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Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 1:56 pm
by corrado
http://www.lambrettaspares.com/sparepar ... t0002.html
while the rest of the scooter is on AC.
Just wire in a switch? Looks perfect for my leggy toolbox in combination with the 9w spotlight that Knowledge was demonstrating at Bridlington.
Or this more like my price range....
http://www.alpelectric.co.uk/shop/batte ... p-737.html
Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 2:10 pm
by timexit17
It might work, but not for very long to be fair.
Its the Ah rating you need to see not just the voltage: all volts are is the speed of the current: you need to see the force behind that -the amps.
A MF Gel battery would do better.
Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 2:18 pm
by dapper
If the rest of the scooter is on AC, how you going to charge the battery Martin? Or have you already got a rectifier to DC with trickle charge?
Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 3:48 pm
by carlos fandango
£50.00

for nine batteries, some shrink wrap and two bits of wire
you could get all that from maplins for less than half that
I use an old power tool battery to provide 12v for my gauges power from a rectifier/ regulator (what ever its called)
as said previously its the amp hour you need, to work out what you req.
I know a few people that use alarm batteries also, but the higher the ah the more options you have. Im also run a cig. lighter sockret off mine for phone charger, sat nav, air bed pump etc.
Russ
Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 4:10 pm
by corrado
dapper wrote:If the rest of the scooter is on AC, how you going to charge the battery Martin? Or have you already got a rectifier to DC with trickle charge?
Errr, with a battery charger, got a trickle charge with low numbers. Presuming the alarm type batteries can be recharged from by a battery charger.
Not likely to get much use as I generally don't like riding a Lambretta when it's dark, 'cause the lights are crap.

Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 4:34 pm
by coaster
Martin, the one from MB would be pretty useless for what you want, great for powering gauges but it would only last a few minutes with a half decent spot on it.
The alarm battery is nearer what you want but it's still a bit small and is still a bit expensive for its size. I have one like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-PORTALAC-12v- ... working_SM
If you charged that up with a car battery charger it would powere a spot for an hour or 2 continuous. On a cross country jaunt just flicking the spot on for a minute or 2 at a time for twisty bits, it would keep going for hours. Then you just recharge it. Or use a vespa 5 pin Rectifier or join the full DC conversion squad, it's easier than you think

Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 7:50 pm
by byron
QFT...
just fit a decent 5 pin vespa rectifier unit, and use that to charge the battery....
less work, more options, and you haven't got all your eggs in one basket...
I have that setup [amongst others] on my bike, and use the battery for a cig socket, spotlamp and also you can fit a decent horn...
Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 7:51 pm
by byron
Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 7:57 pm
by sean brady scooters
maybe this would help martin,i think it would really suit you ..
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... s%3Disch:1
Re: Can I use this to run a spotlight?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:40 pm
by soulsurfer
coaster wrote:... or join the full DC conversion squad, it's easier than you think

Just do it Martin. It's easy, cheap, will run with or without a charged battery with no effect on your standard lighting and should you light the highway all night and kill the battery you just turn off the spot and your standard lighting will be fine. Also, should you need to revert back to a Ducati type regulator, that's easy peasy too and doesn't require any rewiring
