Balafire: when a light bulb goes wild

Goodness gracious, great balls of fire.
links 'n' stuff:
link to Simflame: www.simflame.com/
Technology Connextras (the second channel where I put stuff sometimes)
/ @technologyconnextras
Technology Connections on Bluesky:
bsky.app/profi...
Technology Connections on Mastodon:
mas.to/@TechCo...
Have you ever noticed that I've never done a brand deal? That's all thanks to people like you! Viewer support through Patreon keeps this channel independent and possible. It's how I can express my true thoughts on things like freeze dryers. If you'd like to join the amazing folks who fund my work, check out the link below. And thank you!
/ technologyconnections

[@TechnologyConnections]

Just wanna pin a little clarifier that somehow I missed the fact that the balafire box claims it actually has a carbon filament - and others found that Kyp-Go kept the precise formulation which allowed it to survive all this flailing about a tight secret. So when I was talking about the failure mode of evaporating tungsten, that probably doesn't apply to this bulb at all!

[@tunatuna6723]

I'll forgive you.

[@aslurmyfrog]

Neat!

[@goranjosic]

How can a magnet withstand the temperatures created by the filament?! As far as I know, magnets that can withstand high temperatures are rare and expensive.

[@TechnologyConnections]

@@goranjosic these bulbs are only drawing 10 to 15 watts so they hardly get warm at all.

[@BixbyConsequence]

The ability of Carbon filaments to withstand heavy vibration is why naval vessels continued to use Carbon bulbs long after Tungsten had taken over the overall lighting market. The world's oldest continually-lit bulb is the Carbon filament "Centennial Bulb" which began use in 1901.

[@hippyraverocker]

I implore you to release Technology Connections branded socks, with the tagline 'Through the magic of buying two of them'.

[@jimmyrrpage]

Yes please. I would buy those so fast LMAO. But go with good socks, like Bombas... not cheap crap that'll tear on carpet...

[@newq]

That's actually ingenious.

[@DestDroid]

Maybe a collab with the Awesome Socks club?

[@Atreides44]

Shut up and take my money!

[@aigledemasyaf]

YESSS absolutely!!

[@ninam6826]

"Welcome to No-Effort November where we...hfffhhhmmr....rrff.." off to a strong start!

[@-Hari-03]

it made my day

[@StudioKuketo]

awesome

[@rhaedas9085]

I noted at the end he seemed to have to cut himself off before going into another side note.

[@Ewr42]

No effort was made I see this as character development

[@lenOwOo]

😂😂😂😂

[@jfranklin1898]

6:50 Fun fact - The technology used to create the realistic flame effect is the tormented soul of a future version of yourself captured within for all eternity.

[@AETERNA-PASSIO]

geh... dont remind me.

[@mukrifachri]

lol I did immediately wonder "but what's the head ?" until truly realizing that it is silvered (and such partly mirrors).

[@TheRyanandRachael]

​@@mukrifachri It doesn't really look like him though? Super creepy.

[@becausetrains]

@@TheRyanandRachaellooked very Kylo Ren-like

[@jcruz821]

Finally, purpose.

[@ApotheosisTK117]

I would LOVE to see this bulb filmed in high-speed. I'm sure it looks much different on video than in person, and I bet it looks absolutely wild in slow motion.

[@ValueOfJoy]

+

[@MartinSamuelsson]

That's what I came here to say.

[@linakesea]

Slo Mo Guys crossover ep?

[@MaVaLa-um2lu]

Go for it @theslowmoguys.

[@BooLightning]

this

[@Yakkers]

It's wild that this super thin flexible filament flailing around and slapping into the glass even allows for as much as 500 hours

[@kimkatyaharley]

he mentions in the balafire thay the filament never touches the glass of the globe

[@kingdead42]

I was amazed the metal fatigue doesn't destroy the filament connections immediately. I'm glad he mentioned it.

[@BS-vx8dg]

Yes! Given the experience we have all had with filaments, it's amazing that this thing lasts over an hour.

[@siggyincr7447]

Exactly what I was thinking, 500 hrs seems very optimistic to me for both designs. The one because it smacking the glass a 50 times a second. The other because the attachment point of the filament is flexing back and forth pretty dramatically 50 times a second.

[@two_number_nines]

@@siggyincr7447 its 60 times/sec in the US. i feel like its only about 20hz of flopping around

[@adamzieba8364]

5:54 It amazes me that this filament doesn't break in a few hours from metal fatigue due to violent bending back and forth.

[@JamesChurchill]

Generally to avoid work hardening/fatigue you anneal the metal by heating it up. So a lit filament is automatically much less prone to fatigue breaks than if it was at room temperature. The main failure mechanism is actually evaporation of the tungsten causing the filament to get progressively thinner.

