Dim bulb tester bulb wattage

[ghitus]

Hi guys, just a question for you experienced builders! What bulb wattage could I consider as correct in building and using a dim bulb tester? I should use it for amps startup together with a variac.

Thank you all,

Gaetano.

 

[rsavas]

I use a 90w but a 100w or up to 150w is more popular

 

[availlyrics]

I use 200W incandescent bulb

 

[ghitus]

Thank you, I've a bunch of 100w bulbs, I'll try using one of them.

Thank you guys!

Gaetano.

 

[chrisng]

It depends on the load, the purpose of an incandescent bulb is to limit the current flowing to the load and not to be higher than the operating current of the bulb.
To startup an amplifier, I use a bulb that is about 1.5 times higher than the idle current draw of the amp.
For example, the Accuphase P-4500 class AB power amplifier consumes 62W of idle power, so a 100W incandescent bulb would be sufficient.
For the Accuphase A-48 class A amplifier, its idle power consumption is 180W and requires a 250W lamp.

 

[russc]

Mount 2 bulbs on your tester.
Use one or both in parallel as required.