Question About Older Infrared Heat Lamp Bulbs

[rp2813]

Recently, one of the ReStores in town had a whole case of what appeared to be vintage Sylvania heat lamps, 250W, 115-125V, priced at $1 each.  Several months ago I purchased two new GE heat lamps at ACE for our newly remodeled bathroom and paid $11 and change each, so I grabbed a couple of the Sylvanias for spares since I don't know what sort of life span to expect from anything made by GE these days.

 

Is there any reason to think the NOS Sylvanias would be unsafe compared to GE's that were recently produced?  I have a feeling the Sylvanias might last longer.

 

The only thing different besides the shape of the filaments is that the GE's markings describe it as a "reflector heat lamp" and the Sylvanias read "infrared heat resistant."  I'm also kind of doubtful that the GE's use real Pyrex brand glass.

 

I've attached pictures of a Sylvania.  Information and/or advice is welcome.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I wonder if the older heat lamps produce red light and the new reflector bulbs produce white light.

 

[rp2813]

Tom, I found both red and white light versions when I was shopping around.  I didn't want white light as it would be far too bright in the small bathroom space, which already has a bright warm white LED flush mount ceiling fixture and an incandescent fixture over the vanity that uses two 40W bulbs.

 

I have a feeling the technology hasn't changed on heat lamps and that the Sylvanias will be safe to use.  I like that they're Pyrex -- real Pyrex.  The new GE bulbs make no such claim.

 

Here's a picture of the heat lamp fixture.  It's a combo exhaust fan/heat lamp.

 

[twintubdexter]

Ralph, I'm sure you remember Joe's Pick-A-Rib?

It was on the corner of Meridian & Willow. I grew up a block away. Those ribs spinning around in the window under those heat lamps...they might have been those same Sylvania bulbs. Just wouldn't want to see you get barbequed in the bathroom.

 

arrow points to the rib cooker (there was a Togo's there when I left, probably million dollar condos now)

 

 

 

[fisherpaykel]

Safety of older Sylvania heat lamp bulbs

I think your older USA made Sylvania bulbs are just fine, if the new GE's are made in China or elsewear in Asia the adhesive holding the bulb to the metal screw threads may let go before the filament burns out leaving you with difficulty replacing bulbs, that is what I have found with China Crafted C**p reflector bulbs recently. Everyone, from the "brainiac" North American Co. dimwit outsourcing production to Asia, to the "lucky winning" low bidder in China, squeezing cost out of simple 100 year old technology leaving us with garbage, and the search to find quality. My 2 cents worth and I leave you with my take on the "Golden Oval", the gold sticker on your made in China product with the letters "QC" on it, please don't confuse this with quality control, if that is your presumption, it is simply there to let production staff know it is ready for final packaging. Off soap box for now.

 

[rp2813]

Oh yeah Joe, I remember the Pic-a-Rib.  Bad food, but a great MCM building that sort of floated.  It's still there and may still be a Togo's.  I never give it a glance anymore when I drive past.  It would be great if somebody restored it and made it a restaurant with food worth eating.

 

FP, thanks for your input.  I was thinking along the same lines.  The Sylvanias were made in the USA so I was leaning toward using them.  I'll replace the GE's with them tomorrow.

 

[tolivac]

To sum up-Use the Sylvania heat light bulbs.Then,if you can try to get more NOS bulbs!

 

[rp2813]

I went back to the ReStore a week or so later on one of my somewhat regular runs and the rest of that case of bulbs was gone.

 

We only use the heat lamps during the colder months, and for 20-30 minutes twice a day.  This is the first fall/winter that we're using the lamps since the bathroom remodel was finished back in May.  I'm calculating around six or seven months where the lamps will be used like this on a daily basis.

 

[rp2813]

I installed the Sylvanias.  The light they produce seems somewhat less red than the GE's, and on close inspection some slight deterioration of the silvering can be seen.  Not a big deal.

 

The GE's, it turns out, were made in Hungary.  They're different at the base of the filament.  An older GE bulb I already had as a spare looks identical to the Sylvanias at the filament base, but there are no markings on it that indicate where it was made.

 

What happened to Joe's reply #3 above?  Did someone bully him into deleting it?  These bulbs are also used in restaurant applications, as can be seen in in photo #3 of my OP where spatter resistance is mentioned.

 

[polkanut]

I would have no hesitations with using those Sylvania bulbs.  And being made with real Pyrex glass you definitely know the quality is up to par.

 

[supersuds]

I've had good luck with Hungarian-made GE halogen bulbs. The Hungarians invented the tungsten filament and seem to have always been makers of decent incandescent bulbs, even in the Communist era.

That said, I'd prefer the Sylvanias, too.

 

[g3bill]

You can multiply your bulb life by puting a power resistor between bulb and switch or maybe the common, not sure on that or use a dimmer for lamps only and stop just short of 100% bright, about 90%, just so you notice it dim. I've done this on pricey bulbs and works with very little loss in brightness.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I have a pair of heat lamps might like the ones in that picture right in the ceiling over the outside of my tub... (Which is one reason I liked this house enough that I'm glad we'd bought it, in spite of a few of its faults)

 

Although there was a brief period where the lights worked, and the fan didn't, as well, as when the fan would run (or struggle for life, as well in the former case) and the lights would be off, and where neither worked except for the sound of the fan trying to go on & do its job, in the dark w/o the lights...!

But somehow the unit came right back to life and it is, and has been, operating normally!

 

 

-- Dave

[this post was last edited: 12/8/2014-01:11]

 

[rp2813]

Installation instructions for the exhaust fan/heat lamp say not to install directly above a tub or shower.   I'm sure this is about excessive moisture levels causing early deterioration. 

 

The unit in our bathroom is just outside the shower enclosure, but due to space limitations and slanted ceiling, we had no other choice.  I'm hoping it holds up.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Actually it's really NOT over the tub...

 

My mistake! It's in the ceiling, over the area OUTSIDE of it... (Made a correction to my previous post) And mine has clear bulbs, too; not red...

 

 

 

-- Dave