[@MsTatakai]

@@JamesChurchill so a dimmer would help to heat up gradually ? like heating up an engine before running it to high rpms ?

[@CoventSynth]

The most ironic thing about No Effort November is that it is the month of the year when Alec uploads videos most frequently.

[@PlutoTheSynth]

hi fellow synth :3c

[@MrMontanaNights]

Takes a lot less time to edit when you don't have to put any effort into it ;)

[@bahamutbbob]

Editing probably takes the same amount of effort. Research, script writing, sourcing objects to show in the video take a lot less effort.

[@burntalive]

Synths looking at bulbs to attach as swag items

[@CoventSynth]

@@PlutoTheSynth Hi C:

[@KurosakiYukigo]

Finally, the respectable incandescent cousin of the lava lamp.

[@OfficialKJM]

Yes!

[@terrylambert8149]

Hey man, like this came first. Like you could get this back in the 60s. It didn't burn, just danced around for you tripping to.

[@tremorist]

One cousin on uppers, the other one on downers.

[@rogermwilcox]

But but but but but lava lamps USE an incandescent bulb!

[@stemdeckesupreme164]

Technically lava lamps are just regular incandescent bulbs

[@chrisbeaumont4630]

As soon as you turned it on, time slowed down and Born To Be Wild started playing in my head. I ripped my shirt off and trashed my room. That lightbulb is some powerful stuff my dude...

[@ValueOfJoy]

😂

[@raygunsforronnie847]

"like a true Nature's child, we were born, born to be wild". Might be under the influence of the waning full moon, too!

[@greebo4446]

I heard a song that said there's no rules, do you think that's true?

[@totengraben]

I think the mirroring adds to the effect by creating a secondary 'flame' which helps create a ball of 'fire' rather than just a wacky waving inflatable tubeman of 'fire'.

[@Jdbye]

Not like we get to appreciate that in a 30 FPS video, it just looks like a blur either way. It looks really cool, but I would love to see one in person.

[@SteveHylton1969]

My grandfather had one in his cellar, it was the lone light bulb... I thought it was evil.

[@LueLucifer]

Did you also think he was a warlock? 😂 Or some kind of fortune teller.

[@jakel2837]

​@@LueLucifer I'd like to think there was normal light bulb there and he only had the balafire on hand. The low voltage meant it just never needed replacing

[@hollow5ummer]

haha, i can't imagine what it'd be like seeing one of these as a kid with no knowledge of what it was

[@SylviaRustyFae]

Your grandpa knew how to live; and truly, thats the best use of it - put in the basement or attic to convince the grandkids that the light bulb is evil xD

[@ax14pz107]

​@@SylviaRustyFaeit's brilliant. Keep them out when they're too young to be in there messing about, but peak their interest enough to want to go in there when they get old enough not to immediately do something stupid.

[@WigWoo1]

I would love to see a slow mo guys segment with this bulb

[@manitoba-op4jx]

this

[@brightlord-ov7cm]

As a bullet fired by kentucky ballistics flies through it?

[@kaymart8703]

Seeing Alec's face reflected in the Balafire bulb @6:54 was the trippiest part for me 🫠

[@kumquatmagoo]

I thought Pedro Pascal was filming for a moment

[@SuperLegoman36]

Album cover material right there

[@kibels894]

I thought it was James' face from one of the save points in Silent Hill

[@tassadar7945]

@@kibels894 Same. i thought it was edited in at first as a subtle joke, then i was like "oh wait, it's actually alec accidentally recreating the opening of Silent HIll 2"

[@SkorpyoTFC]

"Return what you have stolen from me."

[@ginamiller6015]

I had one of those Balafire bulbs back in the’70’s. Bought it from a store in the mall called Spencer Gifts. It was a prized possession and lasted for years. Brings back memories 🫶

[@oflameo8927]

That chain is still in business in my area.

[@Gary-b6b7f]

Ah a gift store. Stuff you'd buy for someone else but never your self... nothing suspect about that!

[@nickloh912]

6:50 - I can't decide if the reflection is just Alec concentrating on keeping the light stable or if the intent staring was for comedic effect. Either way, I had no idea these existed, so I learned something new!

[@richtheobald4390]

It seems like he is looking down in the reflection, so I'm going with concentration

[@Konarcoffee]

Giving me major James Sunderland vibes

[@DigitalBroomstick]

He looks like an absolute chad in the reflection. I’m buying one of these bulbs asap and using it for all my future tinder photos.

[@kilroyfirelizrd]

I'd say both!

