Where can I get a neon lamp for Garrard 401?

[honinbou]

Could someone tell me where I could get a 120V neon lamp of the E14 type (16x54mm) from North America? I found a source in Germany but the shipping is ridiculous! No one is going to pay 50 Euros for a neon lamp!?

Perhaps someone could enlighten me on this issue? I don't want to spend more than $10 on a lamp.

Happy listening
honinbou

[honinbou]

Perhaps someone from Taiwan could help me out here: E14 neon 110V lamp by fimex corp.

http://www.fimex.com.tw/html/product...id=8&itemid=40

[Nordic]

I checked RS components seems they only have 240V ones these days but they are only about $3.

[rayfutrell]

Go to Radio Shack or the Canadian equivalent. Any electronics parts store should have neon bulbs. The big electronics companies such as Newark and Digikey sell by mail but they usually have a minimum order amount.

Regards,
Ray

[dnsey]

Just buy a bare neon 'capsule' and fit (with appropriate resistor) to your existing lamp base.

[honinbou]

Thanks guys. I checked online retailers like Newark Canada and Digikey. They offer only US neon lamps like the NE2, NE52 etc. The local Radioshack shop doesn't even stock neon bulbs!

I still have a 220V bulb in working condition, but it wouldn't work at 120V. The turntable's lamp socket is for European type thread bulbs. Hope one day I could pick up one from eBay.

[rayfutrell]

Basically, all neon lamps are the same except for the current limit resistor in series with the neon lamp. If I recall correctly, you use 47K resistor for 220 volts and 22K resistor for 110 volts.

I'll check and verify.

Regards,
Ray

[zlast]

You might try here:

http://www.donsbulbs.com

[Bobken]

Ray,

The series R can vary, in accordance with different neon 'bulbs'.

However, in every case I have known, the series R for a 110v bulb will be approx. 1/3rd. of that for a 240v equivalent.

E.G. : 100K/330k, 220k/750k, 56k/180k, 33k/100k. (1st. # is for 110v and 2nd. for 240v).

If the resistor is separate (i.e. not included in the bulb unit) it should be safe enough to replace the original R used for 240v, with one of 1/3rd of this value.

Regards,

[Bobken]

Hi honinbou,

If it helps, a UK Company [www.lampco.co.uk] lists several E14 neons from only about US $2 each.

I don't know if they will export, but if not and you are stuck, do you know anyone over here who could order one or two and send it/them to you in a jiffy bag, perhaps?

I hope this helps.