[personal] Re: WTB: DEC PC04 Paper Tape Reader/Punch

[Gordon JC Pearce]

Tony Duell wrote:
>>> What I'm more worried about is a spare bulb - It's a "festoon" bulb
>> That style lamp is still readily available over here (UK) as a car spare 
>> used usually for number plate lights, my Fiat uses them.
>> What's the voltage ?, the available type are obviously 12V.
> 
> Not 'obviosuly'....
> 
> Old cars used 6V electrics, lorries, etc use 24V (still, AFAIK). Good car 
> parts shops can often get 6V and 24V bulbs as a result, which are used in 
> classic computers. For example, most of my Trend paper tape readers use a 
> 12V 21W bulb, a very standard car bulb sold everywhere. But at leat one 
> uses a 24V 24W bulb. It took some finding, but a commerical vehicles 
> parts place had it in stock.

Hah.  Don't mix them up.

I bought 24V "corn" bulbs for my RL02 panel lamps (the ones that came 
out were rated for 18V, so I figured I'd rather have dimmer and cooler 
than hotter and brighter).  Then a panel lamp went on my car dashboard, 
*months* later.  "Aha!" I thought, "I've got spare bulbs..."  Stuck one 
in, and hmm, why is it so dim?  D'oh.

Gordon