[@chaos.corner]

100% intentional. See also the toaster video.

[@MyJp1983]

I was watching another channel, and they threw out a "through the power of buying two" I was proud like a parent of their children's accomplishments

[@shawnhamby9660]

Don't leave us hanging, who was it?

[@MyJp1983]

@@shawnhamby9660 I'm embarrassed, but I have no idea. I think it was in the middle of a KZbin binge. If it comes to mind I will update

[@CraigStevenLikesStuff]

I think Steve Mould did it once. Even photoshopped himself onto the set.

[@MyJp1983]

@CraigStevenLikesStuff 👍 you're a genius! That was it

[@keppycs]

​@@MyJp1983But which video?

[@etschirm]

I had a Balafire as a kid, around 1975. We also had some of those noun flicker bulbs in some decorative wall scones.

[@hiloknowsall7462]

I love a good wall scone…with clotted cream and jam. ❤😂

[@DeviantOllam]

This is remarkable.... I thought flickerflame bulbs were wild but this takes it to the next level!

[@uncledrax]

But how can we use this to bypass a maglock?

[@stickinthemud23]

@@uncledrax By hypnotizing the security guard, most likely.

[@DeviantOllam]

@@stickinthemud23 technique confirmed 👍😁👍

[@aslurmyfrog]

Holy cow, Dev commenting on Technology Connections! Ya'll need to do a collaboration!

[@presidentadrian]

I’m convinced Deviant beat the main boss and is just on side quests now 😅

[@DJPGB]

In the late sixties, there were 7-up soft drink TV ads showing a green version of this bulb on top of their (steel) soda can. They sold these as promotional items. My brother bought one. I still have it. It still works!

[@mrgw98]

I don't believe it. Going to need a video for proof, preferably one that lasts for two, maybe three hours.

[@j.danielphillips3778]

We had one when I was a kid in the 80s! My sister probably has it tucked away somewhere, but it was mesmerizing and green.

[@pendlera2959]

Please post a video!

[@surferdude4487]

We called them 7 UP bulbs. there used to be a booth at the CNe (Canadian National Exhibition) in Toronto that sold them. I spent all my mony on rides so I never bought one.

[@osseo9947]

I only have the bulb. The original lamp is long gone.

[@BillPease-m8q]

I still have mine . From 1969 . Green one mounted in a Schlitz beer can product. Still works !

[@BrimHawk]

I had a green bulb on a Molson Canadian style beer can. Sat on my dresser until it fell off and broke on my head.

[@williamdowling7718]

My grandpa built a cabin on a lake in wisconsin when my dad was a kid. 35 years later when i was born and started making regular trips to the cabin, it still had all the original furnishings. I remember being absolutely enamored by the lamps that had light bulbs in them that looked like candles.. Now another 36 years has gone by and i had completely forgotten about those lamps until this video. Thanks for feeding my nostalgia on a consistent basis.

[@ayybe7894]

It is amazing how this channel can fuel nostalgia for an era I never witnessed, and devices I never knew existed.

[@timg2727]

I remember watching a Technology Connections video back when he had maybe 50k subscribers and thinking "this guy should have way more subscribers." I guess a lot of people agreed with me, and all 2.5 million of them are well-deserved. This is still consistently one of the best channels on KZbin.

[@AkumaSephitaro]

I found him more recently, but can still agree. It's a damn good channel!

[@lostwizard]

Also today: "this guy should have way more subscribers" :)

[@famicom_guy]

Same, youtube recommended me one of his videos on vinyl records and I thought "huh, you know, this is some great content. It's a shame he'll stay obscure since channels like this never succeed." I'm so glad to have been proven entirely wrong.

[@goaliedude32]

I found him almost 2 years ago talking about heat pumps. I fucking love this channel

[@flatline8580]

@@goaliedude32 Ahh, the infamous heat pump era... Those were the phase!

[@localattucson]

Thanks!

[@chelsealynn9866]

Wow. As a lighting designer I thought I knew every way out there to mess with a filament, but I learned something new today. Cheers!

[@justageekygamer]

how did you comment one day ago this video has been out only for 20 minutes?

[@shadogiant]

Patreon supporters get videos earlier.

[@Peter_S_]

These used to be sold at every Radio-Shack, with an accompanying paneled mirror reflector box made from black plastic and cheap pressed tin. They were quite the thing in 1976, and they still are.

[@earlofnacho]

ooh a fellow photon selektor in the wild! although i don't work directly with filaments. anyway, top of the waveform to ya!

[@pauljones9150]

Ohhhhhh do you have a video on every way to mess with a filament? I'm curious

[@birdbrain4445]

The concept of a magnet moving the filament around like that is such a simple but cool idea. I really like it lol.

