In a world constantly pushing for energy efficiency and reduced consumption, something like this still manages to impress: a 20,000-watt incandescent lamp. The team behind the Photonicinduction channel got one, wired it up carefully to avoid setting the place ablaze, and carried out several tests, including one at night.
Traditional incandescent lamps available here are mostly low wattage and of questionable quality. To get serious power, you usually have to step into halogen territory (which apparently will disappear in September 2018) or adopt an equivalent low-consumption solution like LED lamps and fluorescent tubes (compact or full size). But filament technology won't be completely retired anytime soon. There are always companies ready to supply incandescent lamps for everything from advanced restoration projects to people who simply love watching the tungsten wire glow on their nightstands. That includes monsters like the one you're about to see:
Just over half a meter long. 20,000 watts at 240 volts, which means the electrical installation must be able to deliver at least 80 amps. As the Photonicinduction host notes, the filaments look more like garage-door springs than anything else. Another key point: these lamps operate vertically, with a maximum tilt of 45 degrees, to avoid heat building up at the top. Cleaning the lamp is critical, because even the oil from your hands could cause it to shatter when powered on.
The first test used auto exposure, and you can clearly see the camera struggling to compensate for the blinding brightness. When auto exposure was turned off for the second test, everything went... white. It's incredibly hard to stay in the same room due to the sheer heat, but the outdoor demo was even more astonishing. Want a little sun in your home? The magic number is $2,600.
