Interior 12 Volt Lighting - Juno Trak 12

[flyfshr]

This past chat night, several of us were discussing interior lighting. I mentioned the set up I have in our Trade Wind. Its a product called Trak 12 by Juno. They offer anumber of different fixtures and I especially liked the recepticle for plugging in different lights. In fact, we found a lighting store going out of business and we bought their Juno display. This gave us about 7 or 8 of these recepticles and a few different styles of 12 volt DC halogen lights. This was about 4 years ago and they have alot more styles of fixtures that fit in these recepticles now. The lights insert into a slot and turn 90 degrees and lock in place. Here are a few pictures of the different lights we have. The pictures aren't a good representation of these lights and the recepticle and the flood light were difficult to photograph.

I'll take a couple more shots tomorrow during the daylight so you can see the fixtures.

Brad
FF

[lewster]

Brad,

AWESOME IDEA!!! Thanks for sharing it . It opens up a whole new world of lighting effects for the little blimps that we love so much. And Karma to you too!!

[early]

Hey Brad great lights. Do they have a website?
Thanks Dawn

[flyfshr]

Here's a site with pictures of the Juno Trac 12 line.

http://www.lightology.com/index.cfm/...dept-Trac%2012

Now that I've posted this and looked through the website, I'm going to order the midnight blue glass for the hanging light. It's just too cool looking.

Brad
FF

[uwe]

Excellent idea! This can solve the "light over the dinette" problem that has been on my mind. Didi likes a bright table, and with this I could put a light right above it.

[flyfshr]

Just couldn't stand it. Ordered the sort cone glass globe in cobalt with the silver hanging pennant cord. Went to a lighting store today to look at the real thing and their prices were $10 to $12 higher on each piece plus tax than from Lightology.com and shipping was free. Like I said, just couldn't stand it. Hurry up USPS.

Brad
FF

[GlenCoombe]

o.k. so I'm not real swift when it comes to electrical....as these are 12v lights, do you really need the transformer? The transformer is used to convert 120vac to 12vdc right? Can you just hook these up to the 12v system in the Airstream and go? I would love to have a nice hot light above my customer viewing station to pop the colors of my shirts!!
I've got 120v on all the time but my indirect lights are all 12v floresent and that would be a great place to tie into.
Your thoughts gang?

[flyfshr]

You can certainly tie into the 12 volt line for these low voltage lights. My concern would be that these lights are halogen and draw alot of juice. I would put them on a seperate circuit rather than tie into one with 12 volt flourescent lighting. You are correct, there is no reason for the transformer wiht these 12 volt direct current lights.

Brad
FF

[uwe]

Originally Posted by flyfshr

You can certainly tie into the 12 volt line for these low voltage lights. My concern would be that these lights are halogen and draw alot of juice. I would put them on a seperate circuit rather than tie into one with 12 volt flourescent lighting. You are correct, there is no reason for the transformer wiht these 12 volt direct current lights.

Brad
FF

Hey Brad,
It's not the halogen that draws the juice, it's the wattage of the lamp.
A 10W halogen lamp draws similar juice as a 10W tailight bulb. It's just brighter with halogen, and usually a different light color.
The little cone shaped lamps that work with the Juno lamps are available in low wattage if you want to get a few for boon docking.

[flyfshr]

Thanks for the info Uwe. Guess that makes sense. So where can I get these lower wattage lamps to fit the existing Juno fixtures? Are they a common item available at Lowe's or Home Depot? I'm putting a monoport above each bed and want less bright light for reading.

Brad
FF

[uwe]

Originally Posted by flyfshr

Thanks for the info Uwe. Guess that makes sense. So where can I get these lower wattage lamps to fit the existing Juno fixtures? Are they a common item available at Lowe's or Home Depot? I'm putting a monoport above each bed and want less bright light for reading.

Brad
FF

Brad,

each of these lamps has a specific group part number. I am not sure which is the ones your lamps use. I would simply google this pat number and find a supplier.
e.g. , Lowes wold carry only 50W and 35W of the little lamps that have the built in reflector, and the 2 pin connector. ( Sorry, I forgot the part number) I found 20W versions of these on the internet.
The small 2-pin bulb without the reflector is even available in a 5W version. Another option is to install a dimmer for the lamps that are naturally too bright for certain applications. I found 12V energy saving ( not energy burning) dimmers on e-bay for less than $ 30.00 each. I will put them in my Overlander for the wall lamps, and for the main run of lights in the ceiling.
btw, a great and economical source of the halogen lamps is Ikea.

[uwe]

Here's a start:
http://www.swego.com/12_volt_bulbs.htm
G4 for the 2-pin, and MR16 for the reflector type lamps.

An these guys have them in 20W, both flood and spot:
http://www.lightbulbdirect.com/Merch...gory_Code=MR16

[AYRSTRM2]

Hey, nice Tivoli radio. We have several and one (the travel, battery rechargable version) always goes camping with us. Your coach is done up with style. If I ever get that gutted 50-68 gutted Safari/Flying Cloud for cheap some day, this kind of think is exactly what I would do.

John

[AirConditioner]

Check out the recent progress made on high-output, very low current draw Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) from this vendor. http://www.ledtronics.com/

They and other LED vendors have direct repalcement for the halogen bulbs used in most existing fixtures, and you will be amazed at the very similar light output.

I'm using a few of these in my 72 Overlander as a test, and will replace all my lighting within the month. I went from about 10 amps draw with all lights on to less than 1.5 amps; less heat (hardly any), and 20 year life - vibration proof.

These also work in our outside marker, tail and brake lamps, as well as the side "scare" light.

[flyfshr]

All of this is great info. Keep it coming. Thanks for the kind words John. Yeah, we love that Tivoli radio, wish we had the battery powered one though. I know, another thing to purchase.

Brad
FF

[cameront120]

Excellent choice of radio! I love my Tivoli!

[flyfshr]

This weekend I put a Juno monoport above each bed for one of these lights. A bit too bright with the 20watt bulb so I just need to locate a lower wattage bulb and we'll be all set. The search is on.

Brad
FF

[scottanlily]

Hello flyfshr ,

That shelf below the light is really neat . so different then my 60 trdwnd. I have the wooden shelf , about 16 inches long across the rear wall only. Below mounted to the under side of the shelf is the original dual fixture light . works great perfect for reading in bed . Now the front dual lights in the front on either side of the coach are terrible . There is a lighting store I have gone in just may have the solution . I want the dual lights,12v or 120 vlt . it is pretty convienient to have both .Still trying to decide which ones .

scottanlily

[flyfshr]

Hey Scott ~

I had that same shelf with the 110 volt light underneath too but hated it. Took both out, converted the cord to the light to an outlet and made the shelf. The perforated patterned metal sheet is still available from Ace Hardware. I used to hit my head when I would sit up on the bed to read. That corner had very little give - OUCH. After hitting my head twice I knew something else would need to be fabricated.

Brad
FF

[scottanlily]

Hello flyfshr ,

You know I have done the same thing hit my head on the darn thing.The vintage style and the improved can be mixed an yet as you have shown with your shelf,which looks original with excellent results .Hmmmm... Brads given me an idea .

Scott of scottanlily