[@johnmicheal3547]

I like it's simplicity too. But it's not just the magnet, it's the AC too causing the CRAZZZYYYY movement.

[@1gorSouz4]

@@johnmicheal3547 I'm a layman in the subject, but i doubt it oscillates at 50 or 60Hz like the electricity... to me it seems like it was doomed to fail, but somehow it worked.

[@thedarkknight1971]

🤣🤣 the 'Doobliedoo'... Thank you AvE for your additions like that one to the English language!!! 👍🤣🤣🤣 😎🇬🇧

[@mumiemonstret]

I guessed he was inspired by CuriousMarc.... But I don't follow AvE so I have no idea who was first.

[@Ango-m5d]

​​@@mumiemonstretI've always heard from Vlogbrothers that WheezyWaiter coined it

[@johnbailey7038]

I didn’t have to look far to find this comment lol

[@b1646717]

"Wildly smooth jazz" Closed captions on this channel are always a treat.

[@demonfish22]

I appreciated the end captioning after the "cut"

[@ElectroDFW]

Don't forget to stay for the post-credits captions. 😅 I guess we now know Alec is a Marvel fan. 😅

[@markcayer4859]

I have always loved the music from this channel. I wonder where it comes from? Is it a dowloadable thing??

[@scottschroeder4131]

Finally! I’ve had a blue colored version of this bulb in a lamp that my dad made in the early 70s. I could never figure out who made it or what it was called.

[@rata536]

I would become completely hypnotised by one of those blue ones. I know myself.

[@JisMortal]

respect for adding a little extra history for kypgo. i enjoy that, keeping the light alive a bit longer

[@physicsnerd02]

Gonna call shenanigans on no effort. You clearly stated you were putting additional effort at the end. I do thank you for it.

[@Ta1kingDirt]

Absolutely no effort means no video. I also thank him for it!

[@rik9001]

Definite caption shenanigans right at the end :-)

[@thenormalyears]

Industrial mechanic here, this means you could use a VFD to adjust how fast it flickers

[@gmcalabr]

Better yet, just plug it into the sim flame. This way the random lower voltage produces less motion at times too. Double the effect: have a sim flame unit that also randomly changed the frequency and voltage.

[@DantevanGemert]

A... Vacuum Fluorescent Display...?

[@machooke4846]

​@@DantevanGemertvariable frequency drive

[@keantoken6433]

At certain frequencies you may discover destructive resonance modes, they are likely designed to be durable at 50-60Hz. You may end up thrashing the filament against the walls.

[@greatquux]

@@DantevanGemerta Very Fine Dipole?

[@ashthewolfdog1380]

8:43 Boy you are a lightbulb. You brighten my day with cool reviews and coverage of silly, pointless and fun objects!

[@BlueChameleon01]

0:47 If this wasn't no effort November I am SURE you would have triggered the bulb to light up at the end of this line.

[@ng.tr.s.p.1254]

Ok that's actually a good idea 💡

[@RollinRobCo]

I had one of those bulbs in a mirrored case. From Radio Shack about 1977. That thing was still working 10+ years later. I'd forgotten about them until I saw your video! Great.

[@hazonku]

This has been a great No Effort November so far. I found this particular video enlightening and telightful.

[@vogon3400]

the blurb on the side of the Balafire box that says "LIGHT BULB OF THE DECADE" is sending me. we used to make the light bulb of the decade in this country.

[@shanleyshoupe7873]

LOL that specifically is what they mean when they say 'make america great again', 'make lightbulbs great again' just didnt have the same ring to it

[@sanjok5086]

Light bulb of that one specific decade

[@peterrenn6341]

Oh! the glamour of the LBOTD Awards! - The nominees arriving in limos, the photos on the red carpet, the speeches! Looking forward to the next glittering event...

[@hazeldavis3176]

now look at us LOOKATUS!!! >:(

[@BlackburnBigdragon]

I had a thing for crazy lights back in the 80's because I was an amature industrial rock musician, and I liked the room where I did all my music to be.. crazy. I had a BUNCH of these lights and so many others. Back in the day, you could walk into the back of a Spencer's Gifts in the mall, and the entire back of the store would be sectioned off and would be all these insane, crazy, lights. Blacklights, strobe lights, these flame bulb lights, lightning globes, spinning colored lights of all kinds... you imagine it, and they had it. And so did my music room! Strangely enough, I never used any mind altering drugs to take advantage of the craziness, but I always wanted that room to be like an epileptic's nightmare.

