DIYbanter - Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

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Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

I recived a Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor "Little Green Box" model 505B from a
friend. I believe it is a 1960s or 1970s vintage fish finder although I
know very little about these. It appears to work, the disk spins, but the
flasher bulb is broken. It appears to be neon bulb about 1 inch long. I
was told by someone that it probably operates at 600V. I did a search on
DigiKey and so no good replacement. I have also searched for schematics on
these fish finders on Google and found nothing. Does anyone know any
details about these bulbs? What operating voltage? Are there any
practical replacements?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

- Rob

Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

Have you thought of contacting the manufacture directly? Maybe they can
suggest something, or maybe they can supply the original part.

--

JANA
_____

"Rob" wrote in message
...

I recived a Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor "Little Green Box" model 505B from a
friend. I believe it is a 1960s or 1970s vintage fish finder although I
know very little about these. It appears to work, the disk spins, but the
flasher bulb is broken. It appears to be neon bulb about 1 inch long. I
was told by someone that it probably operates at 600V. I did a search on
DigiKey and so no good replacement. I have also searched for schematics on
these fish finders on Google and found nothing. Does anyone know any
details about these bulbs? What operating voltage? Are there any
practical replacements?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

- Rob

Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

Rob wrote:
I recived a Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor "Little Green Box" model 505B from a
friend. I believe it is a 1960s or 1970s vintage fish finder although I
know very little about these. It appears to work, the disk spins, but the
flasher bulb is broken. It appears to be neon bulb about 1 inch long. I
was told by someone that it probably operates at 600V. I did a search on
DigiKey and so no good replacement. I have also searched for schematics on
these fish finders on Google and found nothing. Does anyone know any
details about these bulbs? What operating voltage? Are there any
practical replacements?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

- Rob

Hi Rob...

Do you mean the bulb is broken as in physically broken, or as in doesn't
light? :)

If you're meaning it doesn't light, it's far, far, far more likely that
the transducer is gone. And remember, it needs at least a reasonable
facsimile of looking through water to operate.

On the other hand, if you mean it's physically broken - it's been a
long time, but I suspect it's just an ne-51h. If you do decide to
try one don't forget to put a resistor in series just in case.

Or, if you'd rather be safe than sorry, try calling fish-lectronics,
(763) 571-1277. They are/were in Minneapolis, USA, and might be willing
to tell you for sure what it is. Maybe even sell you one if it turns
out to be unique.

Good luck, good fishing, and take care.

Ken

Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

Ken Weitzel wrote in
news:PPTff.537601$oW2.293137@pd7tw1no:

Rob wrote:
I recived a Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor "Little Green Box" model 505B from
a friend. I believe it is a 1960s or 1970s vintage fish finder
although I know very little about these. It appears to work, the
disk spins, but the flasher bulb is broken. It appears to be neon
bulb about 1 inch long. I was told by someone that it probably
operates at 600V. I did a search on DigiKey and so no good
replacement. I have also searched for schematics on these fish
finders on Google and found nothing. Does anyone know any details
about these bulbs? What operating voltage? Are there any practical
replacements?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

- Rob

Hi Rob...

Do you mean the bulb is broken as in physically broken, or as in
doesn't light? :)

If you're meaning it doesn't light, it's far, far, far more likely
that the transducer is gone. And remember, it needs at least a
reasonable facsimile of looking through water to operate.

On the other hand, if you mean it's physically broken - it's been a
long time, but I suspect it's just an ne-51h. If you do decide to
try one don't forget to put a resistor in series just in case.

Or, if you'd rather be safe than sorry, try calling fish-lectronics,
(763) 571-1277. They are/were in Minneapolis, USA, and might be
willing to tell you for sure what it is. Maybe even sell you one if
it turns out to be unique.

Good luck, good fishing, and take care.

Ken

Thanks for the advice. The light is actually physically broken in two
pieces. So I can safely assume the bulb needs replacing. ;) By
coincidence, I had already called fish lectronics because I live in
Minneapolis. He told me he knew of no replacement for the bulb and did
not have any used ones in his shop.

I will look into the NE-51H and see if it looks similar. I know the
original bulb looks to be about an inch in length and has bare wire
terminals on each end.

