Thanks for the response.  I checked the two fuses mounted low on the pillar
behind the driver's seat and they looked fine.  I inspected the bulb under a
strong (20x) magnifier and I'd say it's fine, too.   But my voltmeter says
that the socket is only getting 9.75 ~ 10.0 volts, so I'm still wondering if
the issue is the bulb.  Maybe a fluorescent is in my future, but I'd sure
like to understand why this setup isn't working.

Tom Young

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Karl Wolz
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2014 12:11 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: What's the correct bulb needed in this '82 Westfalia?

Get an LED from one of our vendors. Much brighter and cooler running. Check
the fuse near the DS B pillar (by your butt) before investing funds.

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

> On Jul 28, 2014, at 11:25 AM, David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
>
> At 02:11 PM 7/28/2014, Tom Young wrote:
>> I pulled the bub over the sink of my '82 Westy because it wasn't
>> working, though the bulb itself looked fine.  It's a "GE 790" bulb
>> and in looking it up online I see that it's a 14 volt bulb, which may be
the actual problem.
>
> No, automotive lamps (bulbs) are often rated 14V.  It's a 25 watt
> halogen (and in my experience can overheat/distort the crystal-looking
> diffusing lens of the fixture as well as drawing close to two amps).
> Suggest you replace with fluorescent fixture like late Vanagons or LED
> fixture.
>
>> Can anybody tell me if this is the correct bulb for this application?
>> If it isn't, what's the proper bulb to use?
>
> It is correct.  But they're expensive, so be sure the lamp you have is
> actually burnt out.  Rated life of the original is 200 hours according
> to the web. Remember it's a halogen so if you touch it to your skin
> you have to wash it with alcohol afterwards or risk early failure.
>
> Yours,
> David