[@forzaguy1252]

And now we can have crazy lights that react to the music

[@acapps6341]

I inherited a box of bulbs from my grandfather. Sadly, no Balafire, but there were several candelabra base flickering flame bulbs. I still use them at Christmas time and I've had the box since the 80s.

[@DanteYewToob]

That intro was the no-est effort I’ve ever seen! How relatable. A few days ago I opened the door in my underwear to sign for a package and forgot my own name… lmao I was like “Yeh.. Dante Numahumagfklj… gimme…” I scribbled a random line, shut the door, realized I didn’t take the package, opened the door back up, took the box, shut the door again, immediately tripped over the blanket I was wearing as a cloak, dropped my package, left it on the floor and went back to bed. Later that day I completely forgot about all of that and called my mom to ask if she stopped by and left a box… lmao She texted me back a few minutes later with a video clip from my doorbell camera showing a very confused and slightly amused delivery dude as I did the thing. I was like “oh yeah… who the fuck delivers a package that early?!” and she replied “it was almost noon. wtf?” Hahaha no effort November. My favorite month…

[@Blue-Maned_Hawk]

I've heard it said that November is the Thursday of the year. Or maybe it was that Thursday is the November of the week.

[@SpaghettiConfusion]

Why does your underwear have a door? And why are packages being delivered to it?

[@Blue-Maned_Hawk]

@@SpaghettiConfusion Well, there's plenty of underwear that has a door in it-i'd say about 50% of the world has a reason to have that kind of underwear. As for why a package would show up to that door…

[@nikkiofthevalley]

​@@Blue-Maned_HawkThat took me a second... I completely forgot how men's underwear works

[@blairhoughton7918]

tl;dr. 5/7 would scroll past again.

[@Nordern]

i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it i dont need it

[@VishalDudhani]

By the magic of buying two of them 😂😂😂😂😢😢😢😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@kenon6968]

When I heard the price I was instantly cured

[@flowerpt]

Your wife said it's OK.

[@Nordern]

@@flowerpt My imaginary friend said so? damn i really need my meds

[@blairhoughton7918]

So how many did you buy?

[@inhopeofabettername]

It's wild how smooth that jazz is. And someone needs to make these again they so cool

[@DaTwinkie405]

11:22 was absolute perfection. Never change, sir.

[@NaprostoRetardovany]

"Ever heard of Metal Fatigue?" Yes! Thank you for reminding me, great RTS!

[@Tamara_W]

That Balafire red mirrored bulb is a beautiful light.

[@Angzarrr]

Why am I so happy to hear “Dooblydoo” uttered?

[@sirBrouwer]

John Green would be honored

[@andymouse]

Curious !

[@W2IRT]

Somewhere in British Columbia Uncle Bumble#$%^ is smiling.

[@TheBeavadelic]

Gotta love a good AvE reference!

[@JustOneAsbesto]

Because you grew up on youtube.

[@channelserf8666]

I remember lamps for these bulbs made from coke and 7up cans. The cans were filled with sand to weigh them down. A cool simple way to display your bulb.

[@telliott]

That's what I remember also. These were sold at the same places that had black lights and black light posters. Ah, the 70s, when everything was either tan or "avocado", or covered in fake wood grain.

[@socalkook1536]

I made one out of a Hams beers can that was shaped like a keg, in the early seventies.

[@formdoggie5]

​@@telliottdon't forget salmon or citrus orange

[@AndreWehrle]

I swear my cousins somehow got hold of one (with one of these bulbs) made from a Budweiser tallboy can, when we were kids so this would have been early-mid '90s. Will have to see if I can track it down at my aunt & uncle's house one of these days; I'd be amazed if the bulb still works (although according to this, it might!).

[@lucasb.2518]

Please bring back the Christmas theme in no effort November, I loved when you tried to improved Christmas lights it's was so awesome . Maybe you could approach type of artificial Christmas trees 🌲, or something like the best fake snow ❄️. 🎄🎅

[@LittleDancerByGrace]

Hand-painting every individual bulb in at least four strings of lights every year hardly counts as 'no effort'...

[@lucasb.2518]

​@LittleDancerByGrace you know the name of this series is No Effort November, right?

[@LittleDancerByGrace]

@@lucasb.2518 I do. That's my point. I'm pretty sure the Christmas light episodes don't count as 'no effort November,' due to the part where Alec usually ends up hand-painting dozens of Christmas lights. That seems pretty effort-ful to me.

[@lucasb.2518]

​@@LittleDancerByGraceok 👍

[@railgap]

We have a chain here called Spencer Gifts that used to sell these and other "mood lighting" - mini disco lights, blacklights for posters, posters for blacklights, you get the idea. What astonishes me is how long those filaments lasted without breaking! I haven't seen one of these in thirty years. Neat!

