Jon - glad to hear you have 'the lamp' and I really don't know how you have got it in days - It took me a week and I'm in Europe and the EU (well for the time being anyway) If you decide to drive your lamp with the Indian unit I suggested be careful not to go above 12 volts input . There is something about the thinking in the east that forces then to cut the rating of electrolytic capacitors to the bone . I think because they cost more than 50 cents. anyway the caps in that unit are rated at 16 volts which is right on the limit. connect it to something with a bit of ripple and the peaks will wipe them out . I quickly popped one using a battery charger and so changed the two of them for two big beefy things I had laying around. so a word to the wise do one of three things
either change those crappy caps for something much better rated (40 volts 60 volts whatever its not critical but 3x working voltage is a good rule of thumb . run off a 12 volt battery (with the charger connected to it - the battery itself is effectively a huge capacitor) simply buy a big fat electrolytic capacitor and connect it across the main 12 volt feed . look on ebay for a 12 volt
regulated supply. did I write three things ? oh well four then. Anyway as you know Jon you have 'jumped the gun' Still I have just lashed up the first proof of concept on some bits of wood with tie wraps and sticky tape. lol (so if you want it any rougher you'll have to get someone else!)
you can see the two capacitors I decided to bandage in to the right of the main board - at the other end you see the solid state relay . that is work in progress. I'll make it look pretty in due course right now this is me starting to make this thing do whats required of it.she can have some lipstick later. kind regards Duncan
