Hey everyone! I recently got my hands on a cool piece of history—a farebox from a 1940s trolley. It has a small incandescent lightbulb, similar to what's found in a flashlight, and I'm hoping to power it by plugging it into a wall outlet. Does anyone have suggestions on what type of voltage reducer I should use for this setup?
4 Answers
Have you tried unscrewing the bulb? There might be some voltage marked on the metal base. It’s usually found right above the threads. Could be helpful to know exactly what you’re working with!
You can check if there’s a number on the bayonet base. Sometimes the bulb's glass color gives hints too. Just be aware that LEDs are sensitive to polarity and usually need DC.
I finally managed to get the bulb out after some struggle! I wrapped it with tape for a better grip and it worked! Now I'm looking for an LED replacement using Google Lens!
Replacing it with an LED could be a safer option. They don’t get hot like incandescents, and you could use an old phone charger to power it.
That sounds smart! If I find an LED that fits, how do I connect the phone charger to the existing wires?
You might want to find out what model it is. From what I can tell, the Johnson Fare Box typically needs 12V DC to operate. A power adapter rated for 12V with about 8 to 10 amps should do the trick. Just double-check the polarity too; the + and - terminals need to be correct, as the one connecting to the chassis is usually the negative. So be careful before turning it on, just in case!
I watched that video too! Mine’s older, and it’s just the bulb, so I’m hoping it’ll be okay.
I found out mine is the Johnson Cleveland Size 2. Thanks a lot for the info!
I’ve ordered a step-down converter, but getting the bulb out is a challenge. It’s stuck tight! I think it might be a twist and pull type, but I can’t get a good grip.