Will flashlight bulbs work in slide viewers?

[chip j]

Flashlight bulbs are 3V, I believe, while made-for-viewer bulbs are .5V 20 of the the former costs less than one of the latter.

 

[AgX]

It took me a moment to realize you were not talking of flash-bulbs... well, the burden of the non-native reader...

There were no special light-bulbs made for battery-powered slide viewers. At least not over here. So any generic one of right voltage and fixture should work. It then is up to you to decide on the wattage/brightness.

 

[Ian C]

The correct bulb for your viewer depends on the make and model. The Pana View and Pana View II viewer (which I've used since the mid 1980s) use the 245 lamp. The viewer uses either two 1.5-volt AA cells in series (3.0 volts) or can be powered via the optional 120-volt AC to 3-volt power supply.

The 245 lamp is rated 2.45-volts and 0.5-Ampere. It has the 10 mm-diameter G3.5 (E10) screw-base.

These #245 lamps seem reasonably priced from these two sources:

https://www.lightbulbs.com/product/eiko-49703/?source=ConnexityCSE

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/40215-REG/Pana_Vue_DL_245_Lamp_for_Pana_Vue.html/?ap=y&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhcPqv_HW4AIVKx-tBh3j_QeUEAQYASABEgIX2fD_BwE&lsft=BI:514&smp=Y

This seems to indicate that the lamps are being operated at higher-than-expected voltage. Perhaps the maker chose the 245 bulb for greater brightness and higher color temperature. A Pana View will work with a bulb intended for 3 volts, but will be somewhat dimmer and the color temperature will be a bit lower as well.

There are, or were, a range of different E10 screw-base lamps. Recall that flashlights are, or were, made in a variety of configurations. Those that used individual cells were made in various lengths to accommodate two or more cells in series. The voltage = 1.5 times the number of cells, The bulbs were chosen to accommodate the voltage of the cell stack, thus the bulbs were made in a variety of voltages, likewise for bayonet-base flashlight bulbs.

I’m not familiar with a 0.5-volt lamp for a slide viewer. What make and model viewer do you have? I wondered if you might have confused the ampere rating for the voltage.

 

[chip j]

I have a Pana View. I ordered a couple 245 bulbs & 20 of the flashlight bulbs, but the flashlight bulbs don't seem to last.

 

[chip j]

Wow, those are cheap. I paid $7 for 2 245s.. Many thanks.

 

[glbeas]

Theres led replacement bulbs for flashlights on the market now. I found one for my maglight and its really bright compared to the tungsten bulb. One thing I dont know is if they project a directional beam like panel leds do, that would make it hard to diffuse for the viewer screen.

 

[AgX]

For flashlights these make sense, for a handheld slide viewer less, as they typically are rarely used. For the same money one pays for a battery driven viewer one can get a mains run viewer.
And for slightly more money one could get a mature slide projector with built-in rear projection screen, thus one even could share ones delight without having to set up a reflective screen.

 

[darkroommike]

0.5 volts? Are you sure? I only ask because I am not aware of any common one cell "battery" that outputs 0.5 volts. What batteries does you viewer use? That would be your first hint as to what lamp the viewer uses. From there you look at the base of the lamp. And as far as mains powered viewers or slide projectors, yes both are alternatives but sometimes one is away from the mains or can't lug a projector around. BTW, if you do get a slide projector get one that will let you load a loose stack of slides, e.g. a Kodak Carousel with their stack loader. A light box is also a great tool for viewing and editing slides.

 

[AgX]

I guess that was a typo. Likely the OP meant 2.5 Volts.

 

[chip j]

I just got the expensive "OEM" replacement 245s--they are not as yellow as the flashlight bulbs I was using and last for 15 hrs. Haven't tried the EIKO yet.

 

[AgX]

The new ones are overrated, likely for some scientific use.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes flashlight bulbs may work, but I would not recommend flash bulbs.