Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

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Aenima
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Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#1 Post by Aenima » Sat Mar 17, 2018 2:42 am

Hi,

My sm lux recently blew its bulb, so while looking for a replacement i've found the exact bulb difficult to locate.

My thoughts are turning to alternative illumination - for example, would a whole new lamphouse be an option?

Ive seen a few of them for sale but have no idea how it might fit the sm lux or whether any upgrades existed at the time for this model - like the 100W w/separate 'casing' - that might be found on ebay?


Failing that what about similar spec bulbs? do any that are easier to find exist?


Thanks in advance for any info on the matter :) :)

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#2 Post by einman » Sat Mar 17, 2018 2:59 am

does it use the 6v 10 watt bulb? Halogen? G4? do you have a pic? if a halogen g4 6v 10 watt they are quite abundant.

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#3 Post by Aenima » Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:31 am

no, its a stubby looking round bulb. i'll have to find a pic of it.

The scope itself is the grey SMLUX with the light 'hole' in the side, rather than the back. It pulls out and the bulb is on the end of the insert. Glass very round with no 'neck'.

Sorry i can't specify - i do believe its a 6v 10w

found a link, but its from the states https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEITZ-SM-LUX ... SwAaJaGNFW

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75RR
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#4 Post by 75RR » Sat Mar 17, 2018 5:47 am

On the same page of the link you provided (bottom left) the is one for sale that looks like a halogen. It says 6v 20w
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leitz-Sm-Lux ... 0009.m1982

That might be worth acquiring as it is both brighter and makes for easier bulb sourcing.
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#5 Post by einman » Sat Mar 17, 2018 6:42 pm

75RR wrote:On the same page of the link you provided (bottom left) the is one for sale that looks like a halogen. It says 6v 20w
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leitz-Sm-Lux ... 0009.m1982

That might be worth acquiring as it is both brighter and makes for easier bulb sourcing.

Exactly!! Those halogen bulbs are very cheap and easily acquired.

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#6 Post by Aenima » Sat Mar 17, 2018 7:00 pm

75RR wrote:On the same page of the link you provided (bottom left) the is one for sale that looks like a halogen. It says 6v 20w
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leitz-Sm-Lux ... 0009.m1982

That might be worth acquiring as it is both brighter and makes for easier bulb sourcing.
Not quite sure what you mean?
can i use bulbs with a different spec than the one that blew?

I think the bulb in my link is the same as the one in yours - either that or the listings have changed since copying link.


Can i just buy a different 'bulb holder' for the sm lux? I think also the link i provided was from the USA and will cost a great deal more in shipping if he does ship internationally at all. UK searches haven't brought up many options. :/


I'm also hoping to find out what illumination upgrades are compatible with my model. And how to spot them from pictures or serial numbers on ebay.


i saw a pleomopak vertical illuminator but have no idea whether it will be useful as 'standard' lighting, and don't relish the idea of using fluorescent lights/cubed filters and various other stuff i don't fully understand. I don't know whether more parts are needed and whether special objectives are mandatory etc etc.

I have to admit i'm rather stuck with all the different models, fittings and illumination methods.


Thanks for any info :)

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#7 Post by einman » Sat Mar 17, 2018 7:07 pm

Sure. Many scopes offer illumination systems of varying strengths ( watts) depending on your application. 75RR was suggesting swapping out your lamp holder for the one for sale on E-bay that allows the use of a 20 w halogen lamp. This should be ok. It could create potentially more heat so you would have to be sure no damage could result but I doubt that would be the case.


LED retrofit systems are offered on e-bay as well but tend to be costly at around $145.

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#8 Post by 75RR » Sat Mar 17, 2018 7:42 pm

Link still works. Price is $47, though seller does say he accepts offers.
Also on shipping it says to contact the seller so he does ship internationally.
You could get it all in for about £50 I suppose. Does not hurt to ask.
Still, that is an expensive solution when all you really want is a 50 pence bulb ;)

Have you looked into specialist bulb sites like this one: https://www.bulbworks.com/microscope.php

if you can ID it you might find it easier to obtain locally.
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#9 Post by Aenima » Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:08 pm

75RR wrote:Link still works. Price is $47, though seller does say he accepts offers.
Also on shipping it says to contact the seller so he does ship internationally.
You could get it all in for about £50 I suppose. Does not hurt to ask.
Still, that is an expensive solution when all you really want is a 50 pence bulb ;)

