Re: Realist Viewer Modification for Extended Lamp Life

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Steve Spicer's modifications for extending lamp life in the Realist viewer
are interesting... However, I have to question the cost saving in doing so...

My experience shows that the 0.8A/2.5V bulbs last for a very long time.
Under heavy use, the bulbs in my viewer last a minimum of one year, maybe
two years or more (50 years from now I might have more statistical data ;))

I sell these bulbs for $6 each.

So, why should one modify the viewer and risk damage and improper operation
to save $6 a year (assuming that the bulb last only one year in the unmodified
viewer and infinitely in the modified viewer)?

To put things in perspective, it costs me $5 for a roll of 36 exp. and $8
for processing... I shoot about 60 rolls a year... If I get into the habbit
of loading my Realist in the dark I could be saving two pairs per roll or
120 pairs per year which is 4 rolls at a cost savings of $50.  Heck, I could
save $26/year by just taking one pair less per roll or keeping less pairs.

The bottom line is this:  3-D is a rather expensive hobby... should we
worry about saving $6 a year on a light bulb?   Or, why don't we let a poor
honest hobbyist like me, make a few bucks on these bulbs?  ;) ;) ;)

So, Steve, your idea is clever but not worth the effort or risk IMO.

Along these lines however, one can create an adjustable brightness viewer...
It has occured to me that if one could plate the button contact with
substances of different conductivity (low at the end, high at the top) then
the light will be dim as you first press the button and brighter as you
keep on pressing it further... This way you have both the light and
rheostat controls in one button... It would be great... Steve, start
working towards these lines... Instead of putting a resistor one should
look for platings of various conductivities to plate the switch.

>At the same time, I got all my battery and switch contacts in two viewers
>silver-plated to eliminate the lamp flicker I was getting from poor
>contacts (cost was about US$7.50 per viewer). I hope that works out too.

I clean the contacts in my viewer every time I notice flickering... This is
about twice a year I would guess... If you know where and how to clean
them, this is not a problem... I have to stress this "know where and how".
If you don't know where to clean, then you will not be able to do a good job.
If you don't know how to clean, then you might damage the contacts. 
Because this is a rather important subject, I plan to cover it in great
detail in my next (2nd edition of my Realist red button book) which will be
available at the NSA convention this summer and also cover it in a future
article in "Inside 3-D" (Dalia's news.... err... Mini-Magazine).  I will
also post something in photo-3d, but the pictures in the book will be worth
many more words.

Silver-plating is a good idea to avoid this rather infrequent maintenance 
but for me this is not a problem, plus it gives me the chance to bond with 
my viewer... ;)

George Themelis


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