More on Fluorescent Lamps

[P3D <JValaVIDI@xxxxxxx>]

   The following is in response to some personal E-mail I got from Joel
Alpers and Sam Smith but I figured I would make the response public since it
may be of interest to others also.  It addresses the sources for fluorescent
lamps for use in larger format viewers.  Actually, the same components could
be used in a standard Realist type viewer also!


   You can find Fluorescent lamps at

JKL Components Corporation
13343 Paxton Street
Pacoima, CA  91331
(800) 421-721-7244
(818) 896-0019 (in CA)
(818) 897-3056 (FAX)

   Call for their catalog (tell them you heard about them on the Internet,
they may find that interesting). They show several different size lamps, here
is a sample of what they offer.

Description                   Part Number                 Price
6mm Dia. X 60mm          BF659-01                    $US10.00
6mm Dia. X 100mm         BF6100-01                  $US10.00
6mm Dia. X 165mm         BF6165-01                  $US10.00
6mm Dia. X 262mm         BF6262-(AE)               $US15.00
6.5mm Dia. X 50mm        BF65.50-(AE)B            $US10.00
6.5mm Dia. X 100mm       BF65.100-(AE)B          $US10.00
6.5mm Dia. X 200mm       BF65.200-(EA)B          $US10.00


   You will also need a "ballast" or Inverter to operate the lamp with. 
 These are

Inverter 12V DC input      BF12V                   $US10.00
Inverter   6V DC input     BXA-601                 $US15.00
Inverter 24V DC input      BXA-2401               $US15.00

   Many electronic ballasts are also designed to allow for lamp brightness 
control by adjusting the level of drive voltage applied to the ballast. 
 This is good and bad!  It's good if you want to have an adjustable light 
intensity to suite your own personal viewing requirements and it's bad if
you want a simple device that just runs off the battery but whose voltage is 
changing as it is "used up".   Calls to the ballast supplier will clarify 
which type of ballast you will receive.

   If you ever consider going "Into Production" with your design, I can 
refer you to an outfit who will make custom lamps in higher volumes which 
can be designed to be curved and bent to all kinds of desirable shapes to 
fit into your product

   Good luck with your project, I will be interested in your progress as you 
move along in your endeavor.


John Vala
Virtual Imaging Devices, Inc.

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