos. There aren't any metal ends like a normal festoon lamp just the thin wires from each end of the filament. This is the one that melted my gilet!View attachment 329078View attachment 329079

Having looked at the photos I'd do as others have suggested: cut it into easily removable sections, remove, and fit LED strip. That only needs 12v at one end.

 

[Robin McHood]

pappajohn yes thats what I thought at first but its just the discolouration caused by the overheating. The track is 12v the pcb is actually a small aluminium reflector and the resistor is a deformed discoloured plastic cylinder which joins the two ends together. Assembly seems to be a festoon type bulb with wire ends instead of metal caps. This is sandwiched between the two plastic end caps which also support the reflector. The wire ends are brought out and down to the clip/feet at the ends, one wire going left and one right bent round the feet so when the lamp is plugged into the track it connects the lamp bewteen the +12v track and the -12v track. As I said I have never seen a lamp like it before and google hasn't either but somebody made this, question is ..who?

 

[Robin McHood]

Having looked at the photos I'd do as others have suggested: cut it into easily removable sections, remove, and fit LED strip. That only needs 12v at one end.

This is a last resort as the track is up behind a wooden support for the top cupboards with an alloy mesh in front. You can't see the track at all, removing and fitting led strip, would require a strip out all the top cupboards, a mammoth task, or modify/replace the existing lamps. If I could find the manufacturer I'd even buy some new lamps to experiment on if they don't make an led version now.

 

[HandyAndy]

ask GPW he seems to know all about indirect lighting...
Sorry I'll get my coat (ala go to bed)

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[GPW]

ask GPW he seems to know all about indirect lighting...
Sorry I'll get my coat (ala go to bed)

Nah you need the opposite of me, I only know about the lack of it LOL.