DIYstompboxes.com

You're insane.





;)

I cant remember who originally mentioned this...I think it was Jack, but may have been RG or one of the other "Big Brains" around here...anyway, they deserve the credit...I'm simply bringing it to the masses !  :D

Great work mate, I've got a huge smile on my face right now. MacGyver would be proud.

(http://images.google.com/url?q=http://patel.univ-tln.fr/Filmographie/macgyver.jpg&usg=AFQjCNHfdhBx4ywjRv1Htx6u3-WA_cGagg)

you forgot something...They also have Mercury inside them.

So just use a little caution. But this also means you can salvage all the mercury into little globs and make handheld mercury mazes with them. My barber had some of these growing up. You got to get the glob of mercury to flow to the center of the maze...kinda fun.

Quote from: Sir_Ian on September 01, 2008, 02:32:39 AM
you forgot something...They also have Mercury inside them.

So just use a little caution. But this also means you can salvage all the mercury into little globs and make handheld mercury mazes with them. My barber had some of these growing up. You got to get the glob of mercury to flow to the center of the maze...kinda fun.

Actually, I didnt forget...I mentioned it on the "please read" page in the gallery ...last line...  :) 

But its always good to mention it again.

at least for the "caution" part.


As for the "Mercury Mazes"....I see nothing, nothing....   ;)

(http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=36177&g2_serialNumber=2)

For a moment I thought it was all about incandescent.
They tend to behave compressing (non-linear resistance), so I tought: wow the dragon made it DIY!

So I was a tad disappointed, although it's super crazy enough on its own  ;).

Brilliant... Just brilliant!  :icon_cool:

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Amazing creativity. I've seen the parts in the bulbs before, but never really paid it much attention.

It's just a matter of time before we will see a Valvecaster wit Light Bulb Parts...

did you also notice that some of those parts are a little underrated for their purpose in those bulbs? and that production and disposal of these light is not nearly as ecological as with normal incandescents? that all of them have something like "max 50°C" indicated on them and ALL exceed that temperature in about 15 minutes?....

so i am really glad that you make them a little more usefull. ;-)

Andy, what a thing...Never thought you can make guitar fx out of bulbs...
The 13W Overdrive looks like an Electra, Am I wrong? Gotta try those circuits!!!  :icon_smile:

Quote from: birt on September 01, 2008, 05:39:32 AM
did you also notice that some of those parts are a little underrated for their purpose in those bulbs? and that production and disposal of these light is not nearly as ecological as with normal incandescents? that all of them have something like "max 50°C" indicated on them and ALL exceed that temperature in about 15 minutes?....
so i am really glad that you make them a little more usefull. ;-)

Yes, true. It seems however that large CFl bulbs (+15W) actualy save a lot more, as do large fluorescent tubes (electronics are seperate and control large amounts of lamps). This means:

1. If you want to install "savings", go for CFL bulbs of at least 15W - 20W, or try fluor tubes with seperate electronics.
2. the production, disposal and demolition of small CFl bulbs (7W, 5W,...), each with electronics, is probably overshoot like you said. Each lamp costs as much as a 20W one, yet has 3 to 4 times less energysavings in consumption!

For small wattage while still saving, LED's are the better technology or if light quality is important, go for 12V HIR (high efficiency) halogen. As a matter of fact, bulby compact fluorescents already are being questioned in pure economic circles.

Good idea  :icon_smile:

I had a 20w GE bayonet one that didn't work as one of the bayonets had broken off, so quickly got to work on it :D

(http://i35.tinypic.com/2mdqhz6.jpg)

two transistors are DD127D, couldn't find a datasheet on them


68n X2
6n8 X2
1n5 x2
3.3u 400v electro
5X 1n4007 diodes
1 small power resistor
6 carbon film resistors

others - blue diode  ?
transformer
couple of inductors or chokes?


now, whoever is first to reuse the pcb gets extra brownie points :D

  So what is the DD127D [three legged jobby in the front of the last pic] ?
  Any thoughts on what a  '2.4mH max' transformer maybe useful for ?

That's genius! I'll make sure my dad doesn't throw out those old bulbs anymore, I'm gonna be making meself a fluo-fuzz!  :o

hmm those inductors really look good for a couple of whas or resonant filters....

i´ve been wondering for a while what if we use 1 or 2mH inductors in wahs, changing the caps values accordingly for the same freq response..

Quote from: petemoore on September 01, 2008, 08:55:44 AM
  So what is the DD127D [three legged jobby in the front of the last pic] ?
  Any thoughts on what a  '2.4mH max' transformer maybe useful for ?

That is one of the transistors I assume, just a different form to the standard ones

13W overdrive???

Quote from: DougH on September 01, 2008, 10:32:03 AM
13W overdrive???

"made of" .... 13W bulb.  i guess... ;D

Beautiful.  I can get building once again without lack of parts.  :icon_mrgreen:

those little transformers would be great for something like a bobtavia

I've been thinking about these bulbs. Before everyone goes pulling them out their lights and breaking them open, will those aluminium electrolytics in there be charged at mains voltage? Just a thought on safety.

Salvaged stuff is great!  Thanks for the earth-friendly examples, Dragonfly.  I think anyone can agree that it's better for the environment to re-use something rather than throw it in a landfill, no matter what the pro's and con's of the original product might be.

I've also wondered about using those 1-5mH choke coils for some sort of filter.  I would think you might be able to get it with impedance scaling, but the limiting factor might end up being the active components.  Maybe not... I'd love to see a light bulb wah!

Oh, another thing you could use those choke coils for would be power supply noise filtering, especially if you're using something like a MAX1044 charge pump, the small inductors would be great for filtering out high-frequency noise.

Quote from: Dragonfly on September 01, 2008, 01:57:20 AM
I cant remember who originally mentioned this...I think it was Jack, but may have been RG or one of the other "Big Brains" around here...anyway, they deserve the credit...I'm simply bringing it to the masses !  :D

^^^^^^^^^^^


I just wanted to point the above comment out again - I cant take credit for the idea - I'm just packaging it up with ribbons and bows... :)

I havent tested the x-formaer - I had thought "octavia" possibility as well...

Each of these bulbs seems to have slightly different contents depending on the manufacturer, but the parts are all pretty useful. The projects are simply starting points. (Renegadrian - yep - the OD is definitely Electra based)

Anyway - have fun - dont break the bulb - but salvage and build away !


BTW - The "Dollar Fiesta" store near me carries these bulbs (they're actually $1.29 or $1.49...something like that - even the cheapest of the bulbs has nice quality parts inside.

