Lighting the oven chamber

[Pompeii Nate]

I was recently reading and thinking about the idea of lighting the oven chamber and I know there are a few different approaches to this. Some of the ones I have seen include:

- Placing a flexible light outside that can shine into the oven (bigred did this I believe)
- Placing lights in the entry arch shining back towards the oven (post #64 on Christo's build thread http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/8/ch...html#post12844 (Christo's Cucina))
- Placing a light inside the oven chamber through some sort of technique (post #43 from Windage's 81" commercial build http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/37/8...t-11354-5.html (81 Inch First Build (and first post)))

And beyond that I have read in different threads about Neoceram, a transparent ceramic that could be used to shield a light and still withstand the heat inside an oven.

As I consider the idea of lighting my oven from inside the oven chamber my question is this: Would putting in such a light lead to more heat loss through the light/neoceram than just a regular firebrick? And if it does, is it possible that just the regular insulation behind the light would stop that heat loss? My first thought as I read the idea of using neoceram to put a light inside the oven chamber was that it would lose a lot of heat. Am I totally wrong on that?

Somebody please help clarify this for me.

Thanks,
Nate

[Neil2]

Put a fire in it.

[Pompeii Nate]

LOL...yeah, I thought that would be the easiest way too. Thanks Neil!

[nissanneill]

Hi Nate,
I used some 240v downlights (as they very hot and start fires in houses so they will take a fair bit of heat) in my chimney void.
They work and absolute treat and a few others have copied the idea, I installed some in Hendo's oven after he passed away but outside his oven. They were plastic and 12V.
See:
http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f21/...10-a-2119.html (Neill's Pompeii #10)
for all the pics and details.

Cheers.

Neill

[cobblerdave]

Gudday
Could you use some glass fibers like they use in indoor lamps to take the light in the oven whilst keeping the bulbs and metal wire etc away from the heat?
This is just the nub of an idea I can think of no examples at the moment

Regards Dave

[david s]

I use a small 24 v DC battery coupled to an inverter and an LED light on a pole for my mobile oven, it gives me about 5 hrs, but I only use it to light the prep table if no other power is available. For the oven light I've found that a flame is the best light and as my oven interior is white it is pretty bright. When cooking pizzas you need an active fire while they are cooking anyway.

[mrchipster]

Fire for light is great when you are cooking with a flame but here in Minnesota I find that I am cooking bread and other lower temp items in the dark after work for dinner.

I have not finished my trim work yet and have installed a temporary light to get me to the warmer weather; when I can install a permanent supplemental light. I found a goose neck lamp that has a high temp bulb socket with a metal head. It seems to be holding up to the heat and swings out of the way easily.

It lights up the interior of the oven very well as you can see from photo 3. The head is a little larger than I would like so I am looking at the below for a final version.

I found a lamp at IKEA that has a combination goose neck and a solid shaft that allows the lamp to be adjusted up and down I am thinking of putting it on the outside wall of my oven and slide it down when needed. This may be my permanent lamp but I am still looking for other options before I make a final decision.

Chip

[Dmendo]

There are more proven ways. The traditional bakery spanish oven use a mica foil (I think cheaper than neocerams) and normal tungusten lamp accesed trough a small cast iron door. The only concern in this system is the lamp holder must be ceramic or porcelan made. Yet another proven system, the poor mans way: a pyrex cup or container (it starts melting over 821ºC (1500 ºF) and the tungsten bulb. It is necessary to let in both systems to expand or contract the glass. IMO the 12V Halogen lamps (downligths or alone) can make easier the job as the lamp holder are designed for huge temperatures and the wires usually are made of silicone or glass fiber fabric.

[pfennigthecat]

Another option: magnets and a mini-flashlight
http://www.fornobravo.com/forum/f28/...ght-12109.html (Oven light)

I personally am leading towards bulbs tucked behind the decorative arch... but wouldn't that decorative arch interfere with a sealing door if it is smaller than the vent arch?

[Tscarborough]

That worked, but the flashlight only lasted for a few fires.