Look! I can still wire the simplest practical circuit!
And that’s not even a permanent light fixture. Big Brother’s sending me another long LED lamp like the one under the kitchen counter, to use as a bed reading lamp. So that switch will be right near the head of the bed, if I’ve figured the wall relationships correctly, but the lamp will move slightly and take a different form. And there are six more 12 volt fixtures that still have to go up; the plan for lighting and a possible future ceiling fan got more and more complicated until there’s just no way I have the wire for it.
The 120v outlets were simple, because the circuit was already in what became the inside wall and there’s no switches. Just a matter of extending new branches. But all the lighting is twelve volts, a completely separate thing. Today’s task was to get voltage into the addition and at least one light shining. That first part was the hard one, because I had to lay out iron conduit, cut it to size and screw it into place all under the Lair’s crawlspace. Many, many things I’d rather do but it was step one. Once wires were poking up in an addition wall, things got much easier.
The lamp wiring will be a relatively gradual thing, since I don’t have enough materials yet. so I expended a switch at the voltage source to keep from having to trek out to the powershed and disconnect batteries.
I don’t know why this is such a big deal to me. The first time I made a bulb light up on the wall of the Lair, that was a big deal. I built the Lair, I built the power generation system, as I recall I even scrounged the light fixture. Put it all together and have light come out of thin air, no power company involved, when you’re never quite certain you know what you’re doing, that’s a big deal. I remember posting the picture of that CFL burning on that wall but I can’t find it now, I was extremely pleased with myself. Hey, if you do all that and don’t take a moment to celebrate, there’s something wrong with you.
That was a long time ago but here I am again, the first light shining in this new room of the now two-room Lair, and if I’m not exactly giddy it still seems like an important milestone.
“And lo, there be light!”
More scrounged wire coming your way, good cause and helps de-clutter my shop a bit 🙂
Is there such a thing as a 12 volt ceiling fan and, if so, would it offer any advantage?
It turns out there is such a thing as a 12 volt ceiling fan, as Big Brother clued me in. There probably isn’t any special voltage advantage except they don’t need an inverter to work. But they’re made to work in RVs, which means they’re compactly near the low ceiling. And since the addition has a relatively low ceiling, that’s the only sort of fan I’d be comfortable with.
I’ll put in a switched ceiling box, but it’ll be capped off for now. If it turns out circulation is a problem in the bedroom during the dry heat season, then that’ll be an option. For now, it’s already quite nicely breezy in there.
If you were a little more careful about what you fed LB, it might not be quite so “breezy” in there…
}:-]
I have been running a 12v ceiling fan since summer last. At its low setttings, it pulls 6-10 watts, at its highest, around 30w. I leave it run all day long and have only turned it off twice; not due to power, but for cleaning. They get quite dusty. I can send you more info if your curious.
@ Diogenes – If you would be so kind as to post the info in a comment, I’m confident Joel will appreciate it. I know I will, too.
Thanks.
Diogenes:
What Norman said. Again.
It looks as if you didn’t mention that while you were in the crawlspace you did all the caulking of each tiny space and crack, or the 3 dozen rat and mouse traps you set. But I just know you did. Because…
Here is the unit I purchased. Dark colored though that doesnt change the workings any.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E58D9QU/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1503097511&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=12v+ceiling+fan
When its running wide open and I reverse direction, it will pull about 1 1/2A. But then, its working harder of course. Regular use, it just trips right along sipping little sips.
It is a low profile design, and that didnt work so well for me as I have a vaulted ceiling. I made an extension to bring it down lower and route the wiring through for hiding it. This does use a four wire connection and I dont recommend using the 12ga wire I used. You could get away with 8ga and not hurt anything at that low of a draw.
18 gauge!!!! Dang it!