LEDs or GOWs?

Well, if the globe is as small as it appears to be, I'd go with the smallest one you can find! If needed, you can experiment with added resistance in line with the LED to bring down the brightness to the desired level. You might also want to be mindful of the light pattern from the LED -- some act more like a spotlight, concentrating the output in one direction, and IMHO the globe would probably look best with a more even and non-directional pattern. Good luck, in any event!

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

Thinking about lighting some Pump Globes that probably shouldn't give off too much light.  I understand intensity matters... so, what LEDs would work best for this application?

If, Gunrunner can have personalized Portals... surely, personalized pump Globes wouldn't be too much of a stretch.

Can you open it up or does the lighting have to go through that little neck?

The size of the LED doesn't matter, it's how much current you use.  I'd personally use surface mount flat LED's as they have a wide angle of light dispersal.  Drop me a line, I could probably make you a little PCB to mount them on both sides and include the dropping resistors to adjust the light output.   If you can't open it up, then I'd just have two of them back to back and stick them in the middle of the globe with low current drive.

Thanks Steve & Gunrunner!!!  Yup, you got me to thinkin' about the strip LEDs and Buck Converters I have dotted around the layout.  I have both 'bright' and 'warm' LEDs with some liberty in sizing the access to the Globe... I'll print a few sizes and see if I can get those in there without going to far afield with the scaling.  I'll report back.  Thanks!

Not exactly what you asked, just throwing it out there... an incandescent Grain of Wheat bulb could also provide warm-glow low intensity illumination.

Thanks Steve!!!  The flat LEDs are to big.  I have to dig them out... but, I have a pile of Grain-Of-Wheat bulbs from the plethora of early-mid 80s MBs that I own.  Let me see if I can find them.  THANKS!

Great Call STEVE!   Horrible photo... but, Grain-Of-Wheat @ 7.6vdc.  The old MB's GOWs are still a tad to large at 5mm... but, I'm liking the 360 degree coverage and the warm color is great!  I'll see if I can find some 3 or 4mm.  THANKS!

I have GOW bulbs down to 2mm, so they exist.  If the heat isn't a factor, the incandescent bulbs will give the broadest coverage with even lighting.

Thanks John, That's Great to know!  I'll print the Globes in PETG for heat resistance and I can get away with 8vdc give or take a volt.  Here is another shot inside the Globe while holding the contacts and standing on my head.  Don't tell anyone... but, this photo is in portrait!!!

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

Thanks John, That's Great to know!  Here is another shot inside the Globe while holding the contacts and standing on my head.  Don't tell anyone... but, this photo is in portrait!!!

Careful Dennis, the Photo Police are everywhere!

That is a PETG lens and we are getting nice even glow at 6vdc that seems to be about about the right intensity.   The frame is Turbo-PLA... so, that needs to get beefed up to PETG.  I'll look for 2 or 3mm and mock them up and see how they look after 24 hours... to melt or not to melt!

OK... one conundrum after another.  So, the 2mm GOWs are 6v... and, the 3mm are most often 12v. However, you can also get the 3mm at 1.5v, 2v, 3v and 16v.  They can all be had pre-wired which is a plus.  So, which would tend to run the coolest... 3mm 12v running @  6v seems logical ...but, I can't let logic stand in the way.  Opinions... please.

Remember, for low light you're going to want to limit the voltage on the bulb.  You need to also need the current rating of the bulb.

Ohm's Law

• Power in watts - P
• Current in amps - I
• Voltage - V

Remember, P = I * V

A 6V bulb that draws 60 milliamps will be the same heat as a 12V bulb that draws 30 milliamps.

Finally got the 3mm 12vdc GOWs this morning.  First prototype... the Globe frame & lens are PETG.  It's set at a full 12vdc so we'll see how it holds up after being lit-up for 24hrs.   If it does hold up... 9-10vdc gives it plenty of light for the layout.

Looks great, but it's probably too bright for a gas pump globe anyway, turn the voltage down.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Looks great, but it's probably too bright for a gas pump globe anyway, turn the voltage down.

Prototype 2... this a little better?  Now... I have to keep my sticky, grubby fingers off the text.

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

Prototype 2... this a little better?  Now... I have to keep my sticky, grubby fingers off the text.

Call it weathering.......

Looks great Dennis.

Bob

Nice intensity on that one Dennis, must be an old station as the sign paint is already wearing off.

Dennis

How did you create the globe with the logo?  Did you use HueForge?  Is the logo on a rounded surface?  What did you print in on?

Please share.

Bob

@RRDOC posted:

Dennis

How did you create the globe with the logo?  Did you use HueForge?  Is the logo on a rounded surface?  What did you print in on?

Please share.

Bob

Nothing quite so fancy Bob.  Yes, the Lens is Curved... from 0 to 1.50mm.  The 'decal' is stock 20lbs copy paper with 8pt font.  I placed guide lines around the Text that assist in gluing/centering.  When dry... go around the edge of the Lens with 120grit sandpaper to remove the excess paper.   I'm no Alan Graziano!!!

OH!  I found that the printed Lens has some sort of Fresnel effect... the 20lbs paper helped tame it.

I was tinkering around with clear PETg filament and noticed that I got the Fresnel lens look from that as well.  I was seeing if I could print clear lenses for replacement steam lenses, but the results were less than totally satisfactory.

I also found that thicker layers made the Lens Clearer.  0.16mm was a big improvement over 0.08mm.  I suppose you have less refraction with half as many layers and it becomes clearer.  Apparently, this is true with Resin printers as well... at least that's what I've read.

Before I forget, IR Temperatures at the Crown of the Globe after 1 hr;

12vdc = 35C /95F,  9vdc = 31C/88F and 6vdc = 28C/83F... ambient is 72F.  I've settled on 9vdc.