Have you looked into specialist bulb sites like this one: https://www.bulbworks.com/microscope.php

if you can ID it you might find it easier to obtain locally.
Good idea. I know there are some markings and text on my blown bulb, but it's going to need some decent light and magnification to read it. Might try an occular reversed and a light source. Maybe put the bulb under my macro lens :D


Thanks for the help, and link - i will see what i can make out of the writing to ID the bulb, as well as searching for a compatible bulb holder - although i've seen a couple online i don't know for sure whether they will fit in the sm-lux. Maybe if i find something i think might fit, i can post a link here to ask opinions on compatibility?


Thanks again.

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#10 Post by mrsonchus » Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:47 pm

I use these in my SM-lux. Work perfectly - perfect fit too!

Link to SM-LUX bulbs

John B.
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#11 Post by Aenima » Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:11 pm

mrsonchus wrote:I use these in my SM-lux. Work perfectly - perfect fit too!

Link to SM-LUX bulbs

John B.
wow, these look ideal! cheap n cheerful if they work :)

I have ordered one to try it out. Thanks for the headsup John, much appreciated!

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#12 Post by Aenima » Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:27 pm

I'm still curious about that 20W holder that 75RR linked though - it looks like it might be a good upgrade, although it would be cool to find a UK based listing.

I at least know that the bulb holder would fit if i do find one in the uk - so i'll keep an eye out. :)

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#13 Post by coominya » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:14 am

75RR wrote:On the same page of the link ... is one for sale that looks like a halogen...
That might be worth acquiring as it is both brighter and makes for easier bulb sourcing.
I see a lot of LED conversions advertised on ebay too, are these a better light source than halogen? I have a lot of LED arrays and single hi-power units here as part of my electronics hobby work and have controllers as well. I imagine fitting one into the lamphouse of my Olympus ECE would not be a huge challenge. Also I don't understand why they have the halogen bulbs running on AC current?

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#14 Post by Aenima » Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:43 pm

Received the bulb replacement today, it seemed ok at first, but unfortunately after half an hour it became less bright - i took it out to check and the glass had turned black (and extremely hot). Don't know if i got the wrong bulb or if my electronics are malfunctioning but i'm back to the drawing board where lighting is concerned. :/

Any ideas on this?


thnx :)

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#15 Post by 75RR » Wed Mar 21, 2018 9:10 pm

If you can afford it and if you will be keeping the microscope for some time, I would go for the halogen. It would be a nice upgrade.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leitz-Sm-Lux ... 0009.m1982

As to what happened ... did you perhaps exceed the recommended bulb voltage?
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#16 Post by Aenima » Wed Mar 21, 2018 9:44 pm

Yeah i did check out the link, but its in the united states and at that price i'll likely have to pay customs. :/


Need something a bit closer to home.

Thanks for the link though :)


Ps. i'm guessing you think the bulb is not the issue?

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#17 Post by 75RR » Wed Mar 21, 2018 9:56 pm

If you exceed the voltage you will burn the bulb out very quickly.
Can you check if you did? Would be a easy fix if so. :)
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#18 Post by Aenima » Wed Mar 21, 2018 10:03 pm

75RR wrote:If you exceed the voltage you will burn the bulb out very quickly.
Can you check if you did? Would be a easy fix if so. :)
I wouldn't know how to check that kind of thing to be honest. I know that the scope itself runs off a UK plug (240V/230V i think) rather than me having to convert it with a transformer - so there aren't any switches or dials that i can adjust aside from the one on the stand that controls brightness.

I might look into the cost of shipping/customs from the states because it really would be a good result all round. Appreciate the input either way. :)

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#19 Post by Aenima » Wed Mar 21, 2018 10:20 pm

Ordered the halogen lampholder :P (apparently customs is usually around 15-20GBP so not quite as painful as i first imagined)

Hopefully it will be a simple swap into the same hole the old one goes in?


Was a great idea 75RR thank you. :)

Just a thought regarding the voltage - would i be right in thinking the dial on the stand will control voltage? If so, can i just not crank it up full to use the bulb at a lower voltage? or is more complicated than that?


