View Full Version : How do you put in a redhead bulb?!!


Oliver Atwell
March 17th, 2008, 05:45 PM
Okay, so I was on a shoot tonight and being the clumsy idiot I am I managed to knock one of my Photobeard 800w redheads over (post-shooting thankfully) and the bulb smashed. I've just ordered another bulb and need to get it in the lamp asap. I've asked a couple of people and they said it's a pretty tricky thing to do and that you can't actually touch the bulb with bare hands. Has anyone got any advice for me? I have to get shooting again as soon as I can or I'm toast. Thanks in advance.

Bill Pryor
March 17th, 2008, 07:39 PM
It slips in similar to others, one end at a time. Almost all tungsten bulbs come wrapped in a little piece of gray foam. Leave that on so your fingers don't touch it. Or use a handkerchief, lens cleaning cloth, tail of your t-shirt, whatever.

By the way, it's a good idea to always have a spare bulb in the case for each light. You never know when one's going to get broken or simply die or explode or something.

Jack Smith
March 17th, 2008, 11:00 PM
Exactly what Bill said.Make sure you don't touch the bulb.Sometimes I find the posts a little tight on the Redheads, so be careful as you push against the one to let the other end of the bulb slide into place.

Mike Barber
March 19th, 2008, 03:13 PM
I've asked a couple of people and they said it's a pretty tricky thing to do and that you can't actually touch the bulb with bare hands.

FYI, the reason you don't want to touch it with your bare hands is that you want to avoid getting oil from your skin on the glass. The oil will cause a hotspot due to the uneven distribution of heat and can cause the lamp to eventually burst.

Oliver Atwell
March 19th, 2008, 04:05 PM
This has been really helpful. Thanks a lot guys. It's nice to know there's a forum that I can go to where people will actually bother to respond and help you out.