Undervolting incandescent lamps

[cfz2882]

I have quite a few -mostly small -incandescent lamps runnig well under voltage rating for the nice dim glow and last forever-i have heard halogen bulbs will not do proper re-cycle running too cool undervolted, but going to run a pair of 120v, 500w outdoor fixtures in cat shelter at 24v: they put out amber glow and nice gentle radiant heat while pulling 1.5 amps at 24v... will see if these occlude the quarts tube or other effects running dim.

 

[Chetlaham]

I do this with 230 volt lamps. I run them at 120 volts and they last and last, perhaps more so than any LED.

You're right that it should not be done with halogen lamps. It can cause the quartz tube to blacken.

 

[cfz2882]

Will soon see what happens with the cat warming lamps. I bought a box of 230v European years ago-make nice hall and porch lights,none have burnt out. Most of the other undervolted bulbs are 24v running on 12v: airplanes, busses, yachts are often 24v,bulbs east to obtain.

 

[phillymatt53]

I've never heard of a halogen blackening.
In fact, I use one on a dimmer controlled lamp all the time and it's been fine for years.
Any lightbulb, if used under it's rated voltage, will last a very long time.
At 85-90 precent of 120 volts you can get decades of use from a bulb.
I've got a pair of Sylvania "Daylight" bulbs in the bathroom since 2005.
I keep them "slightly" dimmed unless I'm shaving at night.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Is this dimming via dimmer switch?

Are you doing this with a true halogen?

Those big, long HOT RODS?

I have wondered about how dimmable they are, though usually I'm aware of their placement in a self-contained socket in the town free-standing lamp...

We have one of those types of halogen fixtures using a bar, as an outside yard light...

However, the fixtures it's in, has been losing its "weatherproof properties" over the years, and enough that the toggle switch on a wall for it in the hose has been off-limits for any of us to flip, as I don't know what the outcome for it to be, for although the lens on there seems intact, it's been disengaging itself from the housing and the "bar" inside has clearly gotten split...

We have a toolshed under it, and I wish a larger structure as in a garage, though a mighty small one could have been built in that space on that spot of concrete and maybe that pole its on, just be used as an electrical supply for, in which there'd be lighting inside, and perhaps the switch on the wall, maybe to control the outside light for...

I could only envision, but we have a small shack for all our outdoor gear, including a snowblower and a couple bikes, of which the double door often fails to stay closed (our daughter can't be counted on to close it) and two padlocks have gotten misplaced, and we will need to keep tabs on each of their two keys...

 

[askolover]

Ive had screw in dimmer in my living room lamps for at least a decade. The 60 watt bulbs have lasted the whole time being under powered most of the time.

 

[pstehle]

I have a gas/electric 6 arm brass chandelier in the attic I hope to live long enough to reinstall. I'll have to run a gas line to the middle of the dining room ceiling, but who the heck else has one that works?! I picked it up about 10 years ago at a flea market, including the original undamaged shades... I walked up to it and asked the dude how much he wanted, expecting to hear "$250", couldn't get the $25 he wanted outta my pocket fast enough!

 

[rp2813]

There are old homes in San Francisco that either still have active gas or gas/electric fixtures, or at least the gas lines that were long ago disconnected. I've been in a few of these homes and the flickering effect creates an entirely different atmosphere that's particularly effective on Halloween! Gas lighting was long ago declared to be out of compliance with building codes, but the people who own homes that still have it have been able to remain under the radar.

I've been using dimmers with incandescent bulbs for decades. I bought up a bunch of standard base 25w flame shaped bulbs for my 5-lamp dining room fixture about eight years ago for cheap at the ReStore. They were made in Mexico, and rarely operate at full power. So far, so good. I'm hoping they outlast me.