We're building a 8 x 16ft arch to frame some singers and plan putting white and colored light bulbs on it. My question is: should I use 120 volt bulbs or would 12 volt ones be bright enough?
@Robert F Jarvis Basically the designed operating
voltage of
incandescent lamps will not determine which is brighter.
I'm not sure I can post this clearly but I won't let that stop me from trying.
Any given
incandescent lamp will be designed to produce a given amount of illumination with a number of factors being trade offs:
If designed for 12 volts, 10 volts will be
dimmer, redder, run cooler and last appreciably longer, more hours.
If designed for 12 volts, 14 volts will be brighter, whiter, run hotter and last appreciably less, fewer hours.
In general terms, 12 volt lamps will
house smaller, more robust, closer to
point source filaments;
clear globes will appear more sparkly than frosted globes appearing larger and less sparkly.
Again, in general terms, 120 volt lamps will
house larger, less robust / more fragile filaments.
The same holds true for lamps designed for 120 volts or any other designed
voltage.
I'll employ Control Booth's 'Bat
Call' to summon
@DELO72 who I'm CERTAIN can answer your query far better than I.
Editing to add a few further thoughts on your arch:
1; Are you considering having the lights
chase?
Consider purchasing three or four pre-manufactured strings of parallel wired 120 volt Christmas lights.
Typically the strings may have sockets wired on 15 to 18 inch centres.
Install the 1st lamp of your 1st string where ever your scenery designer prefers.
Install the 1st lamp of your 2nd string the desired distance from the 1st lamp of your 1st string.
Install the 1st lamp of your 3rd string a matching distance apart.
Install the 1st lamp of your 4th string a matching distance apart.
Next, 2nd lamp of 1st string.
Followed by 2nd lamp of 2nd string.
Followed by 2nd lamp of 3rd string.
Followed by 2nd lamp of 4th string.
Repeat as necessary.
Hide all of the excess
wire behind / within your arch.
Power the four strings from 4 dimmers and use your lighting
console to conjure which ever manner of
chase(s) you prefer:
a; No
chase,
fade or
snap in or out as desired.
b; Illuminate string 1 + 2 + 3 + 4,
fade or
snap out and repeat. OR
c; Illuminate string 4 + 3 + 2 +1 OR
d; Illuminate three of the four strings and
chase the unlit string. OR
e; Your
console MAY include options for bouncing chases; chases running one direction then reverse, then forward again. OR
f; Random chases.
g; By now, you're conjuring a multitude of ideas.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard