Hi folk. I'm currently bringing back three Radius 119 lanterns to life after decades of sleep when it hit me. Burning them the usual way is nice and practical if the powers gone, but in the long haul maybe not so nice on a daily basis inside the house. Then it hit me, why not making a LED conversion for the lantern so they can hang in the window over time. My plan is to put a socket for at 12volt T10 car lamp inside the lamp, removing the ceramic piece. Then pulling the powercords through the bent pipe and out through the gap at the jet. Putting the ground cable to the lampchassi and running a single fine positive cabel out and discretely up along the chain to the 12 power supply at the mains in the roof. Ill keep you posted //Fjellot
shudder ..... LED ... just not for me i know how practical and cheap etc but seems like a crime to me I remember looking round a lot of antique malls in the states and seeing a lovely lantern only to get close and see it has been converted to run electric - sorry just not for me each to their own simon
The only proviso I would apply is to not damage anything in the process. It sounds like that is what you have in mind so I'm ok with it. I've put 12v halogen fittings in Aladdin wick lamps before with good results but it only works with the centre draft burners.
Exactly. The idea is to be able to easy remove the adaptation to return it to kerosene use. In that way i could enjoy the lanterns light over time regardless of there's power in the outlet or not. //Fjellot
I have a Vapalux with a cracked glass that I converted recently, but it is 240v and is fitted with a hand wound Edison bulb, which is more 'period' than LED. You can get LED Edison bulbs but they look pretty awful. My overriding consideration was to make no permanent alterations to the lamp; any changes had to be quickly reversible. All the removed parts have been carefully stored in a labeled box. I am happy that I can restore the lamp to it's original state in around 15 minutes. The bulb holder is designed for cable entry through the base, so I drilled a hole in the side to make it side entry. This allows the cable to enter through the control aperture in the lamp collar. The tank and cage was missing most of it's paint so I removed the remainder and cleaned up with Scotchbrite. Two coats of Rustin's Metal Lacquer should keep it rust free. Terry
Hmmm If there is no damage to the original then just about acceptable. You need to find a period hood though. That one piece in green is maybe 15 years later at least. These old 1940s Vapalux lanterns had a brass hood. ::Neil::
I don't like naked bulbs for indoor use, and this certainly look too white and bright. Perhaps with a frosted globe, though. Light the carbide lamp in the window instead. Those give a nice, cozy light if you use a smaller burner (7L or smaller) or dim them down.
Yeap. The 10watt led was more then i expected. It almost like if i ran it as usual. Ill have a go with a 5w led. Ran the carbide lamp last weekend in my cabin actualy
I think 5W will be to much too if you still intend to use it as a pendant in the window for decoration. But if you could find a LED that's truly warm white without being yellow, it could work. A tip! Don't be fooled by the standard that tell you that 3000K is warm white. That is by a European norm. Up here we consider 2700K or less as warm white. As you know, we like nice and comfortable light when it's not meant for only reading or working. I'm glad you use your old Primus carbide lamp. Do you have any other? Carbide lamps are highly neglected nowadays...
Warm white LEDs are quite readily available these days (note that 5500K is daylight or cool white [sometimes shown as 5000 - 6000K] which is what yours looks like).
An update. Got ahold of a led that had a cap but still was so small that it fitted inside the lamp. Not supet bright but will suite hanging in the window
