advanced features:
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Bulb data search is not limited to 5 columns, nor are you limited to just volt, amp / watt / cp, base, glass, and filament. You have full control of how many data columns you want to search, and in which order displayed. Truthfully these 5 basic presets in their default order are the most useful data columns for most searches.
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SETTING UP COLUMNS:
Entering search "data" into data columns is pretty obvious, but instead of data, you can enter special "commands" to change the column formatting.
Enter into any unused (empty) data column field (such as volt field) the names of the columns you want displayed, separated by a comma ",".
For example, entering "lumen,volt" then pressing the
button (on the data form), will change the column format to just the lumen and volt columns only (in addition to the bulb column which is always displayed with every successful search).
Another example would be entering: volt,amp,watt,mol,cp,base,glass
Actually you don't have to type the whole column name; usually only need to enter the name's first letter (two letters in some cases). In the above example, you could instead have just entered v,a,w,m,c,b,g. A few commands like base and burn both start with letter "b" so since base is much more commonly used in searches, I have reserved single letter b for command base; where as command burn would require two letters bu to be entered. See chart below for all letter codes and column names.
Only one of each column type will be displayed. Duplicate column entries are ignored.
Enter letters and commas only. No spaces, no numbers, no other punctuation. Comma's are required to be entered, as this is how the data field recognizes that this is a COMMAND, and not actual search DATA. If you want to display only one column, enter the name and enter just one comma after it. For example, if you want only the volt field, then type volt, (or v,)
To add additional columns, enter + (plus) and then the column names you want to add separated by commas. For example you can add these columns: +lumens,burn,mol,hour (or less typing... +l,bu,m,h).
To remove columns, enter a - (minus) into all unwanted column data fields. If you remove all the columns, then form will reset to default.
I suggest displaying all the data columns that will help you locate your bulb, but, just because you are DISPLAYING a column, doesn't mean you should search (enter data) using it. Website database entries are currently limited in many of these fields so limiting your search by entering data in fields will almost always hinder the search more than helping. Try to limit your data entry to volt, watt (or amp), base and sometimes glass shape fields. On rare limited occasions venture off to entering data into other fields. I expect to eventually have searchable data for all fields for each and every light bulb, but this goal is major undertaking and realistically won't be complete anytime soon. My bulb database grows every day.
single (and double) letter column commands:
(listed in order that I believe most important for searching)
v = volt
x = amp / watt / cp (special multi-column)
w = watt
a = amp
c = cp (candle power)
b = base
g = glass shape
f = filament design
m = mol (maximum overall length)
h = hour (design life hours)
l = lumen (brightness)
cr (or r) = cri (color rendering index)
k = kelvin (color temperature)
bu (or y) = burn angle
lc (or z) = lcl (light center length)
o = ohm (filament resistance of unplugged bulb)
Command codes for each column are internally stored (and referred to) as a single letter. Double letter command codes for cri, burn and lcl (cr, bu and lc) are arbitrarily assigned to single letter codes r, y and z as these letters aren't being used elsewhere. This also means you, yourself can use the single letter commands codes r, y and z if you desire. The special multi-column amp / watt / cp field must be entered as the single letter x. Since you can't have duplicate columns, if you do use the special multi-column command x in addition to entering columns amp or watt or cp; all these will be ignored as x has precedence.
In case you are interested in knowing, the 5 column preset default value happens to be: v,x,b,g,f
There are also some special column formatting commands: (commas not required)
reset = displays and resets the 5 default fields
normal (or less, default) = same as reset
most (or more, or "donsbulbs", or "don") = displays Don's favorite 9 columns
all = display all 15 expanded data columns (not the x special multi-column)
allx = display all 13 data columns (includes x special multi-column)
Even though the command all and allx displays all data columns, you'll probably find too visually confusing to use effectively; also major slow downs if you are on a dial-up internet connection.
I've set command most to the column amount and order I prefer to use the most, and advanced users will probably agree. The command Don can also be used; implemented as it's easy for me to remember!
tip... A quick method to get all the columns you need is to set columns to all (or allx), then remove (see above) all the unwanted columns using the - (minus). This way you don't have to remember column names.
Don't forget mathematical formula that watt = volt x amp. So, even though it is useful to display all 3 of these columns, it makes no sense to search for bulbs entering data into all three of these columns. This is why I created the simplified special amp / watt / cp multi-column for default use.
For same reason keep in mind Ohm's law: volt = amp x ohm
additional thoughts...
DATA entry order is irrelevant <=12.4v in volt column (less-than or equal to 12.4 volt) is treated same as v=12.4< which also treated same as 1v2=.<4. All punctuation and letters are removed from number, so 1v2=.<4 will leave number 12.4 producing command flag v=<. Operations are performed if found in command flag irrelevant to order entered.
Close search is not really pre-set at exactly +/- 10%. It is currently set to +17% / -9.1% which I've so far determined to be the best range so far, but this could change through further testing.
more bulb data variations... Take a case of ordinary household 100 watt incandescent light bulbs and measure the wattage of each one. You'll probably find real world bulb variations from 90 to 110 watts. Bulb wattage also changes over the life of the bulb. Only in critical scientific or other specialized applications do manufactures go through the major time and expense in lowering the tolerance ranges of their bulbs. My experience is real world general application bulb wattage can vary about 25%, or within +/- 10% to +/-15% of industry standard specifications. This seems to be typical of all manufactures. Keep real world variations in mind when trying to locate bulbs based solely on measurements you've taken yourself as that bulb you are looking for might have published specifications much different than you think you are looking for.
searching with ohm... Occasionally you'll be in possession of a bulb you can't identify... nothing printed on bulb, so you don't know the bulb number, voltage, wattage, nor amps. All you know is the glass shape and base type (and perhaps filament design). Try using an OHM meter to measure the resistance of the filament. Enter ohm resistance value including letters ohm to search bulbs with similar ohm filament resistance. Knowing the resistance of a filament isn't a "cure-all" in finding out what bulb it is, but when you don't have much to go on, it's helpful. For example, if your meter shows a resistance of 100 ohm, enter 100 ohm. It's very important to also enter the base type and glass shape in their respective data fields. Ohm data on my website is calculated using ohm's law. Every bulb on my website which has voltage and amperage data entry will have a calculated ohm entry. Don't use Exact search for locating ohms as there is always too much variance.
need voltage... Unfortunately it's very difficult to zero in on a bulb without having an idea of voltage range. If you don't know the bulb's voltage, use a voltmeter to measure the voltage at the equipment's bulb socket. Otherwise an additional suggestion is if you know for sure that your bulb is actually a "light bulb" (and not an "infrared" heater bulb); is to use a variable voltage control "variac" and test the bulb starting at 0 volts, slowly raising voltage until filament emits lights, glowing from color red, orange to yellow. NEVER go past color "light yellow" or you WILL damage the bulb. At color "yellow", take a voltage reading, and search my database with a voltage rating of 10% to 25% higher than your reading. If your "yellow color" reading is around 90-100 volts, then it's likely bulb is a line voltage bulb of 110-130 volts. If your "yellow color" reading is around 170-200 volts, then it's probably a 210-250 volt line voltage bulb.
Enjoy! - Don Schnapp