[@CantankerousDave]

Most malls had a Spencer’s in the 80s.

[@jceggbert5]

​@@CantankerousDave the two malls near me both have onu

[@markronerts4890]

THAT'S where I always saw these. Drove me nuts watching and trying to remember. Thank you!

[@cyclenut]

When I was a teen in the 70s and early 80s my bedroom was heavily decorated. I had several lamps with different bulbs. Including one like that and some with cross or star filaments. They looked good with black light posters and an electric train and slot car track along with many different models of cars, trucks, air plans and space ships. Girls really liked it.

[@victorkreig6089]

TC is in my top 5 favorite channels and I couldn't have asked for a better short form episode. It's great to see how your channel has exploded in the last 2 years

[@Grafii2198]

Whenever I see that shape at 1:49 I instantly hear "Dietz Nuts" in my head. I cannot escape from it

[@sgas]

.why

[@PlutoTheSynth]

@@sgas dietz nuts arent nut nuts, theyre meat nuts dietz nuts

[@dadude001]

Ever since that video I’ve been something of a Dietz Nut myself

[@sgas]

@@PlutoTheSynth nut nut

[@mrgw98]

​@@sgasNeed to watch the video on them to understand the joke that was made in it.

[@5Stringslinger]

6:49 This image will haunt me in my dreams! Thanks for that!

[@ChrisD__]

Who is that?

[@FrankLoydWright]

@@ChrisD__the ghost of all things disassembled by the magic of buying two of them!

[@FrankLoydWright]

HALLOWEEN IS SUPPOSED TO BE OVER

[@thefourthdymensionmusic]

glad I wasn't the only one LMAO.

[@cobalttfc3309]

I see the face too!!

[@DaveBjornRapp]

I had some of them. I like the way it makes a quiet little noise, and you can feel the filament bounce back and forth.

[@21palica]

6:52 Shout out to the cameraman and the intense focus visible on his face in the reflection off the Balafire's bulb. You're doing great work!

[@ringlhach]

3:14 Ah, my favorite magic trick.

[@joutoob9]

I got one of these in blue from Spencer's at the mall in the early 1990's. It's one of my favorite things. I've put thousands of hours on it. I will be sad if it ever burns out. The color of the bulbs is paint on the outside of clear glass. It's the same paint used on old vintage mini-Christmas strings where you can see the filament inside, and it scratches off very easily.

[@MH_Binky]

I suspect the somewhat-mirrored bulb is more for internal reflection than external - it seems like that's what is making it fire-like, more than the direct light from the filament.

[@davidf2281]

No-effort November is so good that I vote for delinquent December.

[@rogermwilcox]

And Juvenille-Delinquent January? Maybe fuh-getit February, if it lasts that long?

[@mrgw98]

​@@rogermwilcoxThen ease things back in with a "Mild-effort March".

[@soundman601]

My all time favourite tech guy. Quirky, with a dry sense of humour. When ever I see new videos from this guy, I just know that all is ok in life. Long may he continue.

[@yohannwilkerson6058]

As part of a Halloween display, we used to use a hacked up device with a photoresistor triggering a triac, illuminated by a neon flame bulb, all in a box, to control a string of incandescent bulbs to get that flickering effect. It was inspired by the flickering lights in the WDW 'Big Thunder Mountain' queue.

[@JamesWhittle]

I built one of those! Pulled the photoresistor out of a candelabra base night light and spliced it into a dimmer switch, then used the remains of the night light to power the flicker bulb. It worked very well.

[@dmelo0605]

That would look very cool cosplaying a Mage with a fire staff!

[@bartolomeothesatyr]

Downside would be having to trail an extension cord to mains voltage.

[@christopherjones7191]

​@@bartolomeothesatyrnah, the staff houses 20 d cells and some electronics to get the magic pixies to go AC

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

​@christopherjones7191 with the power density of lithium batteries, I don't think it's too far out of the realm of easy doability to say that a lithium battery and sufficient inverter could probably be stuffed into one pretty easily. And probably run for hours and hours

[@bartolomeothesatyr]

@@goosenotmaverick1156 Fair point, these bulbs don't burn a whole lot of wattage.

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

@@bartolomeothesatyr bingo, I bet you could use an absolutely miniscule inverter to drive it off some 18650 lithium cells pretty easily. Swappable and rechargeable, lighter too. However a weighted staff might feel better, now that i think of it. Regardless I love the idea.

