CFLs and Light Bulb Limiters

[dpm309]

I just realized that I am down to my last 2 incandescent light bulbs (60W and 100W) and due to the new Gov't. rules, you can't buy them anymore.  Has anyone tried a CFL in a light limiter?  Was just curious if they work or is there some other kind of bulb that will work.  I believe that they still allow 3-way incandescent bulb sales, at least for now.

[Willabe]

IIRC, PRR has said you need a steel/tungsten filament.

I think you can use a halogen bulb?

Where are you at? I'm outside of Chgo. Il. and the big box stores are still full of 60 and 100w regular light bulbs. I was worried and bought a good couple dozen of each a couple years ago but their still on the shelves. 


            Brad   

[eleventeen]

CFLs won't work right. There's a switching power supply in the base, you don't want that.

[dpm309]

I am in the Phoenix area and the last time I visited Home Depot, I could not find any but will keep looking.  I might try a Halogen bulb side by side with an incandescent (I have 2 bulb limiters) to see if they do work.

[Willabe]

Hey, what do ya know, McMaster Carr sells light bulbs. Go to their on line catalogue and do a search for light bulbs, comes right up and style/shape you need.

Unless they aren't allowed to ship them to your state?


              Brad      

[Willabe]

Do you have a Wall Mart?

I thought the law said a store could sell any stock that was bought before the law took effect?


             Brad    

[Jack_Hester]

There are some incandescent bulbs that meet the Big Brother standards:

http://www.newcandescent.com/

I bought mine from here:

http://emory510.com/

However, I have no idea if they are suitable for a lamp limiter.  I bought mine to replace my LED bulbs, when they die.  So far, they haven't lasted 7 years, as advertised.  The Newcandescent bulbs claim to last this amount of time, but I'll have to prove that for myself.

Jack

[jjasilli]

Halogen bulbs are OK - see the Weber Kit on this page:  http://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_weber.htm

[PRR]

Halogens are fine.

150W bad-old incandescent is still available at home-supply places (too big for the house, good for garage, where the short runtime makes waste unimportant).

R- and PAR lamps are still available in simple incandescent and in halogen. These are handy because when your amp dead-shorts, they shine on the ceiling instead of in your eye.

Also: "specialty" bulbs are exempt. This includes the big "globe" bulbs 4" (25-40W) and 6" (60W)diameter. So far I have only seen this size in plain incandescent. (There is a 3" size of enclosed CFL, you don't want this for a limiter.)

The ultra-small tube halogens will work. These are often found in contractor work-lights. The default 500W size is far too big to protect an amp, but 150W replacement lamps are very cheap.

If worst comes to worst: a toaster or waffle-iron won't really slow the smoke out of the amplifier but will at least avoid starting a fire inside your walls.