Darkroom Lightbulbs

[rcjtapio]

I have a dumb question & apologize if this has been covered on a previous thread.

As of today, January 1st, incandescent bulbs will no longer be made. Does anyone have a good suggestion for substitute bulbs that can be used in a darkroom?

I have tried the new fluorescent type, but they glow after you turn them off & take a while to come to full strength when turned on....neither good for a darkroom. I also use a bare 40 watt bulb to view my wet prints from the developer.

Is there are good substitue bulb that turns on & off instantly...or should I go out & buy a 10 year supply of the old ones while they last?

Rick

[jp]

You could stock up on incandescent as a form of investment. and sell them on ebay ten years from now for $5 each.

Halogen bulbs are available as a pricier equivalent bulb. Barely any more efficient.

LED bulbs are pretty rockin at the moment. I've been getting $10 utilitech pro ones from lowes with a 3000k color output which I like. A recent gallery thread suggested a philips LED bulb for displaying photos. Might as well use the same light in the darkroom as for display.

[BetterSense]

These are perfect substitutes for the old red incandescents. Even better actually.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/g-series-minature/2-watt-g11-globe-bulb-360-degree/440/


I better question, IMO, is what to do about enlarger bulbs. Replacements are still available, but can I buy a a direct LED substitute yet?

If you just need incandescent replacements, the Cree bulbs are the only way to go (available at Home Depot).

[Nathan Potter]

Incandescent bulbs haven't been made for a while. I think after Jan 1, 2014 it is also illegal to sell or ship remaining stock; not sure about this though.

I stocked up earlier, so have a catch in my deep freeze - like Quickloads. ;)

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[Jac@stafford.net]

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?77687-Enlarger-bulbs-disappearing

A good thread on the subject.

[Len Middleton]

From the CBC News site with regards to changes in Canadian regulations:

"Ban on incandescent light bulbs

The Conservatives also came into office vowing to do away with incandescent light bulbs. After phasing them out over the last couple of years, Canadians will no longer be able to buy old-fashioned light bulbs beginning Jan.1, 2014.

The ban will force Canadians to buy more energy efficient alternatives, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light-emitting diode​s (LED) bulbs, which tend to cost more that the old-fashioned types.

Despite the ban, there is no federal plan yet to dispose of the CFLs, which meet energy efficient standards but also contain a small amount of mercury.

While retailers will be able to sell the incandescent bulbs left on their shelves, manufacturers will no longer supply Canadian stores with them."



In another article I read earlier, it indicated that appliance bulbs (for refrigerators, ovens) will continue to be sold so there is the supply for low wattage safelight bulbs. Also as many have already moved to CFL's and LED's, anyone having a supply of incandescent bulbs might be interested in clearing them out at a heavy discount.

It may be possible to purchase enlarger bulbs from the USA if the sources in Canada dry up, but it would be best not to describe them as an incandescent bulb, instead for example describing them as a "photographic enlarging / projection light source".

The sky is not falling yet...

[Brian Sims]

The law in effect today is only a prohibition on manufacture. Shipping and sale of incandescent bulbs is still legal.

[Tin Can]

Those are fantastic safe light bulbs, much better than anything old. Nice sharp cutoff. I use 10 in a large darkroom and studio, I do mostly X-Ray. I don't need a shutter to pop a flash in the red light zone.

We need to start making DIY LED enlarger heads. I am thinking of big, maybe 11x14 LED. I have stocked up on 150, 250 and 500 watt enlarger bulbs, but they will not last forever even on a lower voltages.

I think special usage incandescent are still allowed.


These are perfect substitutes for the old red incandescents. Even better actually.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/g-series-minature/2-watt-g11-globe-bulb-360-degree/440/


I better question, IMO, is what to do about enlarger bulbs. Replacements are still available, but can I buy a a direct LED substitute yet?

If you just need incandescent replacements, the Cree bulbs are the only way to go (available at Home Depot).

[Jac@stafford.net]

Randy: "We need to start making DIY LED enlarger heads."

How would it work with a condenser enlarger?

[Tin Can]

Read this guy, i want to scale up from his plans.

http://www.trippingthroughthedark.com/category/darkroom/durst-138s/


Randy: "We need to start making DIY LED enlarger heads."