[@22Kyu]

Masterful Cu(t, and playful subtitles to go with 😂) you have made a patron of me my friend! Keep up the great work you always do Alec!! DFTBA

[@aigledemasyaf]

I vote that all No Effort November videos have the same intro that you did for this video; it’s perfect!

[@fstorino]

[rushed mumbling]

[@chrisco7]

Can you do a super slow mo on it to show the movement of it for conextras?

[@rumblebars]

yeah! but... that would take Effort. maybe next month!

[@mrgw98]

Also shine a bright light behind it to kind of see inside the bulb when it is off better. At 8:16, you could see a bit inside but needed more background light.

[@proteusbcn]

I've been following you on your channel for several years. I'm a fan of yours, and I find what you do amazing-the topics you cover, the way you present them, your humor... I wish you all the success!

[@jfolz]

Admit it, it's actually Sauron's telephone ball thingy.

[@sirBrouwer]

is he giving us a ring?

[@Carrotspy]

Palantír

[@SuperDavidEF]

@@sirBrouwer I see what you did there, and I salute you sir! 🖖

[@mikecunningham4682]

​@@Carrotspy*ahem* Balantír

[@codenamegamma]

i think i speak for a lot of people when i say that we need a 10 hour long loopable version of the Balafire please.

[@bsnow304]

Like a Yule log, but for stoners!

[@Damaniel3]

Who needs a Christmas yule log video when you could have a Balafire video?

[@SylviaRustyFae]

Can we just get it on a livestream until it goes out like the century old lights?

[@kittenisageek]

I'm thinking set up a lamp behind a pile of charred wood in the corner with a diffuser to soften the flickering a bit, then use the balafire bulb. DIY fire-free fireplace.

[@2StrokeDriptroit]

Balafire and GasGlow bulbs are squirted cellulose carbon filaments like Edison lamps beginning in 1894. Standard carbon filament lamps were preferred for use in hand held drop/lead lights, because they were actually incredibly rugged. Tungsten can’t come remotely close to the toughness of carbon! ABCO (Angelo Brothers Co) made a gas glow lamp as well, with an external magnet! I have an external frosted one I removed the magnet from, that quickly failed when the long carbon filament was attracted to the glass by a static charge that formed, and such contact will break the filament snd this is a known issue in all carbon filament lamps. I got a pair of tubular shaped ones off eBay a while ago in a T10 tubular bulb and left them alone. They are now in my extensive bulb collection. I have a rare clear Kyp-Go BALAFIRE in a plain brown box, a cheaper version. It still works. Neat stuff! Cheers!

[@themightiestofbooshes9443]

Thank you, Technology, for showing us these (electrical) Connections!

[@Peter_S_]

The ultimate way to drive a Balafire is to hook a sine-wave oscillator up to a 100W per channel stereo power amp which has a "bridge mode" to double the wattage in mono use. Set the frequency to something between 30 and 60 Hz, hook the lamp to where the speaker would be, and turn up the volume until the AC output across the output channels is 115V. Now you can turn down the oscillator frequency for longer bulb life and less frenetic operation, but the output will fall off as the frequency gets lower than the amp was made to carry. These bulbs are precious now that they don't sell them at Radio-Shack anymore. It's about lifespan, not efficiency.

[@cdetdi4501]

3:27 perhaps unintentional but if not the most subtle and hilarious no effort November - holding a piece of paper towel behind the bulb rather than creating a real backdrop or even, I don’t know, using a piece of paper. Gives the perfect “oh f it I’ll just grab this random piece of whatever” sentiment. 💯

[@squalor33]

I'm old enough to have been there. One of these bulbs was featured in a 7 Up TV ad, and lamps crafted from soft drink and beer cans It could be bought with these bulbs mounted in them.

[@mrgw98]

Someone actually mentioned that they still have one that works after their brother bought one back then.

[@toasty4000000]

Dude... Looking at your footage, it appeared that the Balafire had a magnet both on top and on bottom, and the filament was split into two pieces pinned on top and on bottom. However... that's just because it's mirrored lmao, like you said. Viewers can confirm by pausing the video at just the right time - if you pause on a good frame, you'll see the continuous filament running from one side of the base to the other... Trippy stuff man

[@arsonthebee]

No-Effort Novemeber is without a doubt my favourite time of year, thank you Alec

[@king_br0k]

Using the ac current and the filament as a motor is so smart

[@DJdoppIer]

It amazes me that the filament can vibrate and bend that fast for long periods of time without breaking.

[@coolkid2072]

Engineer here, my guess is that the constant annealing of the metal due to the heat required for the filiment to incandesce help with the metal fatigue.

[@coolkid2072]

Just an educated guess

[@Dukefazon]

I love your obsession with weird light bulbs!