Dragonfly, do you happen to know if these components can be found in other types of bulbs? I just figured out that we don't use a single one of these, only halogen lamps...  ::)

Quote from: asfastasdark on September 01, 2008, 12:45:09 PM
Dragonfly, do you happen to know if these components can be found in other types of bulbs? I just figured out that we don't use a single one of these, only halogen lamps...  ::)

I don't think so - I know theyre not in incandescent and regular (long tube) flourescents- not sure about mercury vapor, metal halide, halogen, etc.

That's brilliant! Good work, dude, do you ever stop thinking about this stuff? You are unstoppable.

Quote from: soggybag on September 01, 2008, 12:49:15 PM
That's brilliant! Good work, dude, do you ever stop thinking about this stuff? You are unstoppable.

:)

Nah, credit Jack - IIRC, he discovered it...

Quote from: Dragonfly on September 01, 2008, 12:48:30 PM

Quote from: asfastasdark on September 01, 2008, 12:45:09 PM
Dragonfly, do you happen to know if these components can be found in other types of bulbs? I just figured out that we don't use a single one of these, only halogen lamps...  ::)

I don't think so - I know theyre not in incandescent and regular (long tube) flourescents- not sure about mercury vapor, metal halide, halogen, etc.

No, no electronics in old school lamps, they are just weird resistors ;D. But you CAN use them as resistors of course  ;D
Compact fluorescents just have the "balast" inside instead of outside like the long tubes, but for the rest they are the same.
If your "long tube" TL crashes, you can't but throw it away, since the electronic stuff is in the box aside of it, still working!

Quote from: Steben on September 01, 2008, 01:41:38 PM

Quote from: Dragonfly on September 01, 2008, 12:48:30 PM

Quote from: asfastasdark on September 01, 2008, 12:45:09 PM
Dragonfly, do you happen to know if these components can be found in other types of bulbs? I just figured out that we don't use a single one of these, only halogen lamps...  ::)

I don't think so - I know theyre not in incandescent and regular (long tube) flourescents- not sure about mercury vapor, metal halide, halogen, etc.

No, no electronics in old school lamps, they are just weird resistors ;D. But you CAN use them as resistors of course  ;D
Compact fluorescents just have the "balast" inside instead of outside like the long tubes, but for the rest they are the same.
If your "long tube" TL crashes, you can't but throw it away, since the electronic stuff is in the box aside of it, still working!

there's a little difference there. very old compact fluorescents were like that. these modern types work at about 20KHz instead of 50Hz (60Hz in america) like long tube fluorescents. theory is the same but technology is different.

I was looking at the circuits presented here: http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DRAGONFLY-LAYOUTS_0/LIGHT+BULB+PROJECTS/LB4PROJECTS.JPG.html

Is Q1 one of the transistors used in the bulb? Supplying a transistor is not such a big deal. But, if the transistor comes from the bulb, that makes the whole idea so much better.

Too bad there isn't two 1/4" jacks and stompswitch in the bulb.

Most of the transistors in the ones I have found in the UK are similar to BD139 power transistor types and have a BCE pinout. I have found one or two with "standard" npn looking types and a CBE pinout. They make very good Si FFs as they have a pretty low gain. I have not found any yet thet I can identify on the 'net from the numbers on them but have tested them for gain and used appropriately.
I usually cut around the plastic base with a hacksaw as all the ones I have come across are glued, I leave the actual glass part alone and dispose of that in our tube bin at work. I have asked before about the small inductors that look like an electro cap with a thin waste but have no writing or colour code on them. I have a few now but don't know what to use them for. Some of the bigger transformer type have two contacts and others have 4 but I've not been able to use them yet either! I won't need any 1N400x diodes for a while though.
Most of the resistors are pretty useless values of 1 and 2 ohms so I stopped bothering with them a while ago.

Quote from: soggybag on September 01, 2008, 02:18:41 PM
I was looking at the circuits presented here: http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DRAGONFLY-LAYOUTS_0/LIGHT+BULB+PROJECTS/LB4PROJECTS.JPG.html

Is Q1 one of the transistors used in the bulb?

yep. :)

Quote
Supplying a transistor is not such a big deal. But, if the transistor comes from the bulb, that makes the whole idea so much better.

In the 8 or 10 bulbs Ive salvaged, all of them had usable transistors. Check the pinouts on them, but the ones Ive pulled sounded pretty good...

Quote
Too bad there isn't two 1/4" jacks and stompswitch in the bulb.

;D :icon_mrgreen: ;D

Quote from: col on September 01, 2008, 03:51:05 PM
Most of the resistors are pretty useless values of 1 and 2 ohms so I stopped bothering with them a while ago.

Lots of 10 ohm ones, and an occasional 470k here...but resistors are so cheap, i figure "why bother pulling ?" :)


Dead on about the transistors...Ive had great luck with them too.

Cool!!! Need to remember to save the bulbs before my dad throw them out.

Quote from: birt on September 01, 2008, 01:48:29 PM

Quote from: Steben on September 01, 2008, 01:41:38 PM

Quote from: Dragonfly on September 01, 2008, 12:48:30 PM

Quote from: asfastasdark on September 01, 2008, 12:45:09 PM
Dragonfly, do you happen to know if these components can be found in other types of bulbs? I just figured out that we don't use a single one of these, only halogen lamps...  ::)

I don't think so - I know theyre not in incandescent and regular (long tube) flourescents- not sure about mercury vapor, metal halide, halogen, etc.

No, no electronics in old school lamps, they are just weird resistors ;D. But you CAN use them as resistors of course  ;D
Compact fluorescents just have the "balast" inside instead of outside like the long tubes, but for the rest they are the same.
If your "long tube" TL crashes, you can't but throw it away, since the electronic stuff is in the box aside of it, still working!

there's a little difference there. very old compact fluorescents were like that. these modern types work at about 20KHz instead of 50Hz (60Hz in america) like long tube fluorescents. theory is the same but technology is different.

"Modern" long tubes also work on high frequency electronics (switching supply technology).
The 50Hz pre-boxes are cheaper and still sold though.

This tells it all:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp

I always collect the circuit of these dead lambs. You can produce many new circuits. I made a white led driver to operate the led with a 1.5 V battery. Also guitar effect sounds very interesting. I'll give it a try.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=are-compact-fluorescent-lightbulbs-dangerous

The problem comes when a bulb breaks. Mercury escapes as vapor that can be inhaled and as a fine powder that can settle into carpet and other textiles.

http://maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/fluorescent.htm

Maine law does not allow fluorescent bulbs, including CFLs

Maine law does not allow fluorescent bulbs, including CFLs, to be disposed of in the trash because they contain a small amount of mercury.

how does one go about opening these bulbs?

