My Collins 20V-3 has those dropping resistors as well. Seems like the "experts" blew this one. Oh, well, not everyone can be perfect.
Actually, the 120 volt bulbs with dropping resistors should last longer. The series resistance will buffer the inrush current. The cold filament of an incandescent lamp has but a fraction of the resistance of a hot filament. The series resistor will limit the current until the filament heats up.
The Gates BC1-T also uses those bulbs. Right now mine are running off the DC control voltage I modified into the rig. I'm going to have to change the circuitry, because the bulbs have a very short life when they run off DC. I forget what it is called, but there is a physical effect that causes incandescent filaments tot to last long on DC, even though the effective voltage is the same as their rated a.c. voltasge.
Don K4KYV
