Coleman lantern question

[popotla]

I have a 12-volt, 100W Coleman halogen lantern, run from vehicle (second) battery, and like it. However, for most purposes the light is too bright. Would it be a simple matter to add into the cable a regulator (this probably isn’t the correct word) – a dimmer, more like- so I can adjust the brightness from very low to full?

[Ginsey]

I found this

http://www.abeltronics.co.uk/pdf/DIM12-DIM13-DIM14.pdf

which seems pretty good as the switch (dimmer)can be mounted remotely. You can make your own and there are dozens of diagrams on the net but it will mean soldering etc.

Good luck

[tweetyduck]

Under running halogen bulbs is generally just a voltage thing. Lower the 12v to 11.5v or 11v or whatever and you will see a marked brightness difference and bulb life will increase quite a bit. A simple variable resistor should drop the required voltage and generate the required brightness. However this will not really see a marked increase in energy efficiency. Halogen bulbs are really just incandescent bulbs with a slightly different chemical reaction taking place. You will note that as you the lower the voltage the colour (temperature) will change to a completely different light. This might be undesired. Advice is change to a “dimmer” bulb with the require rating or change to LED. However LEDs are quite directional and I don’t know your application.

[western]

could you just change the existing 100watt bulb for a 55watt H3 type.