[@rarbiart]

yes! please make more of those lightbulb videos.

[@user-sk3pt5du4x]

I'm always excited to see a Technology Connections upload notification 😺

[@Roobotics]

7:00 I think the mirroring and tinted finish, is more to enhance the effect tbh, you end up with extra outline-reflections that make it look like it's everywhere at once.

[@grabasandwich]

8:05 maybe using a dimmer or some kind of soft start would extend the life of the Balafire. I kinda miss the days of turning on an incandescent bulb and being startled by a flash of blue light as the bulb failed.

[@X24453]

I read that as Balefire and was like "*gasp* The Pattern!"

[@gtoger]

That's it. I'm naming my next boat "The Bala Fire".

[@hippyraverocker]

It is nearly December, and while this bulb is awfully pretty I kindly ask for my yearly fix of painting Christmas lights...

[@OrigamiMarie]

It's been a few years 🙁 He might have given up on it now that at least the big version is available for sale? I do wish tru-tone would start making tiny bulbs though.

[@Squonk06]

Menards has their own version of the Tru-Tone C9 bulbs. I wonder if Alec has seen them.

[@LeahLuciB]

Too much effort for November

[@ArlenJR]

@@Squonk06 Link or more item info please? I'd like to buy this!

[@Squonk06]

@@ArlenJR YT doesn't allow links, but the product name is "Enchanted Forest LED Vintage 25-Light Multicolor C9 Christmas String Light Set". The exemplar pictures don't do the product justice. I've seen it in the store. While likely not as good as the Tru-Tone ones (the light was a bit uneven at certain angles), it was still quite nice, and definitely evokes the look of the classic incandescent version.

[@SynaMax]

My dad had one of these with a green bulb held in a fake 7up soda can. It was always mesmerizing to watch.

[@ss11733]

this video was the perfect length for me to floss my teeth, brush them, wash my face, and moisturize it. love the synchronicity.

[@oil_moon]

I highly appreciate you showing off this sort of thing that most of us may never witness due to their rarity!

[@Aquatarkus96]

Goodness gracious, what a great ball of fire! Wish these werent a collectors item, they would be great to use in a decorative sense in a bar or club

[@GeneCash]

It's another technology that died when its inventor did... apparently he was the only one that knew the chemistry for the filament and the glass.

[@msh4891]

I seeiously considered shipping you my Balafire bulb, as I knew you would be one of the few to appreciate it as much as I do! So glad you've got one of your own ❤️⚡❤️

[@eccod]

I found a vintage 7UP can themed lamp with a green bulb like this at goodwill once. I ended up selling it on eBay. Thanks for reading my low effort comment.

[@neskey]

your reflection in the close-up of the red bulb was some real thirstpost type shit

[@rachelrodgers9171]

I love those Balafire bulbs, I wish they still existed. I saw them in K-Mart during my childhood in the early 1970's. The bulbs were perched atop replicas of 7-UP and Pepsi cans.

[@mathyou9]

I love that even your outtakes are family friendly! "Shoot!" "Crap" etc.

[@acapps6341]

That's called "Midwest nice".

[@WooShell]

I'm surprised the filament doesn't get entangled right away..

[@crusher9z9]

its magnetically repelled.

[@mfbfreak]

I have one of those long cage style filament light bulbs. I noticed the effects of the electromagnetic field. I held a magnet closer, to see the long filament swing strongly. Until suddenly one part of it welded to the next. It still works, but probably at a reduced life span because part of it is shorted out. Coincidentally, it does the Barkhausen-Kurz oscillation thing. It transmits a loud buzz on the FM (!) radio over a distance of more than 5 meters. Haven't checked yet how far it actually reaches. It's chinese production. I know the german Paulmann lamps had the same issue at first, but then were modified exactly because of this issue.

[@michaelturner2806]

I had a bummer experience today so it was nice to come home and drink some water wine watching one of my favorite youtubers. Thank you.

[@ridgrcr01]

06:50 - That guy that's trying to get out of the bulb looks awfully upset😂

[@ki4gmb]

I love the long shot of the mirrored surface with the stone face in it

[@indominusbytecomputadoras2470]

Thanks a lot, you really brought back memories for me. When i was a child, my father (rest in peace) used to take me to a restaurant called Sanborns, and in those days the had those Gas Glo bulbs everywhere. I've wondered for decades which kind of bulbs they were. Now i know! While the chain of restaurants still exist, they dont have the magic ambience created by those bulbs. So many happy memories. Once more Thank you!!!😃

[@jasonsadventures64]

That Sim Flame does remind me of the queue for Pirates of The Caribbean. That flickering light.