Test cart.
Setup for testing various lamps.

Variac to control the input voltage (required as my mains is 250v average!)
Desired control gearbox.
Lamp analysis unit (which is a new addition) and then off to the lampholders that can be fitted with a myriad of adapters for all sorts of lamps. 
For longer tests or for lamps with spicy UV output, I have an old metal halide Low Bay with safety glass which makes for a very good enclosed test cell.
It's all plug & play.

Test cart.

Setup for testing various lamps.

Variac to control the input voltage (required as my mains is 250v average!)
Desired control gearbox.
Lamp analysis unit (which is a new addition) and then off to the lampholders that can be fitted with a myriad of adapters for all sorts of lamps.
For longer tests or for lamps with spicy UV output, I have an old metal halide Low Bay with safety glass which makes for a very good enclosed test cell.
It's all plug & play.

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Comment 1 to 7 of 7
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AngryHorse   [12 Sep, 2026 at 12:51 PM]
Your lamp room is starting to look like Photons lab! Very Happy
FrontSideBus   [12 Sep, 2026 at 02:09 PM]
Laughing
Andy   [12 Sep, 2026 at 07:23 PM]
That looks a pretty awesome setup to me! Cool
Slyspark   [12 Sep, 2026 at 07:40 PM]
Yes, I was looking at that and thinking Photon too...
dor123   [14 Sep, 2026 at 02:00 PM]
Why you have 250V in the mains?
Ash   [14 Sep, 2026 at 09:03 PM]
There is only so much resolution in the taps of the distribution transformer

I had just the same a while back here in Israel : Compressor at a factory not starting because line voltage is about 213V (measured at the service drop disconnect). (Some asinine computerized "smart" thing yet it can't even throw out a meaningful error). Called IEC. They checked that all other customers powered from the same transformer would be ok with a higher tap, and changed the tap. Now its good 230..240, but in off-peak times (when this factory and others around are closed) the line voltage is somewhere in the 250V ballpark. A bit high but i can't think of anything that would be actually damaged. (Nobody uses incandescent lamps there, any heaters etc are on a thermostat anyway so it would only change their cycling times)
FrontSideBus   [16 Sep, 2026 at 04:27 PM]
It doesn't help that I live very close to the local substation.(I can see it if I look out my window down the street). The transformer has to kick out enough juice so that the people right at the end of the run get the minimum voltage. My UPS is always complaining!

Comment 1 to 7 of 7
Page: 1

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