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Re: Realist Viewer Modification for Extended Lamp Life


  • From: P3D <s.spicer@xxxxxxxxx>
  • Subject: Re: Realist Viewer Modification for Extended Lamp Life
  • Date: Mon, 15 Apr 1996 10:20:11 +1000

At  3:04 PM 12/4/96 -0500, photo-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 05:30:05 -0400
>From: P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>(the) 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


That's an intersting point. I hadn't actually considered this from a cost
benefit analysis point-of-view. With lamps lasting one to two years it
looks like its not worth the hassle of doing.

I don't think cost was motivating me - more that this was the way that any
incandescent lamp should be started, (although my lamp life has been very
variable at anything from 2 months to 15 months over the 8 or 9 years I've
been using these lamps).

I wonder if the Nicad batteries can deliver more surge current to a cold
lamp filament than non-rechargable batteries? It could be a factor in my
viewer, as I used two 4-Amp-hour Nicad D cells, with a connector at the
back for charging.


>If you know where and how to clean
>them, this is not a problem...

I think that's very true. It's quite easy to damage the original plating,
and then end up with an even worse electrical contact as it isn't coated
anymore! I believe that my viewer may have fallen into this category. Also,
the + battery contact near the lamp was corroded through to the metal
underneath. It looked awful.


>
>Silver-plating is a good idea to avoid this rather infrequent maintenance
>

Yes, someone on this list suggested it sometime ago when I posed the
question as to what would be suitable. It's working fine so far......

Steve Spicer




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