Re: light sources

[Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Reading all these threads has gotten me inspired to build a light box
>for my Saturn viewer. I am wondering if 2 bulbs are needed for adequate
>illumination. That would mean 4 batteries.  In which case I would
>probably go with AA batteries since I would prefer a smallish
>attachment. Or should I check out fluorescent tubes? Is one tube bright
>enough? Should I make it with finger joints? Will AA's burn out too
>fast? Now I'm confused.
>RDS

  My original light box for my MF
viewer had a single 2.5V/0.8A halogen
bulb. I had a semi-circular white
reflector behind it and a white plexiglas
diffuser.

  The light wasn't perfectly even from
side to side but it wasn't too bad.
It was somewhat dim from the strong
diffuser I used.

  I later changed to a halogen bulb
behind each film chip. Same diffuser.
I used 4 C nicads in an external pack
to reduce the weight you have to lift
to view each slide. The brightness
was improved, even-ness was much better
and battery life was not a problem (I
had a set down switch on the viewer).

  I did find the light to be too warm
when viewing during daylight (outdoor
light lighting the room) or fluorescent
lit rooms.

  Now I have the Cabin Light panel and
am very happy with it. It is taller than
before but overall my viewer is now smaller.

  The small fl tube and inverter from Digikey
might be the solution but I'm a bit worried
about the colour fidelity of the tube. I
have a homemade lightbox lit with a 120V
compact fl bulb (warm light) and it does
some odd things to sky colours in some slides.

  If the colour is good then the Digikey
parts sound ideal for getting even light
at a good price.

Greg