 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Antique and Collectibles / Studebaker / October 2004(OT) Brake Light Bulbs and Statistics.
A few months ago I noted that there seemed to be about three inoperative right hand brake lights for every LH one. Mike Whitby has a theory: A bit like the fact that a bucket of hot steam with a lid on, it will be found impossible to remove the lid until the bucket cools off considerably. The burn out phenomenon is best answered thus; first consume a large single malt,2 Scotch eggs, a goodley portion of Haggis. Then digest the following. With regard to the fluctuating EMF characteristics inherent in a motor vehicle wiring system, the last brake lamp on the circuit, ie the lamp with the greatest lenth of actual wiring and therefore resistance coeficient, coupled with the high wattage element value consumes the enveloping luminesence gas at a higher rate compared to the other lamp resulting in burn out. And so to bed and count a few sheep, a much safer activity. Mike is that British chap with the cane who brought his '39 Commander to South Bend 2002 and got all the TV attention. He also has theories on other subjects. I don't understand them, either. Karl > A few months ago I noted that there seemed to be about three > inoperative right hand brake lights for every LH one. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Karl It's obvious that if you drive backwards more than the average person, that the theory will be reversed!! <G>  SignatureStudeski Claude Chmielewski claudeski@netzero.com http://www.studeski.com Fillmore, Wisconsin 1947 M16 Truck 1962 GT Hawk 1963 Lark 1964 Commander Wagonaire Mike is that British chap with the cane who brought his '39 Commander to South Bend 2002 and got all the TV attention. He's used to dealing with "lucasiteis" the prince of darkness, That's why the Brits drink warm beer, their refrigerators are made by lucas! <G> Jim Turner > A few months ago I noted that there seemed to be about three > inoperative right hand brake lights for every LH one. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Karl That actually makes sense, but there is no "luminescence gas" in an automotive light bulb - it should be a vacuum unless it is a halogen bulb. I think he may be on to something with the wiring though, most vehicles run the harness down the driver's side so the RH taillights are the farthest from the switch. Voltage drop is significant on a 12V system, and life is theoretically less both above and below the ideal voltage (nominally 12V but in reality more like 14V) nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel Bear in mind that with positive ground the electrical fire is travelling in the opposite direction. And all English light bulbs contain luminescence gas--rain vapour. I note with approval that Karl closes messages with Samuel Pepys quotes. Whom sez we's unliterate? Mike Seery R3672 Norton Owners Club (experts on the Lucas school of physics: "Odd--it worked on the test bench...") > > A few months ago I noted that there seemed to be about three > > inoperative right hand brake lights for every LH one. [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > nate Have you been drinking the blinker fluid again? <G> >Bear in mind that with positive ground the electrical fire is travelling in >the opposite direction. And all English light bulbs contain luminescence [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] >> >> nate Ron/Champ 6 1963 8E5 Champ (Champ 6) 1962 Lark Daytona Convertible (Boomerang) 1995 VW Passat (Vanilla..yuk) 1994 Volvo 850 (Tilley) 1973 Volvo 1800 ES (An Clar) I think he may be on to something with the wiring though, most > vehicles run the harness down the driver's side so the RH taillights are > the farthest from the switch. Voltage drop is significant on a 12V > system, and life is theoretically less both above and below the ideal > voltage (nominally 12V but in reality more like 14V) As Nate says, the wiring harness usually runs down the left side of the car, the RH tail/stoplight is at the furthest end of the eletrical path. I suggest it is probably due to a momentary voltage spike everytime the brakes are applied; keeping in mind, the bulbs themeselves are essentially resistors with the byproduct being the luminecence they give off. As the copper wire is an easier path for the current to follow, the LH taillamp would get its specified voltage, and then the current would of course carry on to the RH lamp which completes the loop. If there is too much voltage, as can happen, and the since the lamp itself is designed to carry only 12 volts of electricity through its filament, the farthest one away will get the full hit of any momentary spike or surge since there is no provision in the wiring for dispersal of this extra energy. This would indeed shorten the life of the RH bulb over the LH bulb somewhat as it is doing double-duty prividing luminescence and absorbing any extra energy that may be incurred in the system each time the brakes are applied. Craig. That's takeing the old water analogy a bit too far. I doubt that electrons have inertia enough to pile up in the filiment of the RH bulb. Karl > I think he may be on to something with the wiring though, most > > vehicles run the harness down the driver's side so the RH taillights are [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Craig. I think you are reaching a tad too far on that, Craig. If you had an inductive load in the stop light circuit, you could get voltage spikes; but there are no inductive loads. With a longer wire run to the RH stop light bulb, it should "see" a lower voltage, all other things being