Halogen limiter lamp instead of incandescent

[g1]

With the worry of incandescent bulbs getting harder to source (for limiter lamps), couldn't simple automotive halogen headlight bulbs be used?
I remember seeing them used as HF protection in some large PA cabs, and they are available at least up to 60W, or could be paralleled for different wattages.
Is there any reason this is not a viable solution?

[Leo_Gnardo]

With the worry of incandescent bulbs getting harder to source (for limiter lamps), couldn't simple automotive halogen headlight bulbs be used?
I remember seeing them used as HF protection in some large PA cabs, and they are available at least up to 60W, or could be paralleled for different wattages.
Is there any reason this is not a viable solution?

AFAIK it's the normal incandescent bulbs that are going/gone off market in USA. Maybe Canada too, OZ, other places? But again AFAIK 120V or 240V halogens are still available and will continue to be. Some are in the same "form factor" IOW look like ordinary light bulbs with ordinary bases so could be used for our handy "light bulb limiter rigs." I suppose 12V halogens could be used, and with overcurrent would light up but beware applying too much current, which couldn't happen with lamps rated for the line voltage.

Lamps used as limiters in PA cabs, yes Community's been doing that for a long time & I'm sure other brands too. However they are no guarantee of avoiding a disaster. 22 years ago today, March 15 1992, I was doing a show in Augusta Georgia, nice spring day topping out @ 80F, afternoon concert at the tennis stadium. Halfway through the show, one side of the Community PA system went up in flames. Spectacular! And not a stunt we planned on. It was almost out by the time the local crew managed to get fire extinguishers on it and the show went on to completion. Funny story from the FOH mixer - a woman was frantically pounding on his back yelling "Hey your PA's on fire!" To which he replied, "Yeah lady, I can see that. Now what do you think I oughta do about it" and went back to fiddling with his faders. The show goes on. I can only guess the light bulb limiters were pushed a bit too hard and got way hot as halogens can do, set the circuit boards then the rest of the cabs on fire. Another fun day on the road. You don't want to hazard this with your gear-test light bulb current limiters.

Lucky for us that was a local "racks and stacks" FOH PA rental, and we went on to torture test another set of gear the next day.

[g1]

Thanks Leo, I had forgotten about those halogens, same form and voltage as regular incandescents. I've only noticed them in stores recently, not sure if they are a new thing or not. But as far as I know, they are only 30% more efficient, so maybe they will be phased out for home use also?
In Canada I believe we will still have "rough service" type incandescents available. Maybe a new career option in "bulb smuggling" awaits .
Also, I'm not sure if they have CFL's that will work in walk in freezers, or outdoors here in the winter, so there will probably be bulbs available for those uses also.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I've already worn out a halogen "bulb within a bulb", 40W lasted @ 2 years in my downstairs hall.

@ 2008 bought a pak of twisty CFL bulbs. Back then the sickly greenish ones were all available. One failed and stunk up the house 23 Dec 2008 but the rest still on duty, one in the outdoors front door fixture. It takes a while to warm up & go full brightness in cold weather, but no problems other than that. Lately a grocery chain has put 10W LED (60W brightness equivalent) Sylvania bulbs on sale only $5 each. I grabbed a batch and they're installed at various spots including the computer corner where I am right now. Nice bright white color, not objectionable at all. Another on the workbench. Now I have a box of incandescents from various eras sitting up in the attic. Probably won't have to buy any more ever except if I decide to put up outdoor floods or spots. Plenty enough to run light bulb limiters if I'm lucky enough to live to as old as Leo Fender or even more. Great, one less thing to worry about. No dimmers in the house but those 10W Sylvanias say they are dimmer compatible just in case I get any.

Light bulb hoarding and smuggling have been discussed online & in the newspapers. Hasn't turned out to be much of a big deal. Sort of like the Y2K "problem."

[J M Fahey]

For lamp limiters 120V or 220V (whatever your line voltage is) "bulb inside a bulb" halogens are fine.

A 12V car lamp will blow as soon as it has to drop substantially more than 12V ... easy to happen (as in the first short).

[Chuck H]

I've considered this too. That is, what to do when we can't get bulbs for our current limiters. One thought was to use a 100W/120V heater element with a string of LED's set up as a meter. I haven't designed it yet but it should work. Obviously I'll want to put a cage around the heater element

[Diablo]

I bought a stash of incandescent bulbs. I'll bet someone in China will be manufacturing and selling bulbs on ebay for as long as there's a market.

[madkatb]

I've been toying with the idea of using a toaster instead of the light bulb. Probably end up with cries from my wife of "Why do I smell burnt toast?" instead of "Turn that noise down!"

[Leo_Gnardo]

I've been toying with the idea of using a toaster instead of the light bulb.f

I've suggested using a toaster as a load resistor - or very inefficient speaker. Just stick a big magnet on while passing audio through, I'll bet you'll hear something. Especially if you have a huge power amp, 1000W plus. Musical toast toast toast on a stick... your new Sunday morning treat.

[nashvillebill]

Appliance bulbs will continue to be available, a CFL wouldn't work inside your oven! So fears of incandescents becoming completely unavailable are quite overblown.

[Chuck H]

Appliance bulbs will continue to be available, a CFL wouldn't work inside your oven! So fears of incandescents becoming completely unavailable are quite overblown.

We may not be able to get the hundies though so we'll need to wire sockets in parallel. Series would work too for lower voltage bulbs but then if one goes the whole unit stops working.

On the subject of light bulbs and ovens, what's going to happen to the Easy Bake Oven without hundies???

[Enzo]

You know what? They still make Easy bake ovens, but they stopped using light bulbs in them. They now actually heat.


Regular old incandescent bulbs are gone, but special purpose ones are not. Appliance lamps tend to be low wattage - no one puts a 100w bulb in their refrigerator. REflector spot bulbs might still be around, and i was looking for a "heat lamp" recently, I don't know that they are banned.

[Leo_Gnardo]

i was looking for a "heat lamp" recently, I don't know that they are banned.

I have one of those red 250W heat lamps and it's the last one I use in my light bulb current limiter before I plug suspect equipment into full AC power on those occasions I need to test that way.

Also dunno if heat lamps are banned for sale currently. If so, might need to get a prescription.

[Chuck H]

I Also dunno if heat lamps are banned for sale currently. If so, might need to get a prescription.

Or chickens...

I'm serious now. Heat lamps are used in both domestic and commercial chicken farms in winter. It keeps the hens warm, eludes to a longer phototropic period (day length), doesn't disturb their sleep and just generally makes for happy, egg laying birds. They should be available from farm supply stores and sites.

[Enzo]

I live on a farm, and we used to work it. I raised chickens, and we did keep them on lights. CHickens are an odd beast, if they are awake they are usually eating. When it gets dark they go to sleep. We kept them on lights 16 hours a day and they eat more, which means they grow faster and lay more eggs.