[repost] Amber minor restoration project!!

[TheSOXMania]

micro update!

The ballast arrived yesterday and I got round to installing it. it's a tad undersized but there ain't nothing a bolt and a couple washers can't fix!! Still a little bummed I didn't go for the L4045BX that was on eBay a while back but I'm not gonna beat myself up over it. This is a lighter alternative and should be more than enough for my needs. The only things I need to get this going are the igniter (I've ordered an SX26 as it was the only igniter I could find for a somewhat reasonable value that isn't massively OP for what I need)

I also have the PFC cap installed with a single piece of wire as a placeholder for the wiring position for it. I'll be doing the rest when I can get the wire to do the entire thing.

The bright side to having the ballast I do now though is that I can keep the wiring from the ballast to lamp extremely short, which decreases the impedance and any losses between the ballast and lamp.

[MissRiaElaine]

Looking good, that ballast will handle a 55W lamp as well, pity one of those wouldn't fit

[TheSOXMania]

Looking good, that ballast will handle a 55W lamp as well, pity one of those wouldn't fit

Won't fit with a bowl on... would look kinda daft with a 55w lamp in but the fact the ballast and igniter will be able to handle it gets the gears whirring... XDD

[TheSOXMania]

Looking good, that ballast will handle a 55W lamp as well, pity one of those wouldn't fit

Won't fit with a bowl on... would look kinda daft with a 55w lamp in but the fact the ballast and igniter will be able to handle it gets the gears whirring... XDD

Although to be honest, I already have another one of these ballasts in my ballast box so if I got a 55w lamp I could just fire it up on there lol

[TheSOXMania]

Micro update b: a new beginning

I have the new lamp that's going in the amber minor! It's a Radium RNA 35w. I just finished up breaking it in a couple hours ago. Works a treat!!

The amber minor is currently on hold until parts arrive to finish it off. Here's what's coming;

Waiting on the wire to gear the lantern with to arrive

Waiting on the place I ordered my igniter from to get stock (I'm getting a Parmar igniter as opposed to the SX26 as it's still in production and the store selling it can stock it)

Ordered a bracket as I might have had an idea regarding making a column while also recycling in the process

And as for bowls... if Linear or Paul is able to post I can cover the cost for them without issue. As I mentioned in previous posts I'm not hugely fussed about defects so long as they don't affect structural integrity too much.

[TheSOXMania]

Update 9: e-rectin' a lamp post!!

I have most of the wiring done for the lantern bar an igniter. I have a capacitor of doom that I use to generate a pulse though so it's not all bad.

Also, although it's not visible here I got a dummy photocell to plug the hole in the canopy it looks pretty darn stealthy if I do say so myself.

I also got my bracket in and decided to try my hand at this whole up cycling idea. I had this tree trunk knocking about and thought I'd turn it into a column. Went OK but it needs some aesthetic enhancement. I'm thinking faux ivy might be a cool idea. No biggie since it was basically free to make bar the bracket. I originally wanted an outreach arm but that's almost double what a bracket costs and it would require a fairly deep hole be drilled to accommodate the mains lead. I don't have a torquey enough drill for that!

On the bowl front, If either Linear or Paul's able to post I'm more than willing to pay postage + a beer fund donation as mentioned in my last comment. Either one o' yas DM me when youre not busy and we can get the ball rolling!!

[Paul]

Nice! PM sent

[TheSOXMania]

Update 10: IGNITION!!!

not much has really happened on the run up to getting an igniter hence the lack of updates. I've been focusing on screwing with a HID porta-flood concept while I wait for Paul to send his spare bowl over (thanks BTW... you're a godsend!). I thought it'd be a good idea to stick a photo of the igniter in its new home and I'll update you all when the bowl arrives. This is on the bracket I made in earlier posts so I wouldn't have to irreversibly modify the lantern or gear tray to accommodate the gear. At some point I have plans of getting a bowl ring and a repro amber minor bowl as well as an L4045BX or SOI leak transformer and a 60w SO because I feel that combination of lamp and gear would suit this lantern so well. Plus I like the dewar jacket design of the SO type lamps!

[MissRiaElaine]

The L4045 might be a tight fit, you'd probably have to remote-ballast it. On the other hand, you wouldn't need that ignitor..!

A 60W SO lamp would look good in that fitting, though

[TheSOXMania]

The L4045 might be a tight fit, you'd probably have to remote-ballast it. On the other hand, you wouldn't need that ignitor..!

A 60W SO lamp would look good in that fitting, though

With it being a larger canopy I don't think it would be too bad a fit. It would at least be long enough to reach the actual mount points on the gear tray. The only potential hindrance I can think of is that the aluminium piece that's clipped to the canopy could potentially cause a fitment issue height-wise...

[MissRiaElaine]

Yes, that's an idea, will give it some thought

[TheSOXMania]

Update 11: Sealed up n' ready to go!!

At this stage we're pretty much complete with the Amber minor!! Thanks to paul for sending the bowl over! Great to finally have one after scouring the net to minimal success!

It's not totally complete as I want to re-make the gear tray label but it at least looks complete now!!

[Tom]

Great stuff! Looking good. Certainly a timeless classic!

[TheSOXMania]

Great stuff! Looking good. Certainly a timeless classic!

No kidding! I for one am so glad to see this thing in full working order complete with bowl. Just needs a gear tray label and I'm also considering seeing if I can get hold of some repro parts to reinstate the older style bowl ring and amber minor bowl. For the time being though this works perfectly!

[MissRiaElaine]

Looks good, well done that man