Hi Guys,
I'm out of my depth with a 'project' and I wonder if someone can help?
I have an old miners lamp and it is meant to be sealed once assembled (to prevent the flame igniting any gas in the mine)
The way the wick is lit is by an electric current being passed across a 'Platinum Wire' and heating it sufficiently to light the fuel. The wire is very close to the wick - needless to say, the platinum wire is missing.
One of the terminals is connected to the body of the lamp and the other is connected to a ring around the base of the glass in the lamp. I've ensured that all insulating washers are present.
I have obtained the following information:
An owner of another of these lamps told me that fuse wire can be used in place of the platimun wire.
The Electrical Lamp Lighters used at the Pits where the lamps were used put out 4 Volts
So, I Put some 5 Amp fuse wire across the terminals and set my Bench Power Supply to 4V and put some fuel in the lamp. BUT I just cannot get the wire to heat sufficiently.
Would the platinum wire have been much thinner?
Would 1 Amp Fuse wire do the job?
I even tried connecting the Croc Clips of the Power Supply directly to each end of the 5 amp fuse wire but still no joy.
Any advice greatly appreciated - I'm good with mechanics but my Electrical knowledge is very limited (as you can tell)
Best Wishes
I'm out of my depth with a 'project' and I wonder if someone can help?
I have an old miners lamp and it is meant to be sealed once assembled (to prevent the flame igniting any gas in the mine)
The way the wick is lit is by an electric current being passed across a 'Platinum Wire' and heating it sufficiently to light the fuel. The wire is very close to the wick - needless to say, the platinum wire is missing.
One of the terminals is connected to the body of the lamp and the other is connected to a ring around the base of the glass in the lamp. I've ensured that all insulating washers are present.
I have obtained the following information:
An owner of another of these lamps told me that fuse wire can be used in place of the platimun wire.
The Electrical Lamp Lighters used at the Pits where the lamps were used put out 4 Volts
So, I Put some 5 Amp fuse wire across the terminals and set my Bench Power Supply to 4V and put some fuel in the lamp. BUT I just cannot get the wire to heat sufficiently.
Would the platinum wire have been much thinner?
Would 1 Amp Fuse wire do the job?
I even tried connecting the Croc Clips of the Power Supply directly to each end of the 5 amp fuse wire but still no joy.
Any advice greatly appreciated - I'm good with mechanics but my Electrical knowledge is very limited (as you can tell)
Best Wishes