Hot Tip
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
Hot Tip
Just a stupid little thing, but everyone who sees it is still suprised by it, so I thought I'd pass it along.
Ever had the incandescent bulb in your drop light die due to rough handling? If you're like me you've killed one, replaced it, and killed it again 5 minutes later. If you're like me you've also bought the more expensive flourescent drop lights which in my experience just end up flickering due to bad contacts. Here is my solution:
Brightness equivalent to a 100W bulb and only uses 23W (read, will not burn you as badly when you touch it.) No filament to break so unless you shatter it, it's good to go. Costs a few times as much as a normal bulb but obviously cost/life span is the benefit here. I actually use these everywhere in my house but the study where I use those "natural color" bulbs.
Maybe you all are already doing this, but it's been news to everyone who has seen it hanging in my garage. Give it a try
-Chris
Ever had the incandescent bulb in your drop light die due to rough handling? If you're like me you've killed one, replaced it, and killed it again 5 minutes later. If you're like me you've also bought the more expensive flourescent drop lights which in my experience just end up flickering due to bad contacts. Here is my solution:
Brightness equivalent to a 100W bulb and only uses 23W (read, will not burn you as badly when you touch it.) No filament to break so unless you shatter it, it's good to go. Costs a few times as much as a normal bulb but obviously cost/life span is the benefit here. I actually use these everywhere in my house but the study where I use those "natural color" bulbs.
Maybe you all are already doing this, but it's been news to everyone who has seen it hanging in my garage. Give it a try
-Chris
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
That's an interesting idea. So you're telling me you can drop one of those onto concrete from about 5 feet and it'll still work? Great!
As a side note I nearly ruined a new tire by leaving my 500 watt halogen light too close and pointing at the sidewall. It has a slight bulge now but seems OK. :o
As a side note I nearly ruined a new tire by leaving my 500 watt halogen light too close and pointing at the sidewall. It has a slight bulge now but seems OK. :o
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
5 foot drop? Well I guess that depends how it lands!
By sealed flourescent do you mean the kind that I mentioned that I have had the contacts go bad on? I'm sure a higher quality one would last longer, for a comparatively higher cost. An old coworker of mine bought (for over $100) an LED work light, batteries lasted a long long time, the only downside was it was very directional.
Hadn't heard of rough duty bulbs!
Err, if that's a blister it could lead to catastrophic failure, I'd think about replacing it if I were you.
Glad I could be of help
-Chris
By sealed flourescent do you mean the kind that I mentioned that I have had the contacts go bad on? I'm sure a higher quality one would last longer, for a comparatively higher cost. An old coworker of mine bought (for over $100) an LED work light, batteries lasted a long long time, the only downside was it was very directional.
Hadn't heard of rough duty bulbs!
It has a slight bulge now but seems OK.
Glad I could be of help
-Chris
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