Ten Watt Red Button

[BARRY_BRONSON@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I've also been tinkering with a Red Button viewer I just bought and
thought I'd share some of what I've learned so far about beefing up
the light output.  I suspect much of this will also apply to other
viewers.  Get your soldering irons out...

The standard 2.5V 245 bulb is truly wimpy and yellow.

I easily and non-destructively yanked out the screw base with
a pair of needle nose pliers.  (I let it dangle in the old battery
compartment just to keep it "restorable".)

In its place I put in a standard pin-base 6V/1.6A halogen bulb.  It's
really bright; really gives slides a nice punch.

However, it also gives a new meaning to visible film grain.

And, there is the smell of something burning inside the viewer; not
sure what, but I'll find out soon (it does get hot in there).

Be careful to clean the bulb (of finger oils etc.) before letting it
get hot or you'll burn debris on to the bulb.

I found that a 6V Sony camcorder battery wired through the "red button"
delivers enough current for a reasonable time and is a form factor that
would allow it to be mounted on the bottom or back of the viewer.  For
$15 or less, you can buy a camcorder battery accessory bracket that will
let you make a convenient slide-in battery connection with short wires into
the viewer.  I'm still running a long  wire from the viewer to the battery,
but plan to go "wireless" as soon as I have a chance to buy and adapt one of
these brackets.

Happy viewing,

Barry Bronson


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