Im Trying to find a bulb that will work on this little music box but I 'm seeing it 's throwing...

[G+_Alex Martinez]

Im Trying to find a bulb that will work on this little music box but I'm seeing it's throwing out ac 12volts not dc . And I just can't seem to find any bulbs that are ac this small just dc . Just thought I ask on here maybe someone can help me find the right bulbs

[G+_Black Merc]

Here is the problem... That (I'm going to guess) music box was probably made before the existence of led's. Therfore to the original lamp(resistive wire filament) 12v is 12v ac or dc.

To employ a led based lamp (unless a manufacturer can be found) you will have to modify the device to output dc. I recommend a full bridge rectifying circuit, one stiffening capacitor, then the led.

[G+_Ben Reese]

Hopefully someone can confirm or deny, but I don't believe there is any difference between a DC and AC incandescent bulb. I'd expect 12v DC to be brighter than 12v AC, but either should be fine.

 

That said, I think something like this should work: Eiko 6S6/12V S-6 Candelabra Base Halogen Bulb, 12V/6W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D966OQ/

 

You'll need to verify the size first, just to be sure, but I think something like this would work.

amazon.com - Eiko 6S6/12V S-6 Candelabra Base Halogen Bulb, 12V/6W - - Amazon.com

[G+_Robert Gauld]

Ben Reese? you're right, in fact there should be no brightness difference if the quoted AC voltage is RMS rather than peak-to-peak.

[G+_Ironbat Cave]

Honda big red trike headlight bulbs will work. Motor throws ac voltage instead of dc. Got some for around $7 on ebay.

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Alex Martinez

You will probably need to look at replacement bulbs for book lights and/or mini-automotive light bulbs (probably around 8 watts).

 

amazon.com - 8 Watt / 12 Volt Book Light Replacement Bulb - Incandescent Bulbs - Amazon.com

[G+_John Sullivan]

Incandescent bulbs don't know the difference between ac and dc. They're just a piece of wire ... they don't care which way the current flows through them.

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

John Sullivan

As far as the direction of current flow, there is no polarity with an incandescent bulb -- so like you said the polarity does not matter.

 

However, there could be some inductance and capacitance introduced into the mix depending on how the filament that bulb uses and whether or not it is coiled up, etc.

 

Having inductance in a dc circuit can be extremely bad....since it can act like a dead short across the supply and you might also have to deal with back EMF -- both of which can lead to damage of other components.

 

If the bulb is intended for ac or dc...then the correct supply should be chosen or a different bulb used (in the case of having to use an existing power source).

 

macao.communications.museum - Inductor in a DC Circuit

 

Given that....the amount may not have any negligible impact on the bulb or the circuit, but it is more than "just a piece of wire".

-------------------------------------------------

Also you have to take into consideration that if the bulb requires 12V DC you can't just put 12V AC across it....if you want an average AC voltage of 12V you would need 13.3284V RMS AC.

 

if you put 12 V AC (pv) the RMS voltage would be: 8.49 V RMS

if you put 12 V AC (ppv) the RMS voltage would be: 4.24 V RMS

if you put 12 V AC (vavg) the RMS voltage would be: 13.33 V RMS

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tools/rms-voltage-calculator/

 

In other words, not using the correct AC RMS voltage will impact the brightness of the bulb -- which makes an ac vs dc power source very important; however, if you have the correct voltage spec then, and only then, would ac vs dc not matter.