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#124700 12/01/06 09:27 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Ever seen something as weird as this?.
Rated at 15W at 230V, the thing is, it has 3 pins, not two as your standard Bayonet cap bulb.
BTW here is the pic:

[Linked Image]

Sorry the other 2 pins are out of the frame, but this is not the first time I have seen lamps with this configuration.
Why would you have 3 pins on a lightbulb?.
Your guess is as good as mine so, go ahead!.
[Linked Image]

#124701 12/01/06 10:13 AM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 247
T
Member
Do you folks have the same 3-way lamps that we have over here? (dual filaments of differing wattages, which are run either individually or combined, for 3 different wattages. ie: 50/100/150)

#124702 12/01/06 01:18 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 745
M
Member
May be a silly response, but assuming that the other two pins look like the one shown, could they be for the purpose of keeping the bulb seated in the socket - a sort of bayonet device (push the bulb in and rotate it a short distance to the right or left?

Wild decorating on the outside, too... [Linked Image]

The three way lamps we have in the USA start off with the same type of medium base screw shell, with the difference being the construction of the "button" in the insulating middle of the shell - a small button in the center, and a somewhat larger "ring" that encircles the space between the button and the shell. Shell is common to both filaments, with button as hot for one filament and the ring as hot for the other filament.

Mike (mamills)

[This message has been edited by mamills (edited 12-01-2006).]

#124703 12/01/06 01:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,691
S
Member
The pins on the sides of the cap are just to latch the bulb in the socket.

Electricity goes to the filament via two contacts (solder blobs, essentially) at the bottom. Similar to the center contact in a screw-base lamp.

The third peg on the cap was probably a way to thief-proof the bulb -- nobody would bother stealing it if they couldn't latch it into their socket at home. The theory would be similar to left-handed screw-in bulbs.

I can't explain the wacky paint job, though. [Linked Image]

#124704 12/01/06 05:14 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 26
B
Member
As for the "wacky" paint job, I've seen very similar paint jobs on bulbs here in the USA. You can usually find them at Wal-Mart and places like that, usually 25 watt bulbs with wild paint decorations. They are sold as novelty "party" bulbs, just meant to be displayed in open fixtures, strictly for their decorative appeal.

#124705 12/01/06 08:11 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 821
S
Member
Patridge Family anyone?

I'VE NEVER SEEN A bulb like that, no.

#124706 12/01/06 08:26 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 200
H
Member
SunBeam made bulbs like that here in the USA, generally rated 25W/120V. They were made in all sorts of wacky designs, Sold as "Art Bulbs" Commonly found in WAL-MART.


Cliff
#124707 12/01/06 09:24 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7
A
Junior Member
I actually saw a bulb very close to this the other day. It was an orange color with the same type of size and base. When I asked what it was out of the customer replied that it was out of an electric fireplace that came from Europe. Also he said that the bulb made a flickering type of light.

Allen

#124708 12/02/06 01:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
Groovy color scheme..... If you weren't "down under" I'd think it came right out of the Haight-Ashbury district!

In line with Allen's comment, I've seen porcelain/brass BC lampholders in old electric heaters which have the three locating pins instead of the usual two. I don't recall ever seeing any bulbs in them though -- Possibly because they are no longer available?

Why a domestic electric heating appliance ever needed such an oddball configuration is anybody's guess. Plenty of other heaters had the regular BC lampholders and "Fireglow" or similar flickering amber/red bulbs for those are still obtainable.

#124709 12/02/06 08:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 161
G
Member
Three pin bayonets can be found on mercury vapour lamps:
http://www.lamptech.co.uk/Spec%20Sheets/Philips%20MLU300.htm

But this is more likely to be a fire glow lamp:
http://www.firstlightdirect.com/scp/Fire_Glow_Lamps/Special_Fire_Glow_Lamps.html


[This message has been edited by gideonr (edited 12-02-2006).]

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