Household light globes

[Tins]

Does anyone know of a source of incandescent light globes? Yes, I know they were banned back in 2009. Not entering into a discussion about that or this thread will disappear in to CA.

Thing is, I am doing up some vintage hi fi gear, amps mostly, and as I am a newbie at this I want to minimise risk, both to me and the equipment. One tool for this is a current limiting device, also known as a dim bulb tester.. It relies on the light globe to create a load and protect the device from an internal short that was already there or that I have hamfistedly created. LED and CFL globes cannot do this. Perhaps the halogen type can, but I'm not sure. Incandescent globes can, and will also give a visual indication. Globe lights up, you have a problem.

I only need a few, of varying wattages, up to maybe 60W. It doesn't matter if the bases are E27 or B22. ( screw in or bayonet ) as I can build the tester with either, or both. Must be mains voltage.

So, any clues, or do any of you electronics types have a suggestion for some other form of tester?

PS: Gotta love AULRO. What other car based forum would entertain questions like this?

[BradC]

Perhaps the halogen type can, but I'm not sure.

Halogen bulbs are incandescent. The only difference is the filament is inside a quartz capsule filled with a halogen gas and runs at a much higher temperature.
I have halogen replacement bulbs in my dim bulb tester and a box of spares for when the environazis finally ban them also.

[Tins]

Halogen bulbs are incandescent. The only difference is the filament is inside a quartz capsule filled with a halogen gas and runs at a much higher temperature.
I have halogen replacement bulbs in my dim bulb tester and a box of spares for when the environazis finally ban them also.

Excellent. Thanks Brad. I missed the boat on hoarding the last time around. Didn't see it coming. Do the wattages sort of equate? I want to start out with a higher rating....

[Aaron IIA]

EBay has a variety of old style incandescent light bulbs available.

[Slunnie]

You can still buy them.

For example, this vendor:
https://www.ebay.com.au/str/beanonline

4pk 60w $30.45. More expensive than I remembered.
4 x 60W Incandescent Light Globes Bulbs B22 Bayonet Warm White Dimmable Clear | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/156122758095)

[BradC]

Excellent. Thanks Brad. I missed the boat on hoarding the last time around. Didn't see it coming. Do the wattages sort of equate? I want to start out with a higher rating....

Yes. So one of mine is 42W "Equivalent to 60W". Just go the real wattage on the pack.

[Tins]

The trouble with the ebay sellers is that I would have to buy too many, given I need several wattages. Also, they have to be local sellers as the old globes are a prohibited import! But I will explore.

Funny how our cousins across the Tasman went this route as well, and then reversed it. Well, so I believe.

[loanrangie]

I have a box of fluoro globes if they are suitable ? may have an incandescent, i'll have a look.

[Slunnie]

The trouble with the ebay sellers is that I would have to buy too many, given I need several wattages. Also, they have to be local sellers as the old globes are a prohibited import! But I will explore.

Funny how our cousins across the Tasman went this route as well, and then reversed it. Well, so I believe.

It might be worth sending them a message to see what they can do - they can only say no. That Ebay sell I linked to is from Sydney.

[gromit]

Bunnings have Halogen globes.

Colin

[101RRS]

Many older household appliances such as fridges, stoves etc use incandescent globes which may fit other purposes - check appliance sellers/repairers.

[austastar]

Hi , you can series or parallel them to get the load you need.
Cheers

[TonyC]

I still have some incandescents around the house, in lights that only get turned on once or twice a year, or never.

If you're stuck let me know, and I'll see what they are, and can send some your way.

Tony

[BradC]

I buy all mine at Bunnings. Osram for the halogen replacements and Philips appliance bulbs down to about 15W.

[V8Ian]

Can't you make up something with an LED and a series of switchable resistors of appropriate value, to make one device with multiple test abilities.

[BradC]

No, a dim bulb tester relies on the light bulb being a “non ohmic” resistance. It’s precisely the non linear response of a filament that makes it work, so resistors are no substitute.

[windsock]

Funny how our cousins across the Tasman went this route as well, and then reversed it. Well, so I believe.

Yep, similar legislation to Australia was reversed around 2008ish if i recall with a change of govt. I quickly made a hotbox with incandescents to assist some vinyl ester resin mouldings to cure in the middle of a wet cold winter about 10-12 years ago. I then used them to keep some native orphan ducklings warm till fledged. Don't know what haapened to them after that. 2.5W LEDs prevail in our house these days.

[Tins]

Yep, similar legislation to Australia was reversed around 2008ish if i recall with a change of govt. I quickly made a hotbox with incandescents to assist some vinyl ester resin mouldings to cure in the middle of a wet cold winter about 10-12 years ago. I then used them to keep some native orphan ducklings warm till fledged. Don't know what haapened to them after that. 2.5W LEDs prevail in our house these days.

Ducklings are going to freeze.

I dunno. I am maybe getting old, but I hate the light from LEDs. Sure, you can get much better ones, warmer, these days, but my eyes don't like them. Better though than the CFLs a certain polly wanted us to all have.

Anyway, none of them are fit for my purpose. Clear or pearl. 30, 60, 75 or 100watt. Bayonet preferable, as I have the sockets.... sigh.

[Blknight.aus]

if your dull bulb tester works like I think it does, you can also use nichrome wire and old school carbon heater elements.


The nice thing about using the nichrome wire is its easy to position the wire mounts to account for the varying required wattages then clip your load onto the required point.

[Tins]

if your dull bulb tester works like I think it does, you can also use nichrome wire and old school carbon heater elements.


The nice thing about using the nichrome wire is its easy to position the wire mounts to account for the varying required wattages then clip your load onto the required point.

That would definitely work, Dave. The thing with the dim bulb tester is the visual notification. I think the word "dim" applies to the user, not the tool[bigwhistle]

[Blknight.aus]

That would definitely work, Dave. The thing with the dim bulb tester is the visual notification. I think the word "dim" applies to the user, not the tool[bigwhistle]

the nichrome wire glows quite nicely.

[Tins]

the nichrome wire glows quite nicely.

Oh. Didn't know that..

[BradC]

if your dull bulb tester works like I think it does, you can also use nichrome wire and old school carbon heater elements.


The nice thing about using the nichrome wire is its easy to position the wire mounts to account for the varying required wattages then clip your load onto the required point.

It doesn't work like you think it does. An incandescent light bulb does not have a constant resistance. It's like an extreme PTC thermistor. When the filament is cold there's almost no resistance, and as it starts to warm up the effective resistance increases exponentially. This limits the current available to the load in series with the bulb and gives the "bulb is bright, we have a problem" indication. You can not do this with any form of fixed resistance..

John just use Osram halogen replacement incandescent bulbs, they work fine and are available at Bunnings.

[Tins]

It doesn't work like you think it does. An incandescent light bulb does not have a constant resistance. It's like an extreme PTC thermistor. When the filament is cold there's almost no resistance, and as it starts to warm up the effective resistance increases exponentially. This limits the current available to the load in series with the bulb and gives the "bulb is bright, we have a problem" indication. You can not do this with any form of fixed resistance..

John just use Osram halogen replacement incandescent bulbs, they work fine and are available at Bunnings.

Thanks for the explanation. Again. Yes, I will.

[V8Ian]

That would definitely work, Dave. The thing with the dim bulb tester is the visual notification. I think the word "dim" applies to the user, not the tool[bigwhistle]
Could they not be one and the same? [wink11]