maybe i'll even pick me up one of them there multimeters on the way home (now i'm curious to try all of this) :)
Thanks again to both of you.
charlie
----- Original Message -----
From: Matthew Small
To: CF-Community
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 3:28 PM
Subject: Re: bulbs...i need bulbs
The filaments - one goes to the voltage source (the wiring on the
board) and the other to the ground (the board itself). The two
filaments complete the electrical circuit.
To measure the voltage of the bulb, you need to have one multimeter
lead connected to each of the places where the old bulb's filament was
attached and put the multimeter's reading to volts dc (direct current)
. Take the absolute value of this reading (because there are no
negative voltage filaments) and that's what you're looking for.
I know this is a lot... but it can be done. Hopefully some of this
info is even helpful. :-)
- Matt Small
On Friday, January 2, 2004, at 05:12 PM, Charlie Griefer wrote:
> thanks. most of what you said is greek to me, but i'm trying to learn
> :)
>
> never even used a soldering iron, but it looked fairly
> simple. figured i'd run to Radio Shack yesterday (brought the opera
> light bulbs, and the circuit board in), buy the bulbs, buy the
> soldering iron and some solder, and give it a go. it seemed there
> were 2 filaments (?) extending out of the bottom of the bulbs, with
> one soldered to the board itself, and one soldered to.. wiring on the
> board (circuit?).
>
> all 4 opera light bulbs are burnt out, so i'm guessing the
> multimeter/voltmeter won't be much good here.
>
> Actually i'm stopping by a body shop this afternoon (my truck, which
> was stolen last week, was found...so i have to go make a list of
> what's been damaged)...maybe somebody there would know. I'm sure
> they'd be able to figure it out...what would they do if somebody
> brought in a van that got smashed on the side..breaking the opera
> lights?
>
> anyhow, thanks much for the info. i'll let ya know how it goes.
>
> Charlie
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Matthew Small
> To: CF-Community
> Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 2:57 PM
> Subject: Re: bulbs...i need bulbs
>
> I agree with Jim on this one.
>
> You need to try to get the part number from the bulb itself, then
> type
> it into google and see what you come up with. If you can'y do that,
> try measuring the voltage of the bulb with a multimeter or
> voltmeter.
> Then go back to radio shack and tell them the voltage of bulb you
> need,
> and the physical size - they really ought to be able to help you, I
> don't care which person there you spoke to. There are entire
> catalogs
> of electronic components that you could use to find your part. Also,
> there should also be other electronics shops that can help you
> better.
>
> Soldering them in should be an easy task. If you don't know how,
> just
> ask us again and we'll help.
>
> I also like the LED idea, that should also work.
>
> My best guess is that they are 12 volt DC lights. Most electronics
> run
> on 12 vdc, and cars follow this rule. Even circuit boards use 12vdc.
>
> Look at http://www.oksolar.com/led/electronics-led.htm just as a
> quick
> link I found on google.
>
> Good luck,
> Matthew Small
> 6 years Aviation Electronics Tech, USMC
>
> On Friday, January 2, 2004, at 03:33 PM, Jim Campbell wrote:
>
> > How much of an electrical geek are you? That is to say, with a
> > multimeter and a little bit of solder, you could possibly replace
> the
> > bulbs yourself with LED's or other bulbs that fall within the
> > voltage/amperage limits...
> >
> > - Jim
> >
> > Charlie Griefer wrote:
> >
> > >Heya Isaac...
> > >
> > >yea, Gladiator is another conversion company. we looked at a
> > Gladiator before picking this one up, but this one has the raised
> > roof, which we liked (more headroom, tv higher up).
> > >
> > >sent www.lightbulbs.com and email yesterday. got a "sorry, can't
> > help ya" reply :(
> > >
> > >i've exhausted all possible sane resources...which is why i now
> turn
> > to >shudder< cf-community : )
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: S. Isaac Dealey
> > > To: CF-Community
> > > Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 1:23 PM
> > > Subject: Re: bulbs...i need bulbs
> > >
> > >
> > > Try www.lightbulbs.com ... which actually does exist. :)
> > >
> > > I had to get rid of my Chevy G20 just a couple months ago...
> though
> > > mine was converted by ... I think the name of the after-market
> > company
> > > was Gladiator... or maybe that was just their name for the
> model.
> > >
> > > Picked up a nice Integra for $4k... Unfortunately the door
> latch is
> > > busted on the drivers side shortly after getting it, so now my
> door
> > > rattles... <sigh>... I swear mechanical objects exist for the
> > purpose
> > > of breaking the minute I touch them.
> > >
> > > > ok...i have no reason to think anybody on this list would
> > > > necessarily know this...but then again...never hurts to
> > > > ask.
> > >
> > > > i've got a 1993 Chevy G20 Conversion van. bought it about
> > > > 3 months ago. it's in relatively decent shape, but needs
> > > > a few little tweaks. one of them is light bulbs.
> > >
> > > > there are two "opera lights" on the exterior of the van
> > > > (one on the left and one on the right sides). they are
> > > > vertical strips that each take 2 small bulbs. all 4 are
> > > > dead.
> > >
> > > > inside the van, there's a switchplate up front...this
> > > > switchplate has 4 buttons on it (they control tv, various
> > > > interior lights, etc). the buttons are lit up via 4 bulbs
> > > > that are soldered onto a circuitboard behind the
> > > > switchplate. 3 of the 4 bulbs are out.
> > >
> > > > radio shack couldn't help out. they suggested i go to a
> > > > chevy dealer. that won't work, as these are aftermarket
> > > > items that were added by the conversion company (Tiara,
> > > > which is no longer in existence).
> > >
> > > > i've got an image of the bulbs at
> > > > http://charlie.griefer.com/bulbs.jpg
> > >
> > > > if anybody has any idea where to pick up obscure light
> > > > bulbs (oddly enough, http://www.obscurelightbulbsrus.com
> > > > doesn't exist), please throw 'em my way.
> > >
> > > > appreciate it : )
> > >
> > > > Charlie
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> <image.tiff>
> >
> >
<image.tiff>
>
>
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