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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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9th Oct 2017, 9:24 pm | #21 |
Dekatron
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Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK.
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
Mine came from a hobbyist's needlework shop (as a crimbo pressie) and was supplied with a clear incandescent ES lamp covered in blue lacquer for a 'daylight' colour temperature (I've had it a while now). It was supplied with a weighted base and a desk clamp. It isn't as good as the things we use at work with the circular fluorescent tubes in, but it's more than adequate - especially now I've fitted it with an LED bulb replacement.
My point is that you don't necessarily need an electronics / tool outlet to find such a thing.
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9th Oct 2017, 10:52 pm | #22 |
Dekatron
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
By the way if you do get one of these, hot snot a load of copper coins to it. Cheap and easy way to make the base heavier
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10th Oct 2017, 10:28 am | #23 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Leicester, UK
Posts: 2,534
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
The lamp arrived yesterday in a significantly oversized box, but no UK adapter so can't use the lamp yet. Its quite a bit bigger than the Maplin version and better made. The desk clamp is certainly much heftier and it seems to stay in position. On the downside, unlike with the Maplin version, there seems to be no lateral adjustment, only tilt and rotation. There is a seal over a couple of the screws so unfortunately I can't easily open it without voiding warranty. I'm now awaiting the arrival of the adapter so that I can try the lamp. One wonders why it could not have been sent in the same package. There was plenty of space in it!
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10th Oct 2017, 11:31 am | #24 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK.
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
I assume it has a Europlug and that it's moulded as part of the power supply, so you can't cut it off and fit a BS1363 13A plug (which is what I would do if it was just a plug rather than mess around with adapters).
In which case, dare I suggest a screwdriver in the earth hole of a 13A socket to open the shutters and stick the Europlug in the live and neutral holes. If I do this, I do it on an unplugged extension lead, then plug the extension lead into the wall. Just in case. And if it were mine, once I'd checked it worked I wouldn't care about the warranty. I'd open it up. I've never claimed under warranty yet, it's normally quicker and cheaper just to fix the problem on something like this. |
10th Oct 2017, 8:47 pm | #25 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Leicester, UK
Posts: 2,534
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
I just got an email from Amazon to say that the adapter is on its way, but the invoice is rather weird:
Item Subtotal: £4.95 Postage & Packing: £0.06 Free Shipping: -£0.06 UK Adaptor for free: -£0.24 Total: £4.71 Paid by Visa: £4.71 When I paid for the lamp, the adapter was added and then deducted as a free item. However on checking the invoice for the lamp, it seems they deducted it from that invoice and have now invoiced it as a separate chargeable item. The total charged is still correct but this with its 0.06p postage and packing added and then deducted and 0.24p 'Uk adaptor for free' item seems a strange way to invoice it. Quote:
And if it were mine, once I'd checked it worked I wouldn't care about the warranty. I'd open it up. I've never claimed under warranty yet, it's normally quicker and cheaper just to fix the problem on something like this.[/QUOTE] Yes it does have a moulded Europlug but there is no external power supply brick. It is just moulded on to the end of the mains flex. I could have cut off the Europlug and fitted a UK plug, but in the event of a problem I could not then send it back, so I was reluctant to do that. I generally would NOT bypass socket safety in the manner described, but just for the purpose of a brief test and talking appropriate precautions I gave it a go. The plug went in to a point where it got very tight, leaving the last 2-3mm of pin length still exposed. Something metallic could still get into the gap and cause a short so I would definitely not run it in this manner. This is just for the purpose of a brief test and for the purposes of disclaimer, it is NOT recommended to bypass socket safety in this manner and I will not be held responsible for injury or damage to persons or goods resulting to anyone who chooses to do so. The lamp does work just fine but rather than a continuously variable level control, there appear to be 5 distinct brightness levels from dim to extremely bright, which is adequate enough. Hopefully the adapter will be here in a day or two. Last edited by WaveyDipole; 10th Oct 2017 at 9:10 pm. |
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10th Oct 2017, 9:26 pm | #26 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Leicester, UK
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
Quote:
I generally tend to agree. Perhaps my mentioning the warranty was a bit mis-leading. As this was a new purchase, if it were faulty on delivery (which I now know it isn't) I would have wanted to return it. If it fails within the return period, I would also want to return it and not give the vendor any reason to reject the return. Beyond this, I have no problem with opening it up and repairing it if need be. As you say, probably quicker and cheaper to do so. |
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10th Oct 2017, 9:52 pm | #27 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
You can get neat, semi-permanent adaptors that screw over a Euro plug and convert it to fit a BS1363 socket, with an externally-accessed holder for a 3A fuse. Definitely better than the usual "deathdaptors" supplied with imported equipment fitted with non-UK plugs! I almost wonder if it wasn't better in the days before pre-fitted plugs, when an appliance came with bare wire ends and you were expected to fit your own plug .....
