12v dc lighting

[sleezyp1]

Ok here's the question. Has anyone tried to use car halogen or the bluer zenon lighting for there reef? They are very bright and come in all sorrts of wattages. I know right off the bat the color would be off. What about energy usage? Does 100watt 12v DC use more power than 100w 110v Ac? Does it take more power to convert it over to Dc and then rendering it inefficient?

 

[bobbbm]

Hmmm that's a good question.. Not that I have an answer LOL but good question!

 

[SeaView]

Wonder if you could power them with a computer power supply.

 

[dougwilliams]

The conversion from AC to DC is not perfect, so there is a loss of efficiency there. But, no ballast is perfect either - so no matter what you're starting off with some sort of degradation if you use any fluorescent or MH fixture. On the other hand - the bulbs themselves probably make up the bulk of the inefficiency, in how they each convert electricity to light.

 

[eboonaman]

now in English please..... :lol:

 

[sleezyp1]

Where's Joe Burger?

 

[dougwilliams]

It is not efficient.

A MH bulb will convert ~25% or so of incoming power into light.
A fluorescent will convert ~20% of incoming power to light.
The 12VDC bulbs are halogen (which are just incandescent) - and those are only about 5% efficient.