lighthouse bulbs

dave321

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Mar 6, 2017
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hi,
I am new here, and sorry if this in the wrong section.

anyone know where you can buy the old style lighthouse bulbs in the uk ?

I have a large 3kw, yes 3kw one but the filament is all shot to pieces and it would be nice if I could get a better bulb for display purposes.

thanks
dave
 

danthexenonorc

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Did you try the usual places like ebay, or just searching the model number on google. Is there a nameplate?
 

dave321

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Mar 6, 2017
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hi,
yes, tried the usual places like ebay, I might have to contact trinity house in the uk.

I think they moved from the 3kw bulbs to using 3 x 500w smaller bulbs, which were presumably more efficient
 

IlluminatedOne

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Nov 14, 2008
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I tried to have a look searching in google for lamps for sale but i think you would need to know the specific bulb make/name as putting in "lighthouse" did not always come up with much.
I did find this 1000w HID lighthouse bulb not for sale though but might help you in your search as they seem to have some discussions about them and maybe could point you in the right direction.
http://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2828&pos=181&pid=79570

I was just reading this the other day about the history of lighthouse lamps which i found interesting thought i would post it.
http://uslhs.org/lighthouse-lamps-through-time

I always remember as a kid my dad taking me to see a lighthouse and i have always wanted one of those bulbs too so hope you find one :).
 

danthexenonorc

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It seems like you may be out of luck. Most lighthouses have moved over to the use of more efficient lighting equipment, so manufactures just stopped producing them, so finding one, in new condition, will be pretty hard. I checked ebay and all I found is tubular halogen 3kw lights. GL on your search!
 

dave321

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Mar 6, 2017
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I tried to have a look searching in google for lamps for sale but i think you would need to know the specific bulb make/name as putting in "lighthouse" did not always come up with much.
I did find this 1000w HID lighthouse bulb not for sale though but might help you in your search as they seem to have some discussions about them and maybe could point you in the right direction.
http://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2828&pos=181&pid=79570
I was just reading this the other day about the history of lighthouse lamps which i found interesting thought i would post it.
http://uslhs.org/lighthouse-lamps-through-time
I always remember as a kid my dad taking me to see a lighthouse and i have always wanted one of those bulbs too so hope you find one :).

nice find, appreciate that:)
 

broadgage

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Nov 23, 2007
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Somerset UK
3KW is very large for a lighthouse lamp, many in the UK and presumably elsewhere were only 500 watts.
The long distance visibility of a lighthouse is derived from a sophisticated optical system not from a huge wattage lamp.

Prior to electric lamps, many lighthouses used oil vapour illumination. These worked on the same principle as the kerosene pressure lanterns used today, but on a larger scale.

Lighthouse lamps were usually standard line voltage, 240 volts in the UK, but lower voltages were sometimes used. Other factors being equal a lower voltage lamp will be cheaper, more efficient and longer lasting than a higher voltage lamp.
 

ssanasisredna

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Oct 19, 2016
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457
Going way back here, but not 100% certain M40 refers to the base, but was a designation from GE ... of what I can't remember right now. It may have been their flavor of GY9.5? ... which I can't imagine at 3000W. Maybe that is 3000K ... color temp?

Can you please A) Post a picture and B) Measure the distance between the pins and the length and diameter of the pins.

Could also send a picture to these guys: http://www.donsbulbs.com/cgi-bin/r/t.pl
 
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