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11th Oct 2017, 5:19 am | #28 |
Dekatron
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant to open the socket shutters and stick the Europlug into the 13A socket FOR TESTING ONLY. I certainly wouldn't use something like that all the time, but I would do it just to make sure it works.
After that I might use an adapter, more likely I'd cut the plug off and fit a BS1363 one. |
11th Oct 2017, 6:31 am | #29 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Resolven, Wales; and Bristol, England
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
I bought a similar lamp from RS and it arrived fitted with a moulded UK plug.
The adjustable brightness is perhaps the least useful feature, mine is always used on full. I’ve owned mine for about 18 months and it’s vey good, reliable and useful. Of course, it’s a little cheaper these days!
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11th Oct 2017, 10:20 am | #30 | |
Triode
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Tavistock, Devon, UK.
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
Quote:
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11th Oct 2017, 12:30 pm | #31 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
This is an Illuminated Magnifier Light, with 1.5 x magnifying strength - surely that's not enough for a lot of the detailed work we need to do??
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11th Oct 2017, 1:48 pm | #32 |
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
Lidl special magnifier. Mine is glued magnetically on to a 10lbs iron weight, it stays put now.
I agree the lens is somewhat variable in focal length depending on your viewing angle but in some ways its an advantage once you get used to it. |
11th Oct 2017, 1:54 pm | #33 | |
Nonode
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
Quote:
Last edited by WaveyDipole; 11th Oct 2017 at 2:16 pm. |
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11th Oct 2017, 8:10 pm | #34 |
Dekatron
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
I recently came across one of these on a friend's CD player: http://www.powerconnections.co.uk/co...rotouk_cp1.htm
OK if you'd rather not cut off the plug, apparently CPC stock them. |
11th Oct 2017, 9:46 pm | #35 |
Dekatron
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
That's the same thing I meant in post #27, above.
The adaptor shown in post #33 looks a bit dodgy to me. The shroud around the socket suggests it should have top and bottom Earth bars for a Schuko plug or a protruding Earth pin for a French plug, but the plug has a plastic earth pin so they would not be connected to anything. Why are properly Earthed Schuko to BS1363 adaptors so hard to come by?
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11th Oct 2017, 10:35 pm | #36 | |
Dekatron
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
They are available, just quite expensive.
Quote:
CPC one clamps on to the cable. Well engineered. |
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12th Oct 2017, 10:25 am | #37 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Leicester, UK
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
Quote:
Thanks for the links to the PowerConnections adapter. Being sourced from Germany, the plug on this lamp has a rounded lip and there is an equivalent PowerConnections adapter to fit this type as well. I managed to find one at both CPC and RS: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/mains-...rters/7839574/ http://cpc.farnell.com/powerconnecti...13a/dp/PL06738 There is no postage fee when ordering from RS so although the adapter was costlier from RS (£1.90 ex VAT vs £1.44 ex VAT), the total worked out at £2.18 from RS vs £4.73 from CPC, so I have now placed an order with RS. BTW can anyone suggest how one might plug one of these into a wall socket without electrocuting oneself? http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/mains-...rters/2604682/ Presumably once plugged in, the prongs on all sides become live? Anyway, I digress. |
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12th Oct 2017, 12:48 pm | #38 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
If the lamp has a proper Schuko plug with edge Earth contacts, then that non-Earthed adaptor is unsuitable. If it's just a high-power two-pin plug with a shaped plastic disc to prevent insertion in a low-power socket, then the adaptor is suitable for it, but not necessarily for anything else.
I'm guessing the "Travel Star" adaptor has an integral rotary switch mechanism to select which pins are connected to the socket, all the others being disconnected. It still doesn't pass an Earth connection through, though, even if used in an Earthed socket. Which is Not Good.
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If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments. |
13th Oct 2017, 5:17 pm | #39 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Re: Decent quality desk magnifier lamp
The adapter from RS arrived today. This is built a lot better and I am much happier with it. Thanks.
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