Author Topic: oddball lightbulb voltages  (Read 18592 times)
Ash
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Re: oddball lightbulb voltages « Reply #15 on: October 13, 2025, 07:45:58 AM » Author: Ash
Reading the discussion so far, i have noticed that "660W 600V" is a common rating i see on all types of American sockets that made their way here. If they are rated for such voltages i assume there is atleast one application where they are legit to use at such voltage ?
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Medved
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Re: oddball lightbulb voltages « Reply #16 on: October 13, 2025, 11:56:44 AM » Author: Medved
It is similar like a lot of sockets intended for 230V are rated as "250V" or even "500V". It is the rating the socket itself is designed for by itself, not that much related to what lamps are or are not made.

For incandescents I'm surprised anything above about 250V  even exist, given the huge problem even a slightly higher voltage means.

Here on old tram switches were usesing about 4 230V incandescents in series as "switch locked" indicators (activates once the tram enters an area where the "feeler" wire on the patograph touched the switch control feeler and so it have send signal to switch to one or other direction) - the whole switch system was directly supplied from the 600VDC traction power, including the indicator lamps (at one place they were in the form of 4 R7s reflectors arranged to directly illuminate the switch section of the tracks, so the driver can visually check the condition).
Today they were replaced with different system and LED indicators
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Michael
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Re: oddball lightbulb voltages « Reply #17 on: October 16, 2025, 02:29:07 PM » Author: Michael
Early incandescent bulbs were here available in various voltages since the main voltage and frequencies were not standardized till around 1930.
Most common ratings were 110-130V (125V), 140-150V (145V), 170-190V (190V), 200-220V (215V), 220-230V 225V), 240-250V and 260V.

I have also standard and decorative bulbs with rather weird voltages such as 20V, 60V, 72V, 96V,
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joseph_125
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Re: oddball lightbulb voltages « Reply #18 on: October 17, 2025, 06:41:34 PM » Author: joseph_125
IIRC the replacement lamps for some overhead projectors used some odd voltages like 82V.
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RRK
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Re: oddball lightbulb voltages « Reply #19 on: October 19, 2025, 06:52:58 AM » Author: RRK
If I remember right, 82V is a rating for half-wave rectified 120V, for some really cheap designs consisting only a lamp and a diode.

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lightsofpahrump
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Re: oddball lightbulb voltages « Reply #20 on: April 01, 2026, 05:56:11 PM » Author: lightsofpahrump
Globe collector mentioned 280v Brazillian lamps.
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WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
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Worldwide HIDCollectorUSA
Re: oddball lightbulb voltages « Reply #21 on: April 01, 2026, 06:27:44 PM » Author: WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
Of course, those lamps should work great on North American single phase 277V 60Hz supplies!!
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