Dim Bulb Tester Make One

[@SDsailor7]

So do you need several incandecent light bulb according different wattages that you may have on several stereos or radios? anyone know? Also do you need to cut the tab/bus on the swith if it does not have an outlet attached? Or is it Ok to leave it like it came from the factory? Thank you

[@fibberscloset498]

As a guideline, you will want a bulb that is 1.5-2 times the wattage of the radio under test. For example, an AA5 radio might require around 30 watts, so you will want to use a 50-60 watt bulb. I'm not quite sure what you mean when you say, "if it does not have an outlet attached?" Do you mean the case where a switch and outlet are in the same factory housing?

[@renowden2010]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is wired backwards. @14:00 You connect the HOT of the line cord to the switch then @23:45 you connect the lamp to the NEUTRAL of the outlet and @25:30 the HOT side of the outlet to the NEUTRAL of the line cord. Shouldn't the outlet be connected the opposite way around?

[@fibberscloset498]

Good catch, West Penwith. It is backward.

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Electrically; no diff. You could have a 3-prong receptacle & a non-polarized "amplifier" Good luck being careful B/4 plugging it in.@@fibberscloset498

[@SteveHacker]

Why can’t the internal switch be kept? Isn’t it already in series with the outlet?

[@fibberscloset498]

Good point. The switch is already in series with one side of the outlet.

[@jimnjele.bean-dayone3505]

I would have liked to see it in action. Thanks for showing how to make one

[@altcountyemo]

Thanks, I made one just like this. Cost at HD was about $20. I did catch the reverse polarity error .. the wire coming back from the light bulb goes to the narrow (black) screw on the outlet, not the wide one. Wide is White :)

[@fibberscloset498]

@@altcountyemo I’m glad you caught the error. Wide=White=Neutral. Any trouble finding incandescent bulbs?

[@altcountyemo]

@@fibberscloset498 I have a few bulbs stashed away but using 150 year old technology does have it's drawback. We're gonna need a newer solution.

[@ssnoc]

@@altcountyemo- buy a variable power supply and ramp it up slowly when testing -

[@bones007able]

Then go out and find and stock obsolete light bulbs in various wattages