Quotehow does one go about opening these bulbs?

I also noticed the ones we have here in the U.K. have no screw. They appear to be sealed.

Theres a ridge (see photo) around the base - if you carefully insert a flathead screwdriver in the ridge and twist it sideways, you should be able to pry the top and bottom apart. Sometimes you have to do this in a few places to separate the parts.

QuoteTheres a ridge (see photo) around the base - if you carefully insert a flathead screwdriver in the ridge and twist it sideways, you should be able to pry the top and bottom apart. Sometimes you have to do this in a few places to separate the parts.

Thanks, I got you. Now I've just got to wait for a bulb to die.  ::)

...................I can see legions of DIYers sitting in darkened rooms building effects..................

Oh wow Dragonfly (and the people who started tinkering with this!!!) this is just fantastic! You made my day with this thread! ;)

Quote from: frequencycentral on September 02, 2008, 02:54:27 PM
...................I can see legions of DIYers sitting in darkened rooms building effects..................

:D

how does one go about opening these bulbs?

See Dragonfly's answer but some are glued and you can't prise them apart. To avoid poutting strain on the bulb and potentally breaking the glass part containing the nastys I go around the seal with a junior hacksaw, then you need to cut the two wires that go from the circuit board to the bottom of the glass part. The bottom of the bulb complete with circuit board than falls away. You then unclip or unscrew the circuit board and cut the wires that go to the terminals. Then the scavanging starts!!!!

(http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9492/elektronstarterpde4.jpg)

I was looking at this picture of CF ballast and saw those 2 carby comp resistors and thought:
Woah, mojo!


Also, I tried using the transistors I found (13003, designed specifically for ballast) and they only half worked.
I used them in a NPN Fuzzface circuit with 'Roger Mayer mods'. They have gains of 17 and 20.
It really didn't sound any good, crackley with no sustain.

Though, If I get a breadboard, I'll see if I can get a decent sound out of them/bias them.

I`m amazed you can get so many useful parts out of these bulbs. I`m also surprised that there aren`t any SMD`s.

Quote from: Sir_Ian on September 01, 2008, 02:32:39 AM
you forgot something...They also have Mercury inside them.

Andrew K, this is how he came to be insane enough to figure this out!

j/k, this is a great idea.  How can you test the transformers to find out what application they can be used for?

Quote from: Hanglow on September 01, 2008, 08:09:07 AM
now, whoever is first to reuse the pcb gets extra brownie points :D

even more if you reuse the bulb and its base

I was thinking about this last night. What actually goes when one of these stops working as so far I've not pulled anything from the circuits that doesn't work?

I was wondering that as well, presumably like with normal fluorescent strip lights it's the tube that goes not the electronics.

Could someone trace the PCB of one of these lamps, and make a schematic? I wanna see what effects me or other people can come up with... lol. It's worth a try.

"Could someone trace the PCB of one of these lamps, and make a schematic? I wanna see what effects me or other people can come up with... lol. It's worth a try"

All the ones I've had have had a different circuit from different manufacturers so it might not be that useful. If I get one soon I might try and do it.

How would one go about testing for the pin-out of the transistors?  R.G.'s site has an article on gain testing, yes?

Thanks,
Joey

Quote from: comfortably_numb on September 07, 2008, 02:26:51 PM
How would one go about testing for the pin-out of the transistors?  R.G.'s site has an article on gain testing, yes?

Thanks,
Joey

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/semitest.htm

Just imagine popping two transistors found in the bulb into an OD circuit, and you get amazing tone, all from some obscure industrial transistor that no one has ever heard of!  ;)

I use those bulbs in my magnifying light when building pedals.  Recycling at its finest.

1.5w ham radio transmitter built from CFL components.

http://mjrainey.googlepages.com/dasderelicht (http://mjrainey.googlepages.com/dasderelicht)

If that is impulse transformer? I mean you can turn it in 220/110V network?
If it is so, that could be NOOBlike to take a details on fuzz, if you could set up your filaments for compact tube pedal.

 ;D

Dragonfly, i'll build that fluorescent fuzz, that's for sure

Cool stuff, as always  :o 8)

very, very cool.  I agree -- the fuzz is a must build.

This is hilariously good!  Jeez, add me to the list of folks excitedly waiting for their CFL's to croak.  :)

Jim

Quote from: Jim Jones on December 22, 2008, 01:36:46 PM
This is hilariously good!  Jeez, add me to the list of folks excitedly waiting for their CFL's to croak.  :)

Jim

Don't hold your breath.  The damn things just... won't... die!

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on December 22, 2008, 03:37:58 PM
Don't hold your breath.  The damn things just... won't... die!

like a infectious disease in %^&*roaches.

it just hit me that the components would be well and truly worn in. cool mojo there!

very good find dragonfly! i actually had no idea that junk was in there.

word of caution, i zapped myself handling my circuit board twice. there was a 4.7uf capacitor rated at 400V which gave a small kick hehe. it's deceiving and only looks like a 1000uf or so in low voltage.

anybody know what sort of voltage is on the load side of the transformer? since there are enough diodes to make a rectifier and there's a tranny i was thinking of making a new circuit to house in the fitting with led lights instead which change colour or something. the wires going to the circuit board seem very flimsy to me for the load.

Everyone who is eagerly waiting for their CFL lights to croak only need send them to me to accomplish this...

I don't know *what* it is, but I get FAR from the rated life from these horrible things, regardless of what kind of fixture it is in.  In fact, it is so bad that I'm seriously considering never buying another one.  As our do-gooding politicos strive to protect me from myself, they might mandate the use of this expensive junk at some point... my experiences only make me want to hoard the old-school bulbs.

Upon my initial bad experience with them, I thought that maybe I just got a bad batch.  Nope.  I've tried different brands, different watt ratings, etc, etc, etc, and they simply don't last very long -- I'd guess 1-2 years MAX.  I have plain ol' light bulbs that have lasted longer than my CFL junkers. 

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 22, 2008, 06:03:38 PM

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on December 22, 2008, 03:37:58 PM
Don't hold your breath.  The damn things just... won't... die!

like a infectious disease in %^&*roaches.

