Haunted Flicker Light Adapter

This adapter will turn any 25W Colored Party Light Bulb into an eerily flickering light. This can be used with any standard light socket, provided you have the room for it. It is a modification of the flickering light fixture portion of the haunted signpost I found at http://www.unpleasantstreet.com/index.php?x=/projects/2005/haunted_signpost&y=main

Step 1 Parts

The parts from the home store you will need are: a light socket adapter, a flourescent lampholder with starter socket, and a 20W flourescent tube starter.

Comments

[ThaNorwegianDude]

uhm... i didn't really get what it does... does it flicker the light or just when its turned on? =/

[lightingbug]

I have just been to both HD and Orchard Supply Hardware and found that they don't carry 25w incand. colored "party bulbs" lamps, having replaced them with colored CFLs. Does anyone have a line on the 25w anymore? This is going to suck. We still use them as running lights for theatre and the CFL versions are too bright for backstage.

[unbwogable]

Tried this this other day with no luck. I only put it on the 'hot' side (no neutral), and all I get is a starter that glows. However, if I turn of the lamp that is attached (or unscrew the bulb that is connected), the glow stops. Help!!

[Gaark]

the way the starter works is it lets enough current through to heat up the fluoro tubes filaments so they can ionise the gas inside the tube. The filaments in the tube take enough current to cause a small bi-metal switch in the starter to bend and disconnect the power, and in the proper setting the attached choke would 'strike' the tube by sending a spike of current through the ionised gas. Short answer, get a higher wattage bulb, or a lower powered starter. I dont know if you can get the Phillips S10 starters there, but I use those for everything.

[twocvbloke]

Hmm, I might have a go at this, I like flickering lights, dunno why, but I've often wondered how to do this myself, cos you see it on TV and in movies, now i know how to recreate the effect... :D

[vegnsam]

hey there, ive been searching for how to create a flickering light for an installation im creating and i wanted to know if this would work with a 40watt black CFL.? (black light/ uv light etc) it would be heaps helpful if you could get back to me thanks heaps.

[Resourceful]

It wouldn't work for CFL But would work for regular bulb.

[infinitiy]

I gonna say I doubt it. I did a little bit of looking around and found "that if you lower the voltage in a fluorescent light, the ballast that regulates the power into the bulb can't pass enough power to make the bulb actually light up." (from Planet Geek)
So, sorry, I think this will only work for incandescent bulbs.

[cessers]

Excellent! I do the same thing within a prop but add a slow blow fuse inline. Never thought of trying to fit in it an adapter like you did. Really nice work.

[derbyj]

Just what I have been looking for. Great Instructable easy to follow, so good first one i have commented on. i for sure will be making this.

[technogeek-1995]

Great instructable, Could you added a strobe?

[Back Roads]

Cool way to add effects, I had to try it and it works. My only constructive comment is you did it the hard way. If you took apart the Starter, you find a high tech device known as a light bulb and nothing els. The bulb is crimped into the 2 aluminum posts. If you un-crimp the bulb leads you can pull it out with pliers. Then solder the bulb in line, or in series, just like you did to the cut copper contact. There is enough room inside to hold the bulb. So when you re-assemble it will look un-modified.

[kools]

Hi I tried it and it is kool. good Instructable I made two and the one didn't work so I reversed the way the starter was and bingo it worked.

[ikarias]

I posted the message and was like DoH! i'm an electrician! Backwards enginering. Anyway, one last comment, Here in the Netherlands, we generaly have 2 types of starters. S2, and S10. The S10 goes from 8 to 65 watts, so make sure you stay within that range.

[padfoot447]

cool! do you have a pic or video of the working bulb? Happy Halloween.

[ikarias]

Looks good. Personaly i totaly object to the type of socket you use, but the difference is in the country i guess. Could you get a scematic online?

[trebuchet03]

I saw this last year here:
http://www.supersoda.com/detail.php?id=00000000054

Just cut one of the leads and splice a starter inline ;) Just be careful of what circuit you put this on...