Where Can I Get Subminiature (Grain Of Wheat/Rice) Bulbs? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 07:54:44 pm
content: Besides Ebay...I don't trust Ebay...These things I mean (compared to a 3mm LED).

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 07:57:38 pm
content: Just retrofit in a SMD LED?

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 08:04:07 pm
content: It's not actually for watches though. I want them for tiny decorations where they will be exposed. In that case you would see the ugly solder joints on the sides of a square box.If they have LEDs as small as the bulb on the right with leads attached (in warm white) I'll bite.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 08:12:08 pm
content: Aren’t those called “grain of rice” bulbs? I expect that model railroad shops carry things like that.There are some Chinese vendors of SMD LEDs with leads soldered on, even tiny ones. But there are also these cute little 1.5mm LEDs:https://molesmell.aliexpress.com/store/group/1-5mm-led/107456_255007716.html?spm=2114.10010108.100008.2.70bc3b0dDcNCh3(Ah, gotta love the smell of mole in the morning!!)

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 08:19:03 pm
content: Those things are massive (and have the ugly box) compared to those smaller bulbs. I want radial leads.Bulbtown or something like that might have them, I'll check there.EDIT: Alot of sites call them "grain of wheat bulbs", but we all know Google is dumb and is ignoring the fact I'm only searching for the 1mm ones!

author: John B
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 09:52:17 pm
content: Hobby electronics stores would be the obvious place, but they were also used a lot in automotive applications - all the little lights in buttons and switches etc. A very well stocked auto store might have something, but they're well and truly superseded in this day and age.Once you've done all the running around you would probably be better of trying eBay.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2018, 10:10:55 pm
content: I bought some on ebay, they're fine, I've bought thousands of odds & ends on ebay over the past 20 years without issues, why don't you trust ebay? Especially for a <$5 purchase, the risk is small.Otherwise Digikey has a fairly wide selection of miniature incandescent lamps.

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 12:08:46 am
content: QuoteI don't think anyone is going to find a teeny tiny, 1mm, 40mil diameter LED with an omnidirectional radiation pattern any time soon.LED dies radiate sideways so somehow you need to turn the planar radiation pattern into and omnidirectional pattern.Well, back in the day, taylors, allegedly, used to use several upturned round-bottommed flasks placed around a single candle or oil lamp to provide better illumination. Light radiation from a candle or oil lamp is more or less planar, So...What if you encase an LED die in clear epoxy filled with lots of tiny glass spheres. Mount the die, wire bond it and then encapsulate, what could be more simple. Have any LED manufacturers made any effort to try this ? I serious doubt it.Probably need the computing power of a GPU to model an almost planar(ish) light source surrounded by lots of randomly distributed ball lenses. Maybe a neon and a handfull of glass balls (marbles) would be quicker. Damn I lost all of my marbles but you can probably buy them on ebay.Anyways, good luck with finding teeny tiny incandescent light bulbs.

author: richnormand
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 12:22:41 am
content: In the past I got those from GC Electronics at Active, got some from Radio Shack, a few microlamps from MiniMagLite and several dozen from Electronic Goldmine in one of their sales.All are about 1mm by 2mm long, some closer to 3mm long. Also remember seeing them in model and hobby shops.Finally they are inexpensive so it might be worthwhile trying eBay too.""If they have LEDs as small as the bulb on the right with leads attached (in warm white) I'll bite.""Have a look at Mouser as some of the SMD LEDs are pretty much the size you want but light distribution is quite directional compared to the bulbs that are almost a full sphere.

author: Relayer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 12:33:23 am
content: Hello Cyberdragon,You can try WES Components in Australia. They sell, I think from memory,various sizes and voltage ratings.I'm certain they ship internationally and the bulbs are very cheap.Just ask for: Grain-of-Wheat bulbsHere is their link:WES ComponentsRegards,Relayer

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 12:41:37 am
content: Guys, I think if Cyberdragon wanted a directional radiation pattern he would be looking for an LED, if he's looking for a tiny incandescent source then it's going to be omnidirectional. Nobody makes omnidirectional LEDs. So what you looking for Cyberdragon, omnidirectional or directional ?

