(Topic ID: 276268)

Testing lights for dummies

By ravve

3 years ago



Topic Stats

  • 9 posts
  • 5 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 3 years ago by DumbAss
  • Topic is favorited by 1 Pinsider

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    #1 3 years ago

    Dumb question, but how do one test bulbs/leds?
    Is there any difference between testing non-led and led?

    Using my multimeter, i can test continuety on some lamps, but not on others (no beep) although they are working.

    Questions goes both for 44/47 and 555.

    Thanks

    #2 3 years ago

    People have made little test benches. Variety of sockets and variety of voltages.

    For just 44/47/555 all you need is a wedge base socket and bayonet base socket and 6 volt power source.

    LTG : )

    #3 3 years ago

    some use an old 9v battery that has drained down to 5 or six volts . I have an old 120 to 12v radio shack transformer that is center tapped ...6v per side that is in a project box with a fuse on the mains and a switch that goes to a light socket. Any 120 to 6Vac step-down transformer will do. Most of the bulbs ...at least on Gottlieb machines are 6.3Vac and so are your 555 bulbs. The 555 bulbs have a strip of metal that heats up and cools down to provide the flash, Kinda like the old turn signals in cars of the 70's era.....they have to be hooked up to 6.3Vac to work
    this setup will work with led playfield lights also. Led's typically come on at around 3 V dc and all are made with a resistor in the case .they work on AC input the led itself rectifies the AC to dc and it lights therefore this set up works on all

    #4 3 years ago

    Thanks!
    So to be clear, not all lamps can be tested using the continuety method? Just confused why it works on some and not on others, is there any explanation for that?

    #5 3 years ago

    5 volt plug, strip wires, hook up socket.
    Keep wiring for more

    20200829_165851.jpg20200829_165851.jpg

    #6 3 years ago
    Quoted from ravve:

    So to be clear, not all lamps can be tested using the continuety method? Just confused why it works on some and not on others, is there any explanation for that?

    Some of the LEDs are polarized. Swap leads from the meter, check both directions. First one side then swap leads and check the other direction.

    LTG : )

    #7 3 years ago
    Quoted from ravve:

    Thanks!
    So to be clear, not all lamps can be tested using the continuety method? Just confused why it works on some and not on others, is there any explanation for that?

    Quoted from LTG:

    Some of the LEDs are polarized. Swap leads from the meter, check both directions. First one side then swap leads and check the other direction.

    LTG : )

    The 555 s have to heat up to work above quote is also true but a 6 volt ac supply will work on either polarity doesn't matter because the 60 hz sine wave flips from negative to positive

    #8 3 years ago

    sorry but I had 455 bulbs mixed up with 555 .....455s are flasher bulbs 555's are wedge type my bust

    #9 3 years ago

    455s are bayonet blinkers.

    545s are wedge blinkers.

    Blinkers are self blinkers. They aren't really flashers. The blinkers are powered by the GI circuit on a 6.3VAC string.

    A flasher is powered by a transistor drive wire on the +20VDC power line.

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