Thread: Looking for Long Life Pilot Lamp
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Nate Nagel Nate Nagel is offline
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Default Looking for Long Life Pilot Lamp
wrote:
On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:41:32 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 4/27/2009 7:58 PM frank1492 spake thus:

I will be mounting this externally in view of the neighbor's house on
a seasonal cottage. I make few trips there in the winter, but would
like to have the neighbor (all year round resident) be easily able to
tell me if my power is off. (He has a phone, there is none at the
cottage.)
What should I use, neon, led,etc? It needs to be wall mountable,
and be easily seen, though it need not be very bright or large.
Suggestions appreciated. I just want to be sure it has a long
life so a burnt-out bulb won't be confused with no power.
Since bulb longevity is paramount, here's an idea: one of the
longest-lasting type of bulbs is an ordinary incandescent bulb, operated
well below its rated voltage. (They say that some of Edison's original
bulbs are still burning to this day.)

All you need to do is rig up an incandescent bulb to run on less than
full power. You could use a series resistor to lower the voltage, or you
could try running two 120-volt bulbs in series. They'd probably last
forever that way.
Or buy 220 volt pilot bulbs- - -. They ARE available for industrial
use (208 actually, I believe, is more common)

yup, I used to have one as a test light that I got from my grandfather's
stuff... got busted in a move a few years ago It would glow on 120V
and light up bright on 240V

nate

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