Flashbulbs as "HID" lighting... =Dumb idea :p

[Steelwolf]

Not sure if this has been brought up before, as a quick search didn't seem to reveal anything.

I was looking as the flashtubes that come in disposable cameras and wondered if it were possible to use it as a flashlight. It would probably fit in the HID category, but can a flashtube withstand the constant discharge going through it, or will it quickly overheat and melt the terminals or, worse, explode. And if it were susceptible to overheating, is it possible to negate it with sufficient heat sinking.

I'm guessing too, that even if the flashtube could take the heat, some sort of high voltage source is needed, hence the need for a dc-dc converter. Also, I'm guessing that a reasonable number of amps must be provided, so I think the power source has to be more than the one AA battery supplied in the camera.

I'm not looking for a very high intensity discharge. Even at half powered flashes, it still seems very bright. And recycle time is reduced, thus my musing as to whether, with more power available or a more suited dc-dc converter, it is possible to run the flash at such a high rate of flashing as to appear to be a constant light source, or to even provide a constant high voltage source so as to eliminate flickering.

What do you guys think?

 

[Graham]

I'm just guessing here, but I would think that flashbulbs would burn out or melt if you tried to run them continuously - particularly the disposable ones, where the reflectors are just cheap plastic.
I think even running them at a high frequency would have a similar effect. I've noticed that camera flashes I've used get quite warm after a high rate of repetitive use. I'm no expert though...

Graham

 

[lambda]

It'll melt.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

http://misty.com/people/don/contxe.html#c

If you don't want to read this, the answer is "no".

 

[Steelwolf]

Thanks guys, especially to Craig for that link. Such a waste. I've got quite a few of these disposable cameras and more than enough strobes already.

Was really hoping for a cheap HID light to add to my collection.

I'm was working on building them in to a studio flash and multiple slave units, but the devil is in the calibration.