How would it work with a condenser enlarger?

[konakoa]

Randy, here's a write-up I did on this exact topic over on APUG. http://www.apug.org/forums/forum216/115658-4x5-enlarger-conversion-diy-led-head.html

I use red LEDs as a safelight in my darkroom too. Long narrow strip, facing up towards the ceiling. Very soft, even light that way. I've set up mine to be adjustable in brightness via a special LED dimmer as well.


...We need to start making DIY LED enlarger heads. I am thinking of big, maybe 11x14 LED.

[Tin Can]

Konakoa,

I did read your post last year, but somehow forgot. I think at the time you did not list print times, I now see you are getting reasonable times well under a minute. That's great.

It looks like you used the 40" strip, in 8 rows for 4x5, I guess I could use the 200" strip for 8x10. I know I am going to build at least 3 versions. I may as well go to 8x10 to start. I don't have the space problem you do.

If it works well at 8x10, I will go to 5x7 and 11x14, why not?

I want to make sure I order the right product. Is it this natural white? http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-strips-and-bars/nfls-x-series-high-power-led-flexible-light-strip/1464/

I am a little confused, you say you have 225 LED's and I count 64 in your pics, and the 200" strip has 300 leds. Have I got the wring product?

OK edit, I see you crisscrossed them so you have at least double, it's hard to see in your images. and you don't have the wire loops showing.

So my second question is how many feet did you use on the 6x7" black panel?



Thanks for your help!


Randy, here's a write-up I did on this exact topic over on APUG. http://www.apug.org/forums/forum216/115658-4x5-enlarger-conversion-diy-led-head.html

I use red LEDs as a safelight in my darkroom too. Long narrow strip, facing up towards the ceiling. Very soft, even light that way. I've set up mine to be adjustable in brightness via a special LED dimmer as well.

[Tin Can]

I'm originally from Minnesota and I know you have been getting some cold weather. Even Chicago will be under zero all day this Monday.

Global freezing I hear.


Try getting a fluorescent to go on at 20 below zero.
Then laying a fluorescent or an LED on a battery overnight to use the heat to keep it warm so it will crank your truck engine in the morning doesn't work. They don't put out enough heat.

Try dropping one in a well on a shop light, tied off so it is about 5 feet over the water level so the well doesn't freeze over - LED's and fluorescents don't do well here either.

[MrFujicaman]

Or having to leave a troublelight near the valve of propane tank that's gotten water in it, os the valve won't freeze up.

[konakoa]

Randy, I did cris-cross the strips. There are horizontal and vertical rows. There are twenty-five six inch strips in my 4x5 LED enlarger head, each six inch strip has nine LEDs, so altogether it really cranks out the lumens. :)

Yes, you've got the right series and color above in your link.


So my second question is how many feet did you use on the 6x7" black panel?

Black panel = the plastic sheet I stuck the LED strips to I assume. About thirteen feet worth of the premade LED strip lighting went into my 4x5.

For an 8x10 or 11x14 sized head, you likely won't need as many strips crammed so close together as I did in my 4x5. In my 4x5 I used the vertical and horizontal rows to get as many LEDs as possible to fit within the area allowed.

I haven't built an 8x10 version yet. I'm just guessing with the following: all you may need are vertical rows with an 8x10 because you have much more surface area to work with; far more LEDs will fit in the space, so you won't need nearly the same density and layering to get the same amount of light useful for enlarging.

[Tin Can]

Thanks Konakoa.

I just sent you a PM that may confuse things.

My post here is for the http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-strips-and-bars/nfls-x-series-high-power-led-flexible-light-strip/1464/

In the PM, I ask about these, http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/top-emitting/high-power-led-flexible-light-strip--nfls-x3/1465/#customerreview

The second ones are much more powerful and slightly more money.

Originally I was planning on something like this, which I have, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-1008-LED-Light-Panel-Photography-Video-Studio-Portrait-Lighting-w-Dimmer-/370976407070?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item565feabe1e

These are powerful, I have two 5600K 12x12" and one 7x10" which adjusts from 3400K to 5600K. I got these for video. Since I have them I may try one first, they do have dimmers.

I kinda like your system better.