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Bob F

wrote:
I wonder if there is an answer to this?

I was watching one of those flashing battery operated barricades they
put on road construction sites. The bulbs are incandescent, similar
to the bulbs used on taillights on cars. (except the new LED type).

I came up with two questions:

1. Which consumes more electricity, a bulb that is constantly on, or
flashing?
(My thinking says it would be the constant on bulbs would use more
electricity) ??????? [but that's just a guess]

2. This one is much more puzzling. Will the filament last longer on a
flashing light or one that is on constantly? I am looking at this in
several ways. It would seem that flashing would be hard on those
filaments. That flashing on and off about 40 times a minute seems
like it would beat up that filament.

At the same time, the filaments never really reach full brightness
long enough to develop much heat, so that could possibly make it last
longer because of the decreased heat. So, this could go either way?

I'm sure someone has tested this ...... But who knows the answer?
I do know that of those older C5 and C7 christmas bulbs, both the
regular and the flashing ones seemed to burn out some of each every
year (for whatever that's worth).

Does anyone know the answer?

The flashing will be hard on the bulb, but it doesn't need to be on long to be
seen, so the off time will be larger, and batteries will last longer. The temp,
I expect, would be the same, as the temperature is what makes it bright. Until
it gets hot enough, it makes no light. Christmas bulbs - who worries about
batteries, so they stay on longer.