I just noticed one out in my dining room and have dissected it!  1

I guess the next step is to try to make a pedal that actually causes the bulb to light up like an indicator or something.  You know PerroGrande, I once had an LED bulb that went out in a matter of days (rated at 100,000 hour run time) and the problem was incorrect voltage in the socket.  Anyway, I am most curious about the transformer.  This should be fun, though this may cause my wife to never buy these bulbs again... :icon_confused:

Quote from: PerroGrande on December 23, 2008, 11:45:55 PM
Everyone who is eagerly waiting for their CFL lights to croak only need send them to me to accomplish this...

I don't know *what* it is, but I get FAR from the rated life from these horrible things, regardless of what kind of fixture it is in.  In fact, it is so bad that I'm seriously considering never buying another one.  As our do-gooding politicos strive to protect me from myself, they might mandate the use of this expensive junk at some point... my experiences only make me want to hoard the old-school bulbs.

Upon my initial bad experience with them, I thought that maybe I just got a bad batch.  Nope.  I've tried different brands, different watt ratings, etc, etc, etc, and they simply don't last very long -- I'd guess 1-2 years MAX.  I have plain ol' light bulbs that have lasted longer than my CFL junkers. 

I almost stopped buying them too- no matter what brand I was losing a bulb a month.  Then as soon as it started it stopped.  I think there was something wrong with the power delivery.  It was in the middle of summer and maybe there were power surges from high demand or something?  I dunno.  But the ones i've had since then have lasted 2+ years.  I have one in my basement that's on almost all the time and it lasts over two years easy.

something nice to read: http://www.sound.westhost.com/articles/incandescent.htm

If you're going to ban an inefficient and polluting technology, it's hypocritical to frown upon leaded solder and incandescents while also providing more funding for coal-fired power plants and gasoline-powered automobiles.  It's like putting a band-aid on a paper cut while calmly ignoring your brain tumor.

I have been hacking away at a dead CFLB with a hobby knife since it became clear that a screwdriver wasn't going to do it, but the damn thing is tough--looks like I'm going to have to go get a hacksaw, but the garage is verrrry cold!

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on December 24, 2008, 11:30:18 AM
If you're going to ban an inefficient and polluting technology, it's hypocritical to frown upon leaded solder and incandescents while also providing more funding for coal-fired power plants and gasoline-powered automobiles.  It's like putting a band-aid on a paper cut while calmly ignoring your brain tumor.

That may be because the leaded solder/incadescent light bulb lobby doesn't quite have the political clout/funding/etc as the utilities and auto industries...   ::)

Quote from: Zen on December 23, 2008, 11:59:24 PM

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 22, 2008, 06:03:38 PM

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on December 22, 2008, 03:37:58 PM
Don't hold your breath.  The damn things just... won't... die!

like a infectious disease in %^&*roaches.

I just noticed one out in my dining room and have dissected it!  1

a light or a roach???
i dont think you can make stompboxes out of %^&*roaches.

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 24, 2008, 02:22:16 PM

Quote from: Zen on December 23, 2008, 11:59:24 PM

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 22, 2008, 06:03:38 PM

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on December 22, 2008, 03:37:58 PM
Don't hold your breath.  The damn things just... won't... die!

like a infectious disease in %^&*roaches.

I just noticed one out in my dining room and have dissected it!  1

a light or a roach???
i dont think you can make stompboxes out of %^&*roaches.

Though you can still stomp %^&*roaches, I just don't gaurantee that the sound is one you'll like (or the mess).

Which one would be cleaner if True Bypassed? How would one TB a Compact Fluorescent vs. a %^&*roach? Does anyone have true S/N ratio analyses? Inquiring minds....ummm...should back away from this thread. :icon_rolleyes:

Can you add a 2.2M pulldown on a %^&*roach Bypass to eliminate the pop? My guess is to stick it in the output side.

Quote from: Ripthorn on December 24, 2008, 08:58:09 PM

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 24, 2008, 02:22:16 PM

Quote from: Zen on December 23, 2008, 11:59:24 PM

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 22, 2008, 06:03:38 PM

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on December 22, 2008, 03:37:58 PM
Don't hold your breath.  The damn things just... won't... die!

like a infectious disease in %^&*roaches.

I just noticed one out in my dining room and have dissected it!  1

a light or a roach???
i dont think you can make stompboxes out of %^&*roaches.

Though you can still stomp %^&*roaches, I just don't gaurantee that the sound is one you'll like (or the mess).

well i was just wondering where the in and out jacks would go. The pots i have under control.
P.S. if you use a head of another roach you can use it as a cap in the tone pot. It sounds wicked. Sound samples on the way.

I guess you'd have to attach the jacks with... roach clips??? 8) Anyway, would those roaches be NPN or PNP? Either way, you don't want to reverse polarity on one of those suckers, they just start smoking.

sound clip starts at 1:38
the title is wrong :icon_wink:
i built this one and gave it to gary moore. Lives down the street from me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5ECaMU7csY

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 25, 2008, 02:05:54 PM
i built this one and gave it to gary moore. Lives down the street from me.

Wait a minute...

You're a bass player, your name is Phil, and you live down the street from Gary Moore...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsKpazeA5L8&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsKpazeA5L8&feature=related)

??? ??? ???

-- T. G. --

i will not say who i really am but my name is phil, i do play bass,  my hair does look like that or used to. I do live down the street from Neil Zaza though.

i respect that there aren't any pots so that keeps the count down for 'new' parts that need to be introduced. i would consider making a generic template of some of your fuzz designs with a couple resistors replaced with trimpots so that my friends can keep their bulbs for me and have them returned as pedals. i wonder if you think the fuzz designs might benefit from a trimpot on the output as a volume control though? a lot of fuzzes sounds cool with gain maxed anyway and you can always roll back your guitar volume to adjust the amount of fuzz. either that or leave it as a solo boost sort of pedal. what do you think?

it's a shame the legs aren't long enough on the components to recycle some plastic and do it point to point. now i need to keep my eyes open for hard rubbish to get LEDs, knobs+pots and audio jacks. enclosures are harder to come by. if you could come by some old automotive dip (headlight dip) switches then that would be the icing on the cake!!!! almost tempted to wreck my '63 falcon for a switch.. better not.

Quote from: tommy.genes on December 25, 2008, 02:23:22 PM

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 25, 2008, 02:05:54 PM
i built this one and gave it to gary moore. Lives down the street from me.

Wait a minute...

You're a bass player, your name is Phil, and you live down the street from Gary Moore...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsKpazeA5L8&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsKpazeA5L8&feature=related)

??? ??? ???