THNX

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#20 Post by 75RR » Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:51 pm

Ordered the halogen lampholder
Congratulations!
Just a thought regarding the voltage - would i be right in thinking the dial on the stand will control voltage?
Can you post some photos of your setup - particularly how you control the illumination?
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#21 Post by Aenima » Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:57 pm

not sure if any of my pics of the sm-lux show the knob but there is actually only one dial/knob on the stand, so it's easy to explain - This image shows the same model as mine with the same dial.

Hopefully it answers the question - i will still search my pics in case i do have one. :)

its that black dial on the right hand side of the base at the back (as you look from the front) HTH
LESM-LUX-R.jpg
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#22 Post by MichaelG. » Thu Mar 22, 2018 12:04 am

Identified as 'Control knob for transformer' in the numbered diagram on page 2
http://www.science-info.net/docs/leitz/ ... ctions.pdf

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#23 Post by Aenima » Thu Mar 22, 2018 12:06 am

MichaelG. wrote:Identified as 'Control knob for transformer' in the numbered diagram on page 2
http://www.science-info.net/docs/leitz/ ... ctions.pdf

MichaelG.
Yeah , that's the one :)

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#24 Post by 75RR » Thu Mar 22, 2018 6:44 am

Nice image link
+ great link on the manual MichaelG

Now you need a friend with a voltmeter who is willing to measure the output in volts as you turn the dial.
Of particular interest is the maximum volts.

You also need some idea at which point the dial produces 6 volts so you can stay below that.
Staying below 6 volts will increase bulb life markedly.

To give you an example with my bulb:

Zeiss 12v 60w Lamphouse uses = Tungsten bulbs (Zeiss 38 00 18-2520)
Designed Rated Life is 100 hours at 12v.

Critical not to go over!

Voltage ..... Bulb Life
13v ........... 35 hours
12.5v ........ 58 hours
12v ............100 hours
11v ........... 300 hours
10v ........... 1000 hours

As even a small reduction in voltage has very positive consequences on bulb life it is well worth playing
with every setting in order to find a combination that does not rely on max light intensity where possible.

Below is the formula and the calculator steps when applied on a bulb rated for 12v @ 100hour with a maximum applied voltage of 10v
Note: The calculations above were arrived at by substituting the applied voltage in the formula.
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#25 Post by Aenima » Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:07 am

Thanks, very useful info - and a shock (no pun intended) to see the bulb life vanish at higher voltages!

Fortunately there were two bulbs in the pack, and so i was able to replace the first one and experiment with the dial - i found that turning it about two thirds full, there was a big reduction in the blackening of the glass and so far it looks to be staying that way :) - i will avoid using anything above that setting in order to keep using the microscope, at least until the halogen one arrives.

I would not have thought to try this if you hadn't suggested it, so once again a thank you is in order :)


Regards

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#26 Post by Aenima » Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:12 pm

75RR wrote:On the same page of the link you provided (bottom left) the is one for sale that looks like a halogen. It says 6v 20w
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leitz-Sm-Lux ... 0009.m1982

That might be worth acquiring as it is both brighter and makes for easier bulb sourcing.

Gutted. It seems this halogen lamp holder is for a different scope despite being sold as for the SM LUX :(

Is there a different version of this microscope? i can only find reference to two - one with a changeable condenser and one with a fixed condenser. The others are all different models entirely like the SM-LUX HL...?


It doesn't even fit into the stand properly, and if it did the connections are in the wrong place. Any idea what i'm missing here?

Thanks for any info.

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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#27 Post by 75RR » Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:34 pm

Oh dear! Post lots of photos - post item side by side with the other bulb holder etc...
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#28 Post by Aenima » Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:44 pm

75RR wrote:Oh dear! Post lots of photos - post item side by side with the other bulb holder etc...

here is the two holders side by side - you can see the difference. Physically the longer one will not fit into the same hole.
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#29 Post by Aenima » Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:56 pm

with bulbs attched

otherwise yeah, with the difference in length, and the different parts that connect electrically, it's not gonna work. :/
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Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

#30 Post by 75RR » Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:04 pm

I did not notice the difference in the length nor the electrical connection points.

It does seem to exist, though not a straight swop. Found this on the Brunel site:

http://www.usedmicroscopes.co.uk/leitz.html

This is the relevant info:
Have highlighted the relevant part.
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