Where 5mm is the maximum dimension / available space of the original bulb soyou cannot turn aroud the LED. Would be useful for replacing awkward voltagefestoon bulbs.The maximum beam of 5mm LEDs is axially but how to convert to transverse?Grind an angle to the dome and melt on some mylar?Wrap whole LED in mylar except for an axial slot?Abraid the LED all round to make translucent rather than clear?Then adapting AC or DC supply to suit--Diverse Devices, Southampton, Englandelectronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on

Are you restricted to 5mm types? There are also very short ones available.Problem with LEDs is the diabolical 'colour' if used as a replacement fortungsten. Which may not matter, of course.-- *I'm pretty sure that sex is better than logic, but I can't prove it. Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Adapting white LEDs as festoon bulbs?

Mar 04, 2008 27 Replies

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jakdedert 18 years ago

I've heard them called cartridge lamps, or as commonly; 'fuse bulbs'. The dome light moniker is simply an application, which may have taken on some weight as a common description of the type.

But 'festoon' is not a term I've *ever* heard to describe them on this side of the lake. Sounds vaguely silly...like 'pantaloons'.

Google does indeed provide many hits for 'festoon lamp'; but most hits seem to reference the UK, with a few US distributers. Interestingly, the first hit also references 'fuse lamp'; and many, many (the majority, maybe) are for LED replacements.

jak

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Dave Plowman (News) 18 years ago

There's a big difference between tinting tungsten etc and LED. Tungsten is continuous spectrum so a coloured filter merely reduces the output at that wavelength. Trouble with LED is parts of the spectrum are missing so you can't reduce others to boost what isn't there.

The last warm white LEDs I tried a few months ago were a bilious 'shade' of green. IMHO we're still a long way from LED being as 'kind' as tungsten for domestic use.

*Give me ambiguity or give me something else. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound.

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James Sweet 18 years ago

White LEDs are blue emitting chips coated with a phosphor that converts some of the blue light to other wavelengths. It's unlikely that LEDs will ever have the smooth continuous spectrum that tungsten provides, but I do suspect they will eventually reach the quality of better fluorescent lamps.

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William Sommerwerck 18 years ago

That's a very high standard. The better CLs can be used with photographic cameras -- film and digital -- and produce outstanding results. (I own several Lowel ego lights.)

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GregS 18 years ago

I last bought about 8- 3 watt Luxeon's for a lighting project. I decided i didn't want a bluish tint, but I will try out some of the high powered warm whites. Less lumens and harder to get.

greg

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James Sweet 18 years ago

I've seen two types of warm white LEDs. One looked pretty good, and another had the icky tint another poster mentioned. I'm sure both depreciate towards less desireable color as the phosphor ages but I have no long term experience with the warm ones.

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Dave Plowman (News) 18 years ago

Yes - fluorescent soft lights are pretty popular for filming these days. Have the added advantage of maintaining colour temperature pretty well when dimmed. Most simply don't realise the wide range of specialist tubes and base their poor opinion on the commonly available ones.

*Husbands should come with instructions Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound.

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Franc Zabkar 18 years ago

On Tue, 4 Mar 2008 16:11:57 -0000, "N Cook" put finger to keyboard and composed:

Adapt an LED from a solar garden light ???

- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

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