-- T. G. --

Phil Lynott died almost 15 years ago, so it would be especially weird if he was posting on this board... 36 years old when he passed. A damn shame.

Quote from: bassmasta17 on December 26, 2008, 04:01:14 PM
i will not say who i really am but my name is phil, i do play bass,  my hair does look like that or used to. I do live down the street from Neil Zaza though.

I got a chance to jam w/ Zaza, Bill Dickens, and Bobby Rock at a backyard party of all places about 11-12 years ago.  Neil grew up in the town next to me in Ohio and made an appearance at this cop friend of mine's party one summer.  Too bad i was only about 19 and had been playing about 5 years and still was not that great a player.  They all blew me away, phenomenal players.

Quote from: gmr1 on December 30, 2008, 08:20:25 AM
Phil Lynott died almost 15 years ago, so it would be especially weird if he was posting on this board... 36 years old when he passed. A damn shame.

I was aware that Phil Lynott passed in '86, but the possible Elvis-is-still-alive type conspiracy scenario was part of the intended 'humor' that may have been lost in my original post.

-- T. G. --

wait, are you saying Elvis is DEAD?

Quote from: runmikeyrun on December 30, 2008, 09:22:43 AM
I got a chance to jam w/ Zaza, Bill Dickens, and Bobby Rock at a backyard party of all places about 11-12 years ago.  Neil grew up in the town next to me in Ohio and made an appearance at this cop friend of mine's party one summer.  Too bad i was only about 19 and had been playing about 5 years and still was not that great a player.  They all blew me away, phenomenal players.

You didn't live in northfield, Macedonia, or sagamore hills did you??

Quote from: demonstar on September 02, 2008, 02:44:15 PMNow I've just got to wait for a bulb to die.  ::)

Finally, a dead CFL!  Two actually, almost simultaneously ??? ...  Lasted a few years, definitely a shorter lifespan than was advertised.  But then, the package doesn't say if the long life is from "normal" use, or always-on...

Anyway, I'm about to crack it open and see what's going on in there.  This thread deserves a bump anyway.

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on April 30, 2009, 10:06:42 AM

Quote from: demonstar on September 02, 2008, 02:44:15 PMNow I've just got to wait for a bulb to die.  ::)

Finally, a dead CFL!  Two actually, almost simultaneously ??? ...  Lasted a few years, definitely a shorter lifespan than was advertised.  But then, the package doesn't say if the long life is from "normal" use, or always-on...

Anyway, I'm about to crack it open and see what's going on in there.  This thread deserves a bump anyway.

LOL 
I can just picture you, You now have a long beard almost touching the ground.
You have been sitting there for a year watching and waiting watching and waiting... for it to die . ;D

Which is a faster source of parts? Waiting for a light bulb to die or ordering from Futurlec?

Good one Rick!   ::)


Well I took it apart (way easier than I expected), just used a small screwdriver to pry the base apart, snipped a few wires, and took the electronics out.  I put the base back on so it looks like nothing happened... :)

Mine was a "Bright Effects" brand, and the transistor leads are marked BCE on the circuit board's silkscreen, which is nice.  There's the usual assortment of rectifier diodes and film caps, and an unmarked inductor and transformer.  I used a resistor to discharge the 200V/22uF electro, but it's been sitting unused for a while so I didn't get to see any sparks (oh well).  On the bottom side are some surface mount resistors (2x 200r, 2x 680k).

Anyway, I think I want to actually trace the circuit before I disassemble it.  Might be actually useful for something later...

Quote from: Ben N on December 25, 2008, 12:44:33 PM
I guess you'd have to attach the jacks with... roach clips??? 8) Anyway, would those roaches be NPN or PNP? Either way, you don't want to reverse polarity on one of those suckers, they just start smoking.

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on April 30, 2009, 11:40:57 AM
Anyway, I think I want to actually trace the circuit before I disassemble it.  Might be actually useful for something later...

Something like an high voltage roach lighter ?   :icon_idea:  Always usefull when those suckers start smoking.  Don't forget your roach clips, a wet fire cracker conduct electricity.  OUCH!

Do someone think parts from a light dimmer could be of good use ?  One of mine broke, I opened it and found these pieces:

Scroll down to:
Typical 120V AC dimmer circuit
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/lights/lightdimmer.html.old

The coil don't look very high inductance for wah/filter applications...
And I don't know if the diac/triac could be of some use...

Quote from: frank_p on May 14, 2009, 01:55:31 AM

Quote from: Ben N on December 25, 2008, 12:44:33 PM
I guess you'd have to attach the jacks with... roach clips??? 8) Anyway, would those roaches be NPN or PNP? Either way, you don't want to reverse polarity on one of those suckers, they just start smoking.

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on April 30, 2009, 11:40:57 AM
Anyway, I think I want to actually trace the circuit before I disassemble it.  Might be actually useful for something later...

Something like an high voltage roach lighter ?   :icon_idea:  Always usefull when those suckers start smoking.  Don't forget your roach clips, a wet fire cracker conduct electricity.  OUCH!

Or you could use the roach as a resistor. It must be in the Mega-ohm range somewhere.

I've opened one and discovered a few smd components on the back of the print.

Quote from: Steben on September 01, 2008, 01:41:38 PM

No, no electronics in old school lamps, they are just weird resistors ;D. But you CAN use them as resistors of course  ;D

Those old-school lamps are really useful as resistors in series of the power supply for tubes. It allows for a "soft start" to protect the tubes (like when you power up a tube amp on stand-by).

I suppose it was mentioned, but breaking open those new light bulbs is very poisonous and should especially not be done around children and pets. The vapors can make an entire room toxic for thirty minutes or so.

Hey, I opened mine, and the transistors were marked, and I found a data sheet.

BUL128:
HIGH VOLTAGE FAST-SWITCHING
NPN POWER TRANSISTOR

n STMicroelectronics PREFERRED SALESTYPE
n NPN TRANSISTOR
n HIGH VOLTAGE CAPABILITY
n LOW SPREAD OF DYNAMIC PARAMETERS
n MINIMUM LOT-TO-LOT SPREAD FOR RELIABLE OPERATION
n VERY HIGH SWITCHING SPEED APPLICATIONS:
n ELECTRONIC BALLASTS FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHTING

DESCRIPTION

The device is manufactured using high voltage
Multi Epitaxial Planar technology for high
switching speeds and medium voltage capability.
It uses a Cellular Emitter structure with planar
edge termination to enhance switching speeds
while maintaining the wide RBSOA.
The device is designed for use in lighting
applications and low cost switch-mode power
supplies.

http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheet/stmicroelectronics/4447.pdf (http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheet/stmicroelectronics/4447.pdf)

has a weird pin out
only 40 hfe  :icon_cry:

I'm guessing most of the tranies are something similar.

