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I know I could just drop 100 bucks or less if I went LED for a new desk lamp but if anyone can help me figure out what's wrong I'd appreciate it. It was also my dad's lamp and he has since passed so it sort of feels like a piece of him in my office, so I admit to some sentimental attachment here. It it were any other lamp, I'd probably have replaced it.

Some time ago the T-4 style bulb died. I can see a filament just floating around broken inside the bulb so I knew it was shot. Up to that time, the lamp worked flawlessly. I'd never had to change the bulb over the course of probably 10 years of ownership, it was original to the lamp. enter image description here

I purchased a package of T4 bulbs from Amazon. The lamp specifies 50W so that is what I ordered. When the bulbs came in I swapped one in and it just did nothing. I thought maybe it was defective so I tried another and another. Nothing. I RMA'd them thinking I'd been juked by a bad batch or a shady merchant. Ordered another pack from a different vendor and this time the bulb filaments glow but the bulb does not light up. enter image description here

This lamp did used to have a sort of "slow burn" to get to full brightness but it seems to be not be getting any brighter as I wait and I'm fearful if there's some kind of mismatch here that the bulb will pop / blow out. The lamp has two brightness settings and I get the same result on both settings except the low is lower red glow.

Label on the bulb packaging says 50W T-4. I have to believe there's something wrong with the lamp? What are the odds I'd gotten two bad batches of T-4 bulbs from totally different vendors?

Am I just ordering the wrong bulbs? (Amazon Product Link)

Thanks for any help / suggestions.

rhurlburt
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2 Answers2

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The bulbs in the link say 120 Volt. Your lamp says use 12V 50W. I think you just got the wrong bulbs.

izzy
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The answer by izzy most likely describes the problem. If for some reason the newest bulbs don't function, you should:

  • Check the transformer at the base of the lamp. You'll need a voltage meter to check each lead for the correct output.

  • Check the switch for proper voltage flow.

The transformer may be indicating that it's ready to go. If you don't want to replace it, you could order a lower watt bulb which should illuminate brighter (but that's only if the transformer is weak).

avpaderno
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ojait
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