Date:         Mon, 28 Jul 2014 17:42:20 -0700
Reply-To:     Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@Q.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@Q.COM>
Subject:      Re: What's the correct bulb needed in this  '82 Westfalia?
Comments: To: Tom Young <tomyoung1@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <001401cfaac1$37f18960$a7d49c20$@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Bulbs that look fine aren't necessarily. Still say get LED instead of fluorescent. Less draw, nicer color light. Drop right in to stock fixture. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

> On Jul 28, 2014, at 5:08 PM, "Tom Young" <tomyoung1@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Thanks for the response.  I checked the two fuses mounted low on the pillar
> behind the driver's seat and they looked fine.  I inspected the bulb under a
> strong (20x) magnifier and I'd say it's fine, too.   But my voltmeter says

> that the socket is only getting 9.75 ~ 10.0 volts, so I'm still wondering if
> the issue is the bulb.  Maybe a fluorescent is in my future, but I'd sure
> like to understand why this setup isn't working.
> 
> Tom Young
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of

> Karl Wolz
> Sent: Monday, July 28, 2014 12:11 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: What's the correct bulb needed in this '82 Westfalia?
> 
> Get an LED from one of our vendors. Much brighter and cooler running. Check
> the fuse near the DS B pillar (by your butt) before investing funds. 
> 
> Karl Wolz
> Sent from my electronic umbilicus
> 
>> On Jul 28, 2014, at 11:25 AM, David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET> wrote:

>> 
>> At 02:11 PM 7/28/2014, Tom Young wrote:
>>> I pulled the bub over the sink of my '82 Westy because it wasn't 
>>> working, though the bulb itself looked fine.  It's a "GE 790" bulb 
>>> and in looking it up online I see that it's a 14 volt bulb, which may be

> the actual problem.
>> 
>> No, automotive lamps (bulbs) are often rated 14V.  It's a 25 watt 
>> halogen (and in my experience can overheat/distort the crystal-looking 

>> diffusing lens of the fixture as well as drawing close to two amps).  
>> Suggest you replace with fluorescent fixture like late Vanagons or LED 

>> fixture.
>> 
>>> Can anybody tell me if this is the correct bulb for this application?  

>>> If it isn't, what's the proper bulb to use?
>> 
>> It is correct.  But they're expensive, so be sure the lamp you have is 

>> actually burnt out.  Rated life of the original is 200 hours according 

>> to the web. Remember it's a halogen so if you touch it to your skin 
>> you have to wash it with alcohol afterwards or risk early failure.
>> 
>> Yours,
>> David
>