Is that still good for anyting?

It's a good excuse to review the old-school techniques used to wring every last ounce of gain out of weak transistors, back before high gains were "standard." 

Techniques like bootstrapping, positive feedback, mu-amp, active loads, etc.

I'm thinking of taking the two out of my latest salvaged CFL and making a single cascode gain stage with an LM317-based current source or mu-style load,  for an "industrial-strength" boost.  :)


Otherwise, they might be useful for switching power supplies...  :P

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on May 14, 2009, 02:51:56 PM
It's a good excuse to review the old-school techniques used to wring every last ounce of gain out of weak transistors, back before high gains were "standard." 

Techniques like bootstrapping, positive feedback, mu-amp, active loads, etc.

what's that? I only know what a mu amp is. where can I find more info about that other stuff?

Bootstrapping: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=71187.0
Positive feedback: http://www.tpub.com/neets/book8/30f.htm
mu-amp: http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/modmuamp/modmuamp.htm
Active load: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/worksheets/activeload.html

(http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/Themes/diytheme/images/english/search.gif) here, and google.  However, a lot of this knowledge is from the before internet era, so it can be a little hard to find.  Most of these techniques also apply to vacuum tubes, so that's another place to look.

wow, thanks.

At a food store the other day I saw an article in  MAKE magazine.
Anyone else see this?  Was this mentioned before?

http://makezine.com/19/diycircuits_cflreuse/

Quote from: Gus on August 16, 2009, 09:57:55 AM
At a food store the other day I saw an article in  MAKE magazine.
Anyone else see this?  Was this mentioned before?

http://makezine.com/19/diycircuits_cflreuse/

Andy did that article for MAKE- very cool.

Ha, a bulb finally blew and this thread popping up recently reminded me to save it!
Well, I took a stab at Andy's "Flourescent Fuzz" on the breadboard and it didn't fire up. :icon_frown:
Turns out the transistors were PNP (?) with a hfe of 50. :icon_rolleyes:
Luckily, I've been salvaging parts off whatever broken electronics I could find for the last few years and used some 3904's to keep it a recycled project...... it fired up right away with gloriously HUGE fuzz!!!!!!!!! I get a little bit of screeching noise, but with the guitar's tone knob down it's perfect.
   I'm gonna try to search my old salvaged boards for the resistor values to make it 100% recycled, but that'll test my patience for sure.
     Bottom line is I'm impressed with this no-knobber. Hats off to Dragonfly "Andy", DIY fuzz legend!!!

Be aware that these things contain toxic mercury and therefore should be disposed of in an environmentally safe way

Quote from: solderman on August 18, 2009, 11:29:26 AM
Be aware that these things contain toxic mercury and therefore should be disposed of in an environmentally safe way

That's my luck. I find a fuzz I like and it'll give me cancer.

hey how about recycling broken PC power supply unit? ive already salvaged 2 unit of my broken PC's PSU! it got a lot of parts! these are some parts in just one PSU..

- at least 3 medium/mini transformers(got this serials in the two mini trafo YX EE-16-A, YX EE-19-3B anybody can find a usefull project for this trafo's?using it for bass brass maybe?  ;D)
- 3 medium toroid coil and 2 small toroids (how do you measure these thing because no marking on them?usable for wah pedals?)
- 5 to 8 102, 103, 104 ceramic and mylar caps
- LM339N chips
- 3 to 5 TL431 proggammable precission shunt regulator transistors
- 3 to 5 C1815 general purpose NPN transistor (low noise with minimum hFE 70 and max hFE 700.its a high gain and you can build sick metal fuzz out of it! :icon_biggrin:)
- 5 1uF Electro Caps and a few high value elco caps (220 to 1000uF)
- 1 big red 105 mylar caps
- 6 power transistor with big heatsink on it! ;D
- 1 PC817 photocoupler chip
- and whole lot of resistors range form 100 ohm to 1M!

these PSU are cheap here in indonesia, around $7.5 each and because of the cheap price they broke after 4-6 month!so i got my self 2 of them laying around while years ago i used to throw 'em away (what a waste!) ;D

I'll post some pic after i got my self a digital camera. or maybe open a new thread on this topic, since this thread is for salvaging light bulbs  ;)
and now i just remember that i have a broken motorcycle CDI ignition unit and think to salvaging it too (if i can somehow remove the rubber epoxy that covers it  ;D)

anyone have any idea to use those parts for other guitar pedals instead of fuzz? ;)

Cheers!

The cases can be used to house small tube amps or other tube projects.
The toroids are excellent for building a Joule Thief or two:
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/joulethief
I made one and housed it in a small plastic case from Radio shack.
The circuit will easily power two white LED's from 1.5v  :icon_eek:

The LM339's are quad comparators (op-amps) so find a few projects using quad ops and you're gold.

I've been wondering if it would be possible to build a fuzz pedal with optocouplers, but I have no idea how to go about that.

The GP transistors oughta find a home just about anywhere you want to build a silicon fuzz or distortion.

The power transistors might be good for building a smaller solid-state amp.
Maybe upgrade a pignose!

The power regulators would be rated for computer power; 12 and 5 volts.
The 5 volters would be good for circuits that use cmos inverters that INSIST on 5 volt power.

I posted on AX84 a loooong time ago about using power transformers for tube outputs. It actually works pretty well and I made a chart once to keep track of what voltage ratios would match what impedance.
I'll dig it out tonight...

Other than that, you got some nice power resistors and fat caps to play with.

Quote from: edvard on August 18, 2009, 07:44:50 PM
The cases can be used to house small tube amps or other tube projects.
The toroids are excellent for building a Joule Thief or two:
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/joulethief
I made one and housed it in a small plastic case from Radio shack.
The circuit will easily power two white LED's from 1.5v  :icon_eek:

hi edvard,
if those toroid can be used to light a led until the battery completly dead, i wonder if they somehow used in a battery powered stompbox so the battery can be use until its really really dry?because some stompbox like my 4049 based distortion mod really power hungry its suck battery dry very fast, but when im using the used battery im my fuzz its still ok. well thats just my crazy idea after too much reading of evil mad scientist dot com articles ;D

Quote
The LM339's are quad comparators (op-amps) so find a few projects using quad ops and you're gold.

im googling it right away! ;D

Quote
I've been wondering if it would be possible to build a fuzz pedal with optocouplers, but I have no idea how to go about that.

you're the true mad mad guitar effect scientist! edvard ;D but PM me if you successfully make one  :icon_biggrin:

Quote
The power transistors might be good for building a smaller solid-state amp.
Maybe upgrade a pignose!

hmm this is interesting! ;)

cheers!

