Maplin ZC11 - 4.99. It's a 150mm miniature fluorescent unit operated by 4 AA cells. Includes velcro self adhesive pads. ;-)
You could dismantle a "camping lantern" or three, try camping shops and diy stores. I had a very early version of one of these. Not hugely bright, but good enough for camping. Ran on 4 AAs for about 8 hours (3 or 4 hours a night - would last a decent camping trip). Maplin still do something similar: YT10, £4.99. Also ZC11 (£4.99) and UN43 (£14.99) for something a bit bigger. In fact, there's quite a lot of them and other possible alternatives on p547-549 of the current catalogue.
I also bought a kit from Maplin... ermmm... doesn't seem to be in the current catalogue. This was in the day when they did their own kits and not the hugely overpriced Velleman stuff.
You could be really sneaky and hide a stick of batteries in a leg :-) (a table leg that is).
Dunno. May be of help.
Hwyl!
M.
Camping fluorescent lights.
or rechargables to save replacement costs.
The beam sometimes isn't a consistent colour across it's width either, but this sounds like a good potential use for them.
There are some very thin (T1, 3.2mm diameter) fluorescent tubes available. Originally made by JKL, but I think others make them now too. These would be excellent for concealing in small spaces, but don't allow them to come into contact with flammable material as the ends get extremely hot (for fluorescent tubes). I've noticed Maplin stock them with inverter for 12V operation, although these may not be JKL ones. I have only seen them in high (cold) colour temperatures (not tried the Maplin ones though), although if you want 1000, JKL will make them up in whatever colour temperature you want;-) JKL do 5-6V inverters in addition to 12V ones. The tubes are cold cathode tubes, so the inverters are capable of generating the best part of 1000V, so you will need to be careful.
JKL also do blacklight blue versions (long wave UV for fluorescing materials).
LEDs aren't as efficient as fluorescents everything being equal. They achieve longer life on bikes by pulsing them - as unlike most other light sources they have the same 'start' current as running. And, of course, a fluorescent wouldn't be suitable for a bike due to the size and type of light - you need a bright point source for visibility rather than a large softer light which is better for illuminating something.
Thanks to everyone for all those great ideas. Your combined help and comments much appreciated.
Ger
Thanks Owain. HHHHhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm.
:-))))))))))))))))))
I love it !!!!!!
Ger
"Ger" wrote | "Owain" wrote ... | > Depending on the floor structure, it might be possible to put small | > cross-head screws through the carpet, connected to an underfloor low | > voltage lighting supply. Then have the table legs fitted with metal | > spikes as used on hi-fi speakers, connected to the table lights, and | > put the table on the powered screws. | Thanks Owain. HHHHhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm. | :-)))))))))))))))))) | I love it !!!!!!
If you built the table as a display cube ie with predominantly solid sides, you could just recess a walk-over-able 12V light in the floor underneath where the table would go and have it shine up through the translucent table top base.
A magnet in one of the table legs and a reed switch in the floor with a relay circuit would ensure the lamp was only illuminated when the table was correctly positioned.
Owain
I'm outta here!! Too much lateral thinking :-)))
Ger
P.S. Maybe I could put the shells back on some lonely part of the beach and put a small solar powered webcam there. Then I could replace the glass on the table top with an LCD screen and dispaly the webcam of the shells in their true natural state.
"Ger" wrote | Maybe I could put the shells back on some lonely part of the beach | and put a small solar powered webcam there. Then I could replace the | glass on the table top with an LCD screen and dispaly the webcam | of the shells in their true natural state.
That would look very nice. I am all for Enjoying the Beauty of Nature from the Comfort of One's Armchair. An even finer idea might be a floor-mounted plasma panel. Then you could have beach, or grass, or flowing water with fish, underneath, as the mood took. Or when everybody's had too much to drink put on the snowy mountain video and pretend the lounge is a cable-car.
Owain
I didn't wrote ANY of that. Its this ruddy time reversal again. I must stop living in the future.
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