- Rob

Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

"JANA" wrote in :

Have you thought of contacting the manufacture directly? Maybe they can
suggest something, or maybe they can supply the original part.

Good point. I was hoping to find something quick on the web. But it
appears this is a real hard part to find. I suspect this is something that
they don't supply anymore but it is worth a shot.

Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

James Sweet wrote in
news:H1Mff.4042$NN2.312@trnddc02:

Rob wrote:
I recived a Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor "Little Green Box" model 505B from
a friend. I believe it is a 1960s or 1970s vintage fish finder
although I know very little about these. It appears to work, the
disk spins, but the flasher bulb is broken. It appears to be neon
bulb about 1 inch long. I was told by someone that it probably
operates at 600V. I did a search on DigiKey and so no good
replacement. I have also searched for schematics on these fish
finders on Google and found nothing. Does anyone know any details
about these bulbs? What operating voltage? Are there any practical
replacements?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

- Rob

Is the bulb one of those elongated versions of the NE-2? If so they
were sometimes used as the 1 "half digit" digit in nixie tube based
equipment.

Most neon glow lamps operate at around 90-150v through a suitable
series resistor to limit the current.

It could be an NE2 but one lead comes out at each end. The NE2s I have
seen on the web have both leads coming out on the same end. However,
something like that may work.

- Rob

Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

Rob wrote:
Ken Weitzel wrote in
news:PPTff.537601$oW2.293137@pd7tw1no:

Rob wrote:

I recived a Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor "Little Green Box" model 505B from
a friend. I believe it is a 1960s or 1970s vintage fish finder
although I know very little about these. It appears to work, the
disk spins, but the flasher bulb is broken. It appears to be neon
bulb about 1 inch long. I was told by someone that it probably
operates at 600V. I did a search on DigiKey and so no good
replacement. I have also searched for schematics on these fish
finders on Google and found nothing. Does anyone know any details
about these bulbs? What operating voltage? Are there any practical
replacements?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

- Rob

Hi Rob...

Do you mean the bulb is broken as in physically broken, or as in
doesn't light? :)

If you're meaning it doesn't light, it's far, far, far more likely
that the transducer is gone. And remember, it needs at least a
reasonable facsimile of looking through water to operate.

On the other hand, if you mean it's physically broken - it's been a
long time, but I suspect it's just an ne-51h. If you do decide to
try one don't forget to put a resistor in series just in case.

Or, if you'd rather be safe than sorry, try calling fish-lectronics,
(763) 571-1277. They are/were in Minneapolis, USA, and might be
willing to tell you for sure what it is. Maybe even sell you one if
it turns out to be unique.

Good luck, good fishing, and take care.

Ken

Thanks for the advice. The light is actually physically broken in two
pieces. So I can safely assume the bulb needs replacing. ;) By
coincidence, I had already called fish lectronics because I live in
Minneapolis. He told me he knew of no replacement for the bulb and did
not have any used ones in his shop.

I will look into the NE-51H and see if it looks similar. I know the
original bulb looks to be about an inch in length and has bare wire
terminals on each end.

- Rob

Hi Rob...

Here's one more thought...

There's one up for auction on e-bay. Comes complete with an
(almost the same) manual.

Wondering if you might "ask the seller" if he'd mind reading the
manual and seeing if the bulb type isn't mentioned?

Might not work if he's just selling stuff, but if he's another
fisherman he probably would be happy to do it for you. Know that
I would, anyway. Heck, he might even scan the manual for you :)

http://cgi.ebay.ca/LOWRANCE-FISH-LO-...QQcmdZViewItem

If this link is too long, search for fish lo-k-tor; it should be
the third (last) one listed.

Take care.

Ken

Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

It could be an NE2 but one lead comes out at each end. The NE2s I have
seen on the web have both leads coming out on the same end. However,
something like that may work.

- Rob

Yeah I've never seen one with a lead at each end. Does it look like it
has long electrodes which glow, or is it more like a neon tube?

Vintage fish lo-k-tor flasher bulb

If that doesn't work, it sounds like something a neon sign maker
could make up fast and cheap.

Rob wrote:
Ken Weitzel wrote in

I will look into the NE-51H and see if it looks similar. I know the
original bulb looks to be about an inch in length and has bare wire
terminals on each end.

- Rob