Just seems like there's not enough light.

[Greg Howald]

My scope uses a 20w halogen bulb and it will not run a 30 watt bulb. Just doesn't seem to be enough light.
I would consider switching over to 5 watt led, but I don't have any idea where to get parts for that. I can get the bulb and socket without difficulty but where does one find a power supply?
Any suggestions?
Greg

[DonSchaeffer]

Just get a flashlight.

[hans]

I think some details on what type of illumination system the microscope has and how you are configuring it will be necessary if you want to troubleshoot.

[Greg Howald]

Seems more than likely that this problem may have to do with the lenses attached to my face.
Greg

[Greg Howald]

Just found led replacement bulbs that will work in my scope. All I have to do is change the bulb for test purposes. Then I'll have an answer.
Greg

[75RR]

I think some details on what type of illumination system the microscope has and how you are configuring it will be necessary if you want to troubleshoot.

Agree, but only because I have misplaced my crystal ball... :)

[BramHuntingNematodes]

Led bulbs have a lot of different configurations and some of them are extremely suboptimal for microscopy. Frequently light is directed where it's not useful or the light source is larger and more uneven than a filament.

The plus side is that some bulbs don't need an additional power supply. You just plug them straight into the wall.

[hans]

To give a point of reference my Reichert Microstar IV (which a "modified Koehler" system with 20 W halogen bulb) is blinding, painful to look at, in brightfield 4-40X and bright but tolerable at 100X if the room is brightly lit. The switchable ND filter must be used most of the time in brightfield to reduce the power.

[Greg Howald]

The scope is Amscope B660. 20w halogen, kholer, 4 to 100x, plain polarization in head, 1.25 condenser fully open. It has its difficulties. Condenser must be lowered at 4x to avoid interference from the Condenser on the outer portion of field of view. At 40x it dulls out. 100x is a little brighter. At no time is it as bright as my 20 watt halogen petrographic scope. The bulb has just been replaced with a new one with no improvement. I know led bulbs may not be the answer but I think it worth a try.
Greg

[75RR]

.
Have a look through this interactive tutorial, it could be that your Köhler setup needs a little fine tuning.

In this tutorial you need to adjust the lamp filament first, something you would not probably have to do on your microscope.

http://zeiss-campus.magnet.fsu.edu/tuto ... flash.html

[Greg Howald]

75RR, I greatly appreciate this knowledge. Thank you.
Greg

[Greg Howald]

Studied tutorial. Centered lamp. Condenser 4mm below stage. Great improvement!
I appreciate you folks helping me out. You might have saved a $500 microscope from the dump.
Greg