Keeping a bi-pin bulb in its holder

[tibim]

I just built a wa1111 and love the light... the only thing I am having issues with is the bulb likes to fall out of the bi-pin holder. I slightly bent the pins on the bulb to make the fit a bit tigher, but the bulb will still drop out under moderate impact.

I'm using the FM brass bi-pin socket adapter(dropin). I'm not sure how this compares to other adapters as far as "tightness"

I was thinking about coating the pins with a small amount of solder to tighten things up a bit... but I'm thinking the solder may melt under the high temperatures.

Anyone have any experience with this or any ideas on how I can make my magmod more durable and reliable?

-tibim

 

[LuxLuthor]

tibim, best is to either flatten bipin in vise or visegrips (so they will be a bit wider), or hold upper part of bipin securely and bend very bottom 1-2mm tips off to side angle, but not so much you can't get it in.

Another strategy is to find a couple strands of some stranded wire, and add that to the hole first, keeping a tail outside opening so the strands don't get shoved down with bipin on top. Not a good idea to solder bipins.

Good Luck

 

[Raoul_Duke]

This may provide the solution you are looking for.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180618

Even if you bend the pins out you are still going to worry about it, so if the pins fit the above socket it may be worth a try, as you have a grub screw to grip the pins.

I had problems with pins not holding in, and bent them arond so much broke the glass on the lamp where the pins go inside the envelope,. Potted lamps are said to fail less as this happens when thay are potted, and some suspect it causes bulb/ envelope failure.

 

[cat]

ok, now I know. Get the kai adaptor or modify the fm one.
My AW driver socket looks..different - like it's designed to hold the flat pin type as well. Maybe it'll be tight.

 

[LuxLuthor]

If the guy already has a bipin holder, it makes sense to try the easy things I said, or even could crimp the top opening of the FM bipin hole. No problem breaking a bulb if you hold onto a bipin wire with needle nose pliers, then below that make a tiny kink in leg. There's no pressure on the glass to break it, and I have done all three methods on my own FM Bipin loose bulb setups.

 

[Jenova]

tibim, best is to either flatten bipin in vise or visegrips (so they will be a bit wider), or hold upper part of bipin securely and bend very bottom 1-2mm tips off to side angle, but not so much you can't get it in.

Another strategy is to find a couple strands of some stranded wire, and add that to the hole first, keeping a tail outside opening so the strands don't get shoved down with bipin on top. Not a good idea to solder bipins.

Good Luck

i have the same problem with generic g4 bulbs and fivemega's socket
ill have to try this
Thanks for info

 

[tibim]

I tried to "flatten" the bipin and wasted two bulbs doing this because i kept flattening them too much and they wouldn't fit into the bipin holder (to the point that they would bend trying and crack the glass.. )

I tried bending the pins slightly and this worked until I was using the light out in the woods and beat it around a little... the bulb worked its way out again. Not enough to fall out just enough to not light up.


So I've ordered the Kaidomain socket from http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180618
That should fix it for good and not risk more bulbs..

-tibim

 

[deeuubee]

I was just about to ask the same question when I found this thread. I just modded a 3D with a Kiu socket and the 1185 bulb didn't gripe quite securely. The light is really bright, but I am afriad that the bulb will fall out when I need it the most. For now I wrapped tin foil around the wire leads to make them a little fatter. It's been working great so far, but it seems so Rube Goldbergish. I'm going to try using a dab of high temp RTV to hold it in place? A little dab'l do yah no?