12 volt lighting

Providing good lighting without mains electricity or a generator can be a problem, as a night time look around any outdoor event will show.

12 volt batteries charged by renewables or by a vehicle engine are the usual power source, efficient lighting is clearly essiential due to the limited power supply.

Incandescent lighting should generally be avoided, not only does it have very poor efficiency, but the bulbs are generaly vehicle lamps and are in fact designed for 14 volts (the voltage in a vehicle when the engine is running), they are therefore even less efficient if used on 12 volts.

If incandescent lamps are essiential, then try to obtain true 12 volt lamps, with a design voltage of 12 volts, rather than vehicle bulbs.
True 12 volt lamps are widely used for display and decorative lighting, powered from the mains via a transformer.

Floursecent lighting is to be preffered and should be used when possible, unfortunatly many of the 12 volt flourescent fittings sold in the high street are of very poor qaulity and low efficiency.

I would recomend good qaulity 12 volt lighting, as used overseas on small solar powered systems.
A good selection is available at fair prices from
http://www.windandsun.co.uk/lighting_fluorescent.htm

I have no connection with the above firm but would recomend tham as a supplier not only of 12 volt lighting, but of wind and solar equipment.

Similar goods may be obtained at lower prices on fleabay, but may be of doubtful qaulity.