Burn out headlight bulb?

[Slickone]

We're doing an experiment and need to burn out a spare auto headlamp (9004). Is there a safe way to do this? What if I hook 120V AC from the house to it?

 

[erikiksaz]

Just feel it up (get oil/grease from your hand on it) and plug it into your car.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Put two 12v batteries in series and see how long it lasts at 24v.
If that doesn't do it add a third, for 36v

EDIT: Use oil if you want to crack the glass & let out the inert gas

 

[KEV1N]

Yes, get oil on it and run it.

 

[GroundZero]

Originally posted by: Slickone
We're doing an experiment and need to burn out a spare auto headlamp (9004). Is there a safe way to do this? What if I hook 120V AC from the house to it?

lol
that will blow it out not burn it out...
make sure you hold it in your mouth like uncle fester when you plug it in for added effect!

 

[Thegonagle]

I'd try using 24 V, not 120. It won't last long at 24 V. If you don't have access to an adaquate powersupply (your school lab should have one if this is a school project), you could take two car batteries (DISCONNECTED from the cars!!!) and wire them in series to supply 24 V momentarily. (WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING, and don't short them out!!! If I need to explain what it means to wire them in series or you can't figure out how you would do this safely, STOP and PROCEED NO FURTHER!!!)

 

[Thegonagle]

 

[Slickone]

I don't have two batteries, but tried a 20V AC to AC wall wart, with oil. The oil smoked, but the bulp never went out. After about 15 min, it finally quit, but the bulb still works in the car. I think I burned up the wall wart (?), else my connections were bad.

 

[DrPizza]

just a thought... wrap it in aluminum foil so that it overheats and possibly the filament will burn out before the glass goes. Before wasting the money that a car headlight costs, attempt my idea with a houselight.

Take pictures of the process, just in case. If it doesn't work, there's still the possibility of some cool pictures as the glass melts and/or the aluminum foil bursts into flames. Report back!

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
just a thought... wrap it in aluminum foil so that it overheats and possibly the filament will burn out before the glass goes. Before wasting the money that a car headlight costs, attempt my idea with a houselight.

Take pictures of the process, just in case. If it doesn't work, there's still the possibility of some cool pictures as the glass melts and/or the aluminum foil bursts into flames. Report back!

Hah. I actually tried that on another one awhile back. The aluminum foil started glowing bright orange, and got so hot that the plastic base started melting, so I stopped. The foil was very brittle and thin feeling after that, like paper, and fell apart as I was taking it off. Underneath, the bulb had swollen up to 1.5 times it's orig. size, but still worked! It's amazing how easily these bulbs go out when you don't want them to, and people have always talked about how a tiny fingerprint can make them burn up, but I can't get the darn things to burn out. Maybe it's all a load of crap. I've tried aluminum foil, vaseline, synthetic motor oil, and 20V AC. I wish I could take pics but my G2 is broken.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Slickone
I don't have two batteries, but tried a 20V AC to AC wall wart, with oil. The oil smoked, but the bulp never went out. After about 15 min, it finally quit, but the bulb still works in the car. I think I burned up the wall wart (?), else my connections were bad.

You overloaded the wall wart and probably killed it. Those are 55 watt bulbs, which is 2.75 amps at 20 V. The wall wart is probably rated at a lot less and the bulb was drawing all the power it could supply, which lowered the voltage to well under 20, which wouldn't blow the bulb.

 

[TechnoKid]

Lights the bulb and shake it, the fillament is pretty brittle.

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Lights the bulb and shake it, the fillament is pretty brittle.

Then how would they stand up to all the vibration while driving? Especially a 4x4 or 4x2 truck/SUV.