DIY CFL light bank

[brido]

I saw an advert and then saw a reference to a cheap lighting "box" used in a third world country.

This is my version. Not so cheap when you have to get 9 CFL lamps.

The box is a Dick Smith (electronic shop chain) instrument box ($Aud 7).

3 gang switch ($Aud 3)

Lamps are all CFL as that is all that are available in Australia now. They are 20 watt. I have a second box with 15 watt lamps. [20 watt CFL = 100watts old stuff; 15 watt CFL=75 watts old stuff]

Brief testing says that reflectors are definitely required, but there is not very much difference between the 20 watt and the 15 watt panel.

The gang switch will switch on a panel of three, one at a time until all are on.

I have ideas that I might add a sort of diffusing screen as well as the reflectors. I will fiddle with it.