I used 1 1/4" ABS pipe you can use 1 1/2" PVC. The bulb is not sealed, the lense sits on top of the bulb. My buddy used a sealed bulb and the glue let go the glass came off... no harm to the bulb tho... The Bulb is seated in about I'd say a 1/4" But I will have to measure it and get back to you.. I just tested depths.. if you go too deep you won't get compression of the o-ring which you need to make it seal properly.
Testing caps are what plumbers use to cap off a pipe they are working on and it can be removed.. they don't use glue to so it can be removed later. The PVC ones are blue and ABS ones are orange. Talk to your local hardware store clerk and I am sure they can point you in the right direction. The Testing caps do take the ABS/PVC glue fine. For the 1 1/2" PVC pipe, you can get actual PVC end caps.
The batteries are in series, so I get 12Vs ov power.. so One side I have all the positive going down.. and the other I have the positive going up.. there is a wire that connects the positive and negative at the bottom of the two tubes. The hole is drills just enough to allow the wire through.. Then I sealed the wire in with epoxy and locktight. I did use FULL SIZE D-Cell batteries got them from e-bay.. 12D's 10,000mah for $75.00 with shipping.
The positive wire on the up end<under the switch> is where I have the switch wired in.. so the switch will break the positive connection. So, the positive wire going to the light passes through the top hole drilled in both pipes.. and is connected to the switch... The Negative goes right to the light head itself where it completes the series....
I will have to draw out a diagram I think to show you how it works.. I used olf flashlight springs inside as well to make sure I have a good connection.