31 May
2008
31 May
'08
10:55 a.m.
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 11:41:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: der Mouse
It is probably possible to build a current limiter
that provides
immediate visual feedback. I challenge you, or anyone for that matter,
to come up with such a design that is as cheap, easy, simple, and
foolproof as an incandescent bulb. (Well, not cheap once the ban hits,
which is the problem.)
How's this? Grab a glass jar, fill with water and a salt of your
choice, say, bicarbonate of soda, drop two electrodes into it
(stainless steel or carbon is good; aluminum will tend to polarize
after awhile and form a leaky rectifier). Apply current and watch
for bubbles and/or steam. Vary resistance by varying the distance
between electrodes.
Or use a dill pickle instead if you like glowing pyrotechnics.
We will always have appliances with heating elements floating around
that can be pressed into use, particularly where higher-power loads
are concerned.
What I don't like about incandescents used as a load-limiter is the
very low cold resistance. I'd much rather have a "soft" start--but
then carbon-filament incandescents haven't been easy to find for the
last 80 years or so.
Cheers,
Chuck