320 lumens bi-pin from Radio Shack

fleshlite

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Oct 17, 2004
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ca
I got this bulb 12vdc, 20W, 272-1177 from radio shack and wanted to try it out. Hooked it up to a Mag W/8AA-2D alkaline giving me app 14.5v. The output is not very good and the there is a whole bunch of shadows and stuff all over the beam. Any of you guy try this bulb before? It was only 1.99.
 

bjn70

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Nov 25, 2004
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DFW, TX
I've spotted those bulbs and wondered about them. For 12V and 20W it has to be pulling about 1.67 amps which is a lot for alkalines. With that load the voltage is probably way down, maybe under 10V. If you could try it with 10 or 11 NiMH's it would probably have much better output. As far as "shadows and stuff all over the beam", you need a textured reflector to overcome that.
 

paulr

Flashaholic
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Mar 29, 2003
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10,832
If it's rated 12vdc, that sounds like an automotive bulb that really wants to run at 14.4 volts, i.e. 11 or 12 NiMH, or maybe 4x18650 lithium ion.
 

Sway

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Aug 25, 2003
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North Carolina
I have tried that lamp with 11 NiMh cells and it will take some push but the color temp is low to start with so it's going to be yellow even with a little over drive. High current cells may help some /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif if you are looking for a higher color temp and more output the WA lamps cost a little more but I think they are the better option.

Later
kelly
 
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