equal. Maybe simply a case of a longer wire run, one or two more connectors; one or two extra places for corrosion to do a number on a connection. Vibration could have role to play, too. And we really haven't established to any degree of certainty that RH stop lights burn out more frequently than LH ones do. I know the last one I changed in the 'burban was a left one. <G> The ones that stay burning are that ones that are left. <VBG> Gord Richmond >I know the last one I changed in the 'burban was a left one. <G> Made me stop and think. I have only replaced left side, not right, stop light bulbs in the past ten years. Gary L. Studebaker Drivers Club Director - Northeast Zone 36 year member of Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. I've changed one of each side since 1980. The RH one was at / for a safety inspection - it was working the day before, though! Karl > >I know the last one I changed in the 'burban was a left one. <G> > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Studebaker Drivers Club Director - Northeast Zone > 36 year member of Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. Boy, that's out there. The answer seems simple, if my experience is typical....when the turn signal cancel breaks, which side usually stops self-cancelling? It's almost always been the RH side for me, so that side blinks more. > I think he may be on to something with the wiring though, most >> vehicles run the harness down the driver's side so the RH taillights are [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > >Craig. Ron/Champ 6 1963 8E5 Champ (Champ 6) 1962 Lark Daytona Convertible (Boomerang) 1995 VW Passat (Vanilla..yuk) 1994 Volvo 850 (Tilley) 1973 Volvo 1800 ES (An Clar) >A few months ago I noted that there seemed to be about three >inoperative right hand brake lights for every LH one. Drivers signal for more right hand turns than left hand turns (same filament)? Gary L. Studebaker Drivers Club Director - Northeast Zone 36 year member of Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. Your're right, three rights always make a left. Dustybob in WV Two observations, Gary 1) The RH bulbs burned out just as unequally more in Britain, where everyone signals (if there is another road user who would benefit from the knowledge thus imparted.) 2) My observations now take place in California, where others use their turn signals about as often I give hand-signals. I bet that Lark Parker could tell us why. Gary, you're up to 37 years in SDC now, ain't you? Karl 38 year member, SDC > >A few months ago I noted that there seemed to be about three > >inoperative right hand brake lights for every LH one. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Studebaker Drivers Club Director - Northeast Zone > 36 year member of Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. >Gary, you're up to 37 years in SDC now, ain't you? Not for another three months. Gary L. Studebaker Drivers Club Director - Northeast Zone 36 year member of Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. >Two observations, Gary > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Karl 38 year member, SDC Oh well, if I must. Just don't argue about it. The reason that the right side bulbs burn out is pretty obvious to those versed in quantum mechanics once they pause to consider: (1)the prevalent vector motion of the car, (2)Plank's constant (particularly regarding quantization with regard to electron motion) and (3)the usual location of the spare tire and jack. It just brings to mind once again that the "E = IR" equation is only true for carbon, and the non-linear resistive characteristic of tungsten filaments affects our everyday lives in profound and wonderful ways. For further reading, my great uncle and noted scientist, Fermi Shroedinger Parker, discussed this in the paper he presented to the 1958 World Council of Science entitled "HOW COME THAT SAME DANG LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN?" SignatureLark Parker Now we need Professor Dork's side of the story! <G> Jim Turner > Now we need Professor Dork's side of the story! <G> Yes, we do! God, I miss that guy! SignatureDave Lester Home of the Internationally Renowned Studebakers, 'Sheba and Goliath See pictures at www.davesplaceinc.com According to my maintenance records my rear bulbs have burned out at similar ntervals. I do a preventive maintenance program in which I rotate them every 3000 mile and replace them every 1500 night driving hours. My records are also broken down by bulb brand name, supplier source and purchase price but I do not have records of road surfaces (smoothness) traveled and mean temperatures duruing the usage period. I will add those factors into the failure analysis program and report back after more data is collected. SignatureLark Parker > According to my maintenance records my rear bulbs have burned out at similar > ntervals. I do a preventive maintenance program in which I rotate them every [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > -- > Lark Parker Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez... And I warn't wearin' my doo doo proof boots! SignatureJT Just tooling through cyberspace in my ancient G4 AAAAaaaaaaayyyyy! Leggo my Leg! All the good maintainers keep track of runtime by minute and number of turns on which the signals were used (not many around here) Mark (Smells like BS to me) Dunning > According to my maintenance records my rear bulbs have burned out at similar > ntervals. I do a preventive maintenance program in which I rotate them every [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > -- > Lark Parker |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.