series globes keep blowing in dmx light.
series globes keep blowing in dmx light.
(OP)
I have built some DMX controlled lights myself recently which because OZ uses 240 volts as the mains I need to run two ENH 250W/120V globes in series to run them off the 240v here. The lights work excellent, the problem being that when one globe blows, the other globe also blows. I mean they do both physically blow and burn the filament out each time one decideds to go. Its like one blowing causes a power surge which blows the second globe. Has anyone had this problem before in a design? I am using a BTA16 triac to control the level/fader of the globes, other than that is a very simple series circuit with two globes.
Is there anyway to protect the globes from burning out or limit the current/voltage to each globe cheaply ? They are burning out way too fast in about 30% of their rate life and when one goes it takes the other globe out meaning 2 globes need to be replaced and its getting expensive, otherwise the lights work great.
Is there anyway to protect the globes from burning out or limit the current/voltage to each globe cheaply ? They are burning out way too fast in about 30% of their rate life and when one goes it takes the other globe out meaning 2 globes need to be replaced and its getting expensive, otherwise the lights work great.






RE: series globes keep blowing in dmx light.
If the first lamp fails in a shorted mode, this would stress the remaining lamp by overvoltage. A center-tapped autotransformer may reduce the overvoltage problem.
RE: series globes keep blowing in dmx light.
Any other ideas on limiting the current or voltage so it cant rise high enough to blow the globes ? What about using capacitors to absorb the extra voltage as it must only happen for a split second when one of the globes blows. Would the size and value of the caps need to be as large and expensive as a transformer ?
Thanks for any further ideas.