After reading this topic one of my bulbs died today. Sinchronicity :D

I had found: a toroidal coil, a small transformer, several caps, resistors,
some 1n4007 in a Bridge, some electrolitics (one large one rated at 400v)

I also have a diode? or a fuse? its in a glass package.

The transistors are marked 13001S
this are high voltages ones. with a colector emiter voltage of 500v
The question is: They wount be usefull for effects no?

QuoteI've been wondering if it would be possible to build a fuzz pedal with optocouplers, but I have no idea how to go about that.

http://www.geocities.com/thetonegod/thunder_alley/thunder_alley.html

QuoteThe transistors are marked 13001S
this are high voltages ones. with a colector emiter voltage of 500v
The question is: They wount be usefull for effects no?

Hm... define "useful."  ;D

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on August 19, 2009, 08:52:56 AM

QuoteI've been wondering if it would be possible to build a fuzz pedal with optocouplers, but I have no idea how to go about that.

http://www.geocities.com/thetonegod/thunder_alley/thunder_alley.html

wow this is just awesome! ive been to tone's god website before but that time i dont even know what the heck an optocoupler is ;) thank you for the link earthonesaudio !

lets play with some thunder then! ;D

cheers!

Since the transistors are low hfe, a darlington arrangment may be in order.  30X30= 900Hfe  How about a Tone Bender  ;)

Quote from: earthtonesaudio on August 19, 2009, 08:52:56 AM

QuoteI've been wondering if it would be possible to build a fuzz pedal with optocouplers, but I have no idea how to go about that.

http://www.geocities.com/thetonegod/thunder_alley/thunder_alley.html

Far out!
I assume the opamps on the front end are for gain because the optos don't have any?
I wonder what kind of signal you could get using the diode portion in a clipping section of a generic dist/od box and stealing signal off the collector?
*edvard opens LTSpice*

QuoteThe transistors are marked 13001S
this are high voltages ones. with a colector emiter voltage of 500v
The question is: They wount be usefull for effects no?

Hm... define "useful."  ;D

I THINK the high-voltage rating is a tolerance, not a requirement.
I may be wrong but I remember a long time ago firing up some big square power transistors in a fuzz face configuration and it actually worked!
Made me think it would be funny to build something with a couple of those big diamond shaped transistors I salvaged from somewhere.

Another 'mojo' mod, perhaps?

hahaha

With usefull I mean if a 9v battery could break through this transistors...

Lets breadboard something ;)

I found Andy's article in the latest issue of MAKE magazine while I was killing time at the book store last week.  I found a couple dead CFL's in the garage and dismantled them today.  I ended up with enough components to build the Fluorescent Fuzz almost verbatim.  I had to supply a few resistors, but all the caps and transistors came from the bulbs.

Unfortunately, the fuzz is super low output.  I had to slam it with an overdrive pedal set to clean boost to even get unity gain.  I can't even get it to break up.  It had a nice sparkle to it though, which gives me hope!  The transistors weren't marked, so I had no idea what to expect in terms of gain.  Luckily, the PCB inside the light bulb had the pinout printed on it.  I have a vague idea where to go from here because it's very similar to the Fuzz Face circuit, but I'm posting this in the hopes someone else might have some ideas as well!

In the meantime, I'll be busting open more light bulbs!

My dad gave me a broken power inverter. I opened it up and wow, I know what I am doing tomorrow  :D

Here's a dumb question. I have a couple of 13w sylvanias that died. I can't seem to pry the plastic open on the bottom.

Any hints?

I ended up breaking the bulb off one and using a pair of cutters to cut away the top.  I don't recommend it, but if all else fails...

Don't break the bulb!  It's not worth it.  Sharp glass, mercury and whatever else is in there are probably not the most healthy things to have on you or on your floor.  If you can't easily pry the base off with a sharp knife or small screwdriver, wait for an easier-to-open bulb to die.  It will happen eventually.

hahaha... mine fall apart in my hands

Bump.

I just cracked open a dead CFL bulb this evening.

The tranny's are marked "F6D 13003". Google tells me the "13003" family are NPN fast switching Power transistors.

I hope to breadboard the "Flourescent fuzz" tommorrow.

Anyone build one of these circuit's with these style of tranny's and get it to work?

-Dan-

my wifes breadmaker died last week so i took it apart to have a look  :icon_lol:  got a load of 1n4148 some trannies S9015 and ..14 and a L708 5v volatage regulator as required in tonepads rebote delay also some other interesting stuff that I dont know what to do with. I will need to BREADboard some projects but I havent got the DOUGH. :D

Quote from: bigchasbroon on November 10, 2009, 08:14:05 AM
my wifes breadmaker died last week so i took it apart to have a look  :icon_lol:  got a load of 1n4148 some trannies S9015 and ..14 and a L708 5v volatage regulator as required in tonepads rebote delay also some other interesting stuff that I dont know what to do with. I will need to BREADboard some projects but I havent got the DOUGH. :D

Well, just wait and those projects will start to RISE. Don't wait too long or they may get CRUSTY.

Those are some STALE puns, boys. Carry on.

I've taken apart a few tvs. Lotsa caps sitting around now...

Every time I see the title of this thread I think about meth and crack addicts smoking out of light bulbs.. I wouldn't recommend trying this with a CFL though :D.*






*I do not condone doing nasty drugs like mentioned above

Note to self: Don't use old CFLs for crack anymore...

unfortunately, i can't figure out how to search this thread only.


Don't these things contain mercury and other nasty stuff?  Be careful people!

Yeah, they use mercury vapor. Scary stuff.. From Wikipedia

QuoteThe disposal of phosphor and particularly the toxic mercury in the tubes is an environmental issue. Governmental regulations in many areas require special disposal of fluorescent lamps separate from general and household wastes. For large commercial or industrial users of fluorescent lights, recycling services are available in many nations, and may be required by regulation. In some areas, recycling is also available to consumers.

