fanning the flames:
A calcium carbide w/ water generator for acetylene will provide a much purer light source than LPG.
Open flames with reflectors, although not as efficient, offer a light with less distortion than a mantel fueled with propane.
Many also consider a cloth covered un-vulcanized rubber hose the best delivery mechanism.
A calcium carbide w/ water generator for acetylene will provide a much purer light source than LPG.
Open flames with reflectors, although not as efficient, offer a light with less distortion than a mantel fueled with propane.
Many also consider a cloth covered un-vulcanized rubber hose the best delivery mechanism.
Applying ultra-expensive violin varnish (developed over 150 years)to any bulb will completely transform the visible output, making it almost indistinguishable from sunlight, due to the effect of the sun on the trees from which the varnish is derived. Thus, the bulb 'knows' the quality of light expected from it, and responds accordingly.
However, some experimenters claim good results with ordinary yacht varnish with a little blue dye added.
However, some experimenters claim good results with ordinary yacht varnish with a little blue dye added.
If you're going to use a light bulb, the only clean power for a light bulb is a 12V lead acid battery. Optima is the best brand here. Stay away from Canadian Tire or any other house brand.
However, the smoothest visible light can only be had using the analog generation of a candle. Any candle will do, even the little birthday candles. Check out various religious supply centers for the extra long run-time varieties. It's always a pain for your light to run out just as you're getting to your favourite passages.
For the LED crowd, I believe, that National Semiconductor makes an series of high-power IC drivers starting with the LM2794. These have been popularized by the famous LumenCard with entire threads on the forum devoted to various LumenClone designs.
As for upgrades, other than the power supply mods, the only ones extant are those involving the power switches and dimmer modules. So far the most successful of these seem to be swapping the standard household switches for solid state relays with or w/o IR remote control. Dimmers tend to be either passive rheostats and PWM controllers, both with questionable results, especially clarity of vision at the lower intensities.
Just my 2 cents worth...
ensen.
However, the smoothest visible light can only be had using the analog generation of a candle. Any candle will do, even the little birthday candles. Check out various religious supply centers for the extra long run-time varieties. It's always a pain for your light to run out just as you're getting to your favourite passages.
For the LED crowd, I believe, that National Semiconductor makes an series of high-power IC drivers starting with the LM2794. These have been popularized by the famous LumenCard with entire threads on the forum devoted to various LumenClone designs.
As for upgrades, other than the power supply mods, the only ones extant are those involving the power switches and dimmer modules. So far the most successful of these seem to be swapping the standard household switches for solid state relays with or w/o IR remote control. Dimmers tend to be either passive rheostats and PWM controllers, both with questionable results, especially clarity of vision at the lower intensities.
Just my 2 cents worth...
ensen.There is no match for the hard to come by carbon filament vintage bulbs, more so if driven by a good brand battery and preferably an oil impregnated paper stiffening capacitor in parallel.
Tungsten bulbs tend to leave a metallic aftertaste.
Gas discharge tubes barely do and then only for nonprofessional aplications. But then driven with high clock rates. 50/60 Hz lead to objectionable quantizing flicker. Same goes for solid state.
Tungsten bulbs tend to leave a metallic aftertaste.
Gas discharge tubes barely do and then only for nonprofessional aplications. But then driven with high clock rates. 50/60 Hz lead to objectionable quantizing flicker. Same goes for solid state.
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