High-Power Halogen Headlight from Standard Parts

Homebrew Halogen Headlight using Mirror Lamp Rear view Look inside

Partlist

  • Standard bulb socket (E27 Edison screw type) with tubular mounting bolt and nut
  • Mirror lamp w/ front glass, 35mm diameter, 10 degree angle, 10 - 35 Watt power at 12 Volt (I personally favour 10 deg, 20 W)
  • Connector for mirror lamp
  • Two bolts and nuts, 6BA or M3
  • Some inches of wire
  • Speaker cable
  • Piece of hose
  • Cable tie
  • O-ring
  • Sheet metal strip
  • Heat shrink
  • 12 Volt lead-acid battery (from computer UPS)

    Preparing the mirror lamp connection and centering

    Use 6BA bolts and nuts to center the mirror lamp connector on the tubular mounting bolt. Run the cables of the mirror lamp assembly thru the bolt.

    Step1

    Secure the assembly with wire, then solder it. Photo of tubular bolt held by a vice, ready for soldering:

    Step2

    Preparing the E27 bulb socket

    1. Discard internal contact / connection block
    2. On some E27 bulb sockets, need to cut away plastic ribs. Careful, the material is brittle.

    Parts of bulb socket cut away

    Electrical part

    Solder speaker cable to the end of the mirror lamp connector's cable. Isolate by heat shrink. Protect the part where the cable exits the tubular bolt with 3 inches of hose. Attach the open end of the cable to the battery. If desired, add a switch or fuse or both.

    Mounting bracket

    Refer to photo on top of page for an idea on how to shape this. Cover with heat shrink. Use cable tie to secure cable and O-ring to bracket.
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