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Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 7:31 pm
by pete
They also make what are known as dipstick heaters Bill. Used in cold climates to keep the engine oil warm enough to flow properly in very cold temperatures during start up. Slide one into whatever tube you want. However I don't know if there capable of over heating when not surrounded with oil. I suspect they and the electrical battery battery warmers would use quite a bit more power than any 40 W light bulb.

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 8:24 pm
by Bill Shields
Familiar with them. Require liquid.

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 7:55 am
by hptwin
Hey Bill,
Is there any way you could wire two sockets in series. Perhaps the sockets could be wired with enough slack that you could get the first build in and move it to the side to allow the second to be placed.
On half voltage the bulbs would be very inefficient for light as most of their output would be heat, just the thing you are looking for.
Best regards, Steamboat Mike. (hptwin)

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 10:01 am
by Bob D.
Why not use a dimmer control in conjunction with your light bulb? Dial it in for the heat you need and the longevity your looking for. Have you tried bulbs intended for aquariums? They are on all the time and seem to last.

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:18 pm
by Bill Shields
no room for 2 bulbs inside the firebox -> what with all the gas burners and the low crown sheet.

tried a dimmer and bulb still did not last as long as I wanted (but then i am hard headed)....

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 6:27 am
by tornitore45
Leading edge Dimmers, the most common type, "pound" the filament pretty hard. Although I do not know any study about it, is possible the cyclical sudden current application may set up mechanical stress and vibrations in the filament, negating in some measure the lower temperature effect.

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 6:52 am
by John Hasler
tornitore45 wrote: Thu May 13, 2021 6:27 am Leading edge Dimmers, the most common type, "pound" the filament pretty hard.
How?

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 7:58 am
by tornitore45
The voltage is applied suddenly like a square wave instead of ramping up "slowly". The fact that in some conditions the filament emits audible noise leads me to believe there is mechanical stress. Could be caused by magnetic effects or thermal, as I said there is no study I know but a bulb dimmed at 70% with a Variac (for example) should last a very long time an yet they fail before expectation when powered by a dimmer.

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 8:53 am
by Bob D.
Well, maybe try a dc power supply to run the bulb. Constant power that way with no AC wave cycling the filament.

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 10:39 am
by Bill Shields
which is basically what the IN4004 is doing....quick and easy for this pea brain

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 7:15 pm
by Bob D.
Another bulb style to try and you can probably still get. Tubular incandescent used in illuminated Exit signs. They don't have a standard Edison base. Both bayonet and a smaller screw base. They are certainly long lived. Don't remember the wattage but probably around 10 watts.

Re: looking for long life light bulb

Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 7:55 pm
by Bob D.
One of these. 20 watt, 10,000hr

Sylvania 18144 - 20T6.5DC/IF 120V Double Contact Bayonet Base Exit Light Bulb