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 12:52:16 am
content: Obviosly omnidirectional, also they look better exposed than LEDS and when off just appear as glass specks (where as LEDs look like phosper blobs). I should have specified if there's such a thing as 1mm radial lead LEDs, they'd have a wider angle than SMDs I think.Any idea what the cylinder bulb is?

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 12:56:02 am
content: Well there are bare LED dies bonded directly to a PCB that are smaller than 1mm and reasonably omnidirectional. I don't think it's something a hobbyist could assemble by hand though.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 01:08:25 am
content: Mouser has some, but I couldn't tell if the sizes were small enough. Just search for lamps, wire terminated. The supplier wasJKL Components. Best guess here is to check with model railroading suppliers. If you have a large hobby shop nearby, maybe give them a call.

author: Gary350z
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 02:02:28 am
content: These are at amazon:Grain of Wheat 3mmhttps://www.amazon.com/Evemodel-Grain-Wheat-Clear-Wired/dp/B01A6B5DYK/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1530582278&sr=8-11&keywords=Evemodelhttps://www.micromark.com/Grain-of-Wheat-Lamps-Pack-of-100?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuaDyrOWB3AIVxh-GCh2a9A-CEAQYASABEgIE9PD_BwESMD Led in 0402 package (1.00x0.50mm) with wiresThese look neat. I almost bought some recently.https://www.amazon.com/Evemodel-T0402W-20pcs-Pre-soldered-Bright/dp/B01M3U8JDG/ref=sr_1_37?srs=16054151011&ie=UTF8&qid=1530582729&sr=8-37https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7TYKMF/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_2_whttps://www.amazon.com/Evemodel-C0402W-20pcs-Pre-soldered-Copper/dp/B01M7TYJCZ/ref=lp_16054151011_1_12?srs=16054151011&ie=UTF8&qid=1530582528&sr=8-12

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 04:22:29 am
content: Farnell has a few:http://uk.farnell.com/w/c/lighting-products/lamps-tubes/incandescent-lamps?bulb-size=2.4mm|t-1|t-1-3mm-|t-3-4-1.8mm-http://uk.farnell.com/multicomp/2-10pk/lamp-incandescent-wire-leaded/dp/2078333Though they are fairly expensive.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 05:08:37 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on July 02, 2018, 08:19:03 pmat myself! Of course it’s “grain of wheat”!! Can you tell i had had rice for dinner just before I wrote?Another thought: fiber optics. You could use that to get very tiny light sources. How you terminate the fiber lets you decide the light pattern. E.G. you could sand or etch the side of the fiber to create a diffuse light.Quote from: Gary350z on July 03, 2018, 02:02:28 amYes, that’s exactly the kind of “leaded” SMD LEDs I meant in my first reply! Thanks for finding a link.

author: Gary350z
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 07:40:01 am
content: I see you wanted the 1mm bulbs:https://www.lejsshop.top/models-kits-c-1_7_126_1028_1057_1058/mp1mmw-50-pcs-1mm-ultra-miniature-15v-grain-of-wheat-bulbs-warm-white-new-p-9577.htmlhttps://www.bdmedmarket.top/models-kits-c-1_7_124_968_1223_1224/mp1mmw-50-pcs-1mm-ultra-miniature-15v-grain-of-wheat-bulbs-warm-white-new-p-17996.htmlhttps://www.hobbiesrfun.com.au/products/lights/display/90-grain-of-wheat-light-bulbs-1mm-clear-1.5vhttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/MP1MMW-1mm-Ultra-Miniature-1-5V-Grain-of-Wheat-Bulbs-Warm-White-NEW/1069142651.htmlAnd of course ebay:https://www.ebay.com/itm/MP1MMW-50-pcs-1mm-Ultra-Miniature-1-5V-Grain-of-Wheat-Bulbs-Warm-White-NEW-/221091226241

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 06:36:48 pm
content: I found similar axial bulbs to the one photo, but these are leaded. (I also didn't think to check dollhouse lighting systems)https://cir-kitconcepts.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_42&products_id=192But I haven't found ones with the solder terminals like the one I have.