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Author Topic: Lamps in series instead of parallel  (Read 2301 times)

Andrew Pernica

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Lamps in series instead of parallel
« on: August 20, 2018, 07:00:19 AM »

Sorry for little OT, but lights are usually somehow tied with sound.

I have met with one really interesting question.
Inside effect lights like derby ,zigzag, doubleball there are usually 2 lamps connected in series.
F.E.: two 120V lamps in series instead of two 230V in parallel.

Why are they connected in series, not in parallel?
Is it because of "same current running through = same intensity" or better manufacturing (in countries running 120V power outlet they just move jumpers to connect them in parallel) ?
« Last Edit: August 20, 2018, 01:28:20 PM by Craig Leerman »
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Mac Kerr

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« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2018, 08:26:08 AM »

Sorry for little OT, but lights are usually somehow tied with sound.

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Craig Leerman

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Re: Lamps in series instead of parallel
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2018, 01:34:13 PM »

One answer might be that they are connected in series because if one bulb dies, the entire fixture goes out so you know a bulb is dead. With parallel bulbs, if one bulb dies the fixture still works but not as intended. People using a 1/2 working fixture might not understand a bulb died and would keep using it, or stop using it as it now underperforms. 
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TJ (Tom) Cornish

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Re: Lamps in series instead of parallel
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2018, 03:18:19 PM »

Sorry for little OT, but lights are usually somehow tied with sound.

I have met with one really interesting question.
Inside effect lights like derby ,zigzag, doubleball there are usually 2 lamps connected in series.
F.E.: two 120V lamps in series instead of two 230V in parallel.

Why are they connected in series, not in parallel?
Is it because of "same current running through = same intensity" or better manufacturing (in countries running 120V power outlet they just move jumpers to connect them in parallel) ?
Another potential issue is that 230 volts can be challenging for filament design, particularly for low-wattage or physically small lamps.
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Jeff Lelko

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Re: Lamps in series instead of parallel
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2018, 05:08:08 PM »

In countries running 120V power outlet they just move jumpers to connect them in parallel?

That's a good question.  In all of my similar effect lights (and I own many), they're all in parallel (and I'm in a 120v country).  The 120v variant of the 64514 lamp that most of these effects use seems to be the common choice, but a 230v version exists.  Without too much digging in inventory I found a few examples.  My ADJ Avenger IIs have a fixed voltage and simply list the 120v fuse and lamps, whereas my Chauvet Lighthouse has a user-selectable voltage (120/230v) and lists the fuse/lamps for both settings.  All units have the lamps tied together in parallel.  I know that's not really an answer for you, but more info to chew on! 
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Re: Lamps in series instead of parallel
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2018, 05:08:08 PM »


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