Imagine this scenario. A regular 60 to 100 Watt light bulb that turns on and off @ maybe 6 to 12 times an hour. How long will the life span be? Will it make a difference if the switch was linear instead of a pulse? Linear means slowly reaches the AC voltage level (120 or 220 won't really make a difference), and then, slowly go down till it reaches Zero voltage. Pulse means it's 220 volts one second and then it's zero.
2007-08-07 02:52:18 · 4 answers · asked by Abdallah A 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Modern incandescent bulbs last a very long time, even with that kind of use. Even longer, if they are designed for it. Think about traffic lights, or warning lights for intersections, blinking every second or two for years. If you ramp the voltage too slowly, you could increase the wear. If the bulb is connected to an AC power source, it's already turning on and off 100-120 times a second.
2007-08-07 04:19:30 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer depends both on the quality of the bulb and the consistency of the current. In theory, a linear switch will greatly extend lifespan, but how much I don't know. All things being equal, most bulbs are switched on and off several hundred times, but not on a consistent schedule.
Sounds like a good experiment to try, assuming you can set up a consistent test apparatus.
2007-08-07 09:59:44 · answer #2 · answered by dukefenton 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
880/ and yes linear would prolong the bulb.
2007-08-07 09:56:29 · answer #3 · answered by I AM BACK 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd say 100
2007-08-07 09:56:34 · answer #4 · answered by calltoperservence 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