Restocking 300W / 120V ELH lamps - good UK sources?

[Tom Kershaw]

I've today received four of the lamps as referenced by Phil Hudson. Efficient service and reasonably well packed but these are for stock rather than immediate use so not able to give a full impression just yet.

 

[Luis-F-S]

The ENH lamps look tempting but I wonder if there is any unforeseen disadvantage, taking into account longer exposure times which shouldn't be too much of an issue. The ELH option on eBay seems to be available for £8.50 if ordered in multiples. £6.25 for branded ENH units.

ENH bulbs are what I use in my DeVere 5108. I usually buy them NOS at the auction site. Also 175 hours vs 50 hours life. It’s a no brainer!

 

[Tom Kershaw]

ENH bulbs are what I use in my DeVere 5108. I usually buy them NOS at the auction site.

Perhaps I'll try the ENH lamps at some point. They are certainly less expensive and more available than the ELH models.

 

[canuhead]

It's in the US, but I get my Devere bulbs from http://www.replacementlightbulbs.com.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I've today received four of the lamps as referenced by Phil Hudson. Efficient service and reasonably well packed but these are for stock rather than immediate use so not able to give a full impression just yet.

After writing this nearly a year ago I found I had some more Phillips lamps. However today I did need to use one of these new 'Donar' off-brand lamps and initial impressions were less than perfect, in fact the lamp only lasted a couple of prints. This extremely short life set me off investigating my MG500 system and sanding / cleaning lamp contacts etc, although there wasn't much obviously amiss; also checked electrical continuity etc. and no apparent problems.

Once reassembled, I moved over a couple of General Electric lamps (the Ian Grant stock) from my De Vere 5108 and proceeded to make several prints successfully with the MG500 / De Vere 504 set-up. The only other change made was to connect the MG500 power supply to a voltage stabilised source - normally found supplying my 5108.

I'm slightly concerned that I may have to look at new old stock branded lamps as the availability situation of good quality ELH lamps doesn't seem to have improved. I have two of the Donar lamps in my 5108 and these do work, at least while I performed the experiment.