I got to take a tour of Ludlum Measurements manufacturing facilities last semester and was really blown away by their modern tube manufacturing facilities. They use the tubes from fluorescent light bulbs (buying them as new bulk stock) and cut the glass on these really nice glass lathes. Then they have a couple of rooms for the assembly of the photomultiplier insides. The coolest room was where they seated the electrodes inside the tube, pulled a vacuum and sealed off the tubes all in one step. It was also cool watching their "getter" flashing machine. And that was just one of 5 buildings for manufacturing that we visited..

Quote from: Cliff Schecht on November 11, 2009, 01:24:58 AM
I got to take a tour of Ludlum Measurements manufacturing facilities last semester and was really blown away by their modern tube manufacturing facilities. They use the tubes from fluorescent light bulbs (buying them as new bulk stock) and cut the glass on these really nice glass lathes. Then they have a couple of rooms for the assembly of the photomultiplier insides. The coolest room was where they seated the electrodes inside the tube, pulled a vacuum and sealed off the tubes all in one step. It was also cool watching their "getter" flashing machine. And that was just one of 5 buildings for manufacturing that we visited..

wow.  I still have to rely on glass blowers for a few cells in my lab.

Quote from: Cliff Schecht on November 11, 2009, 01:24:58 AMThe coolest room was where they seated the electrodes inside the tube, pulled a vacuum and sealed off the tubes all in one step. It was also cool watching their "getter" flashing machine. And that was just one of 5 buildings for manufacturing that we visited..

I would love to have seen that!

If you can't prise the base open try carefully cutting round the seam with a junior hacksaw, I do. You don't need to risk the nasties in the glass tube then. BTW a lot of the transistors I have found in these are BCE pinout rather than CBE and they make great fuzzes.

Major bump on this one.  I just had a CFL die on me last night, plus I finally pried open one I had for over a year now!

Questions: what's the best way to safely discharge the caps?  Any old resistor or something like a 1k?
Also, the little toroid, is that actually an inductor or should it just be used as a ferrite bead in some noise cancelling project?

Any cool uses for the transformer?

And most importantly, any cool enclosures you guys have made for these projects?

Oh, wow, I love this thread, thanks for bumping it.

i've been wanting to reuse the fluorescent powder inside old light bulbs and neon tubes with UV LEDs in translucent plastic cases
is it just me or somebody else had the same idea? and did anyone try?

Quote from: Frances Rhodes on September 25, 2011, 06:46:50 PM
i've been wanting to reuse the fluorescent powder inside old light bulbs and neon tubes with UV LEDs in translucent plastic cases
is it just me or somebody else had the same idea? and did anyone try?

?!?  ???

That is not worth the health risk involved. When you break one of those open, there is vaporized mercury in there. That is (the catalyst?). That mercury is also pretty much embedded in all the coating. JUST DON'T DO IT. You should google about how both those systems work.

ETA: If you want something like that, look at your local hobby store for anything that glows. They have about 10 different blacklight reactive paint colors now... should be able to find at least blue, orange, and of course, green. Then you paint the inside of a plastic (clear, my favorite color!) tube and light the inside with the UV LED's. If you get the right stuff (I think the glow-in-the-dark glue should work awesome) it will shine a soft blue through until the material starts to react and REALLY glow. Just remember you want it translucent (maybe even transparent?).

Quote from: Earthscum on September 25, 2011, 09:46:59 PM
?!?  ???

That is not worth the health risk involved. When you break one of those open, there is vaporized mercury in there. That is (the catalyst?). That mercury is also pretty much embedded in all the coating. JUST DON'T DO IT. You should google about how both those systems work.

ETA: If you want something like that, look at your local hobby store for anything that glows. They have about 10 different blacklight reactive paint colors now... should be able to find at least blue, orange, and of course, green. Then you paint the inside of a plastic (clear, my favorite color!) tube and light the inside with the UV LED's. If you get the right stuff (I think the glow-in-the-dark glue should work awesome) it will shine a soft blue through until the material starts to react and REALLY glow. Just remember you want it translucent (maybe even transparent?).

yeah, that's what i thought...
i found UV ultrabright LEDs and transparent fluorescent (invisible) paint on the internet (red, orange, yellow, green and blue) but since the enclosure is already coloured in blue, i wondered if the glow would be bright enough for it to really "shine".
i guess i will also need an anti-UV coat to protect people's eyes from the UV light of the LEDs which is pretty bad for the retina
maybe i should try a bigger art store and ask there

thanks for the heads up though! :)

http://www.handmades.com.br/conteudo/projetos/pdfs/Bile%20Nervoso%201.0.pdf

from http://www.handmades.com.br/forum/index.php?topic=3466.0

A smps to power tube preamps or pedals, can give over 200V for the plates and 6V for the filaments from 9-30V, AC or DC. And the outputs are regulated!

The inductors are salvaged from light bulbs.

Quote from: Earthscum on September 25, 2011, 09:46:59 PM

Quote from: Frances Rhodes on September 25, 2011, 06:46:50 PM
i've been wanting to reuse the fluorescent powder inside old light bulbs and neon tubes with UV LEDs in translucent plastic cases
is it just me or somebody else had the same idea? and did anyone try?

?!?  ???

That is not worth the health risk involved. When you break one of those open, there is vaporized mercury in there. That is (the catalyst?). That mercury is also pretty much embedded in all the coating. JUST DON'T DO IT. You should google about how both those systems work.

ETA: If you want something like that, look at your local hobby store for anything that glows. They have about 10 different blacklight reactive paint colors now... should be able to find at least blue, orange, and of course, green. Then you paint the inside of a plastic (clear, my favorite color!) tube and light the inside with the UV LED's. If you get the right stuff (I think the glow-in-the-dark glue should work awesome) it will shine a soft blue through until the material starts to react and REALLY glow. Just remember you want it translucent (maybe even transparent?).

I read the Australian government view on this and you are absolutely right.  Opening one would expose a high but incredibly brief risk, however if you were to do this repeatedly for some reason then you should rethink the decision.  Not worth the risk, even for the sake of recycling.  Im pro environment but pro health first.

Seems like a great concept though and if nothing else stimulates excellent discussion about reuse of old parts.

I *finally* built something (the fluorescent fuzz) from about 4 of these bulbs.  I got a few 13003 transistors from about 3 bulbs, those worked the best.  Of course I ripped the legs off about 3 otherwise perfectly good transistors... :(

I reclaimed any wire I used from an old PC power supply.  I had to use new jacks, battery clip and resistors so it's not as awesome as I would have liked.  Oh well.  It sounds pretty good, if I do say so myself.  I did add a diode clipper at the output as well, just for kicks, it seems to add some extra something to the midrange.