Is there any difference between dc and ac bulb?

Answer 1

Answer Yes you can use a AC rated bulb on DC, When using an AC bulb on 110volt DC you would need to double the wattage of the bulb to get the same amount of light output. So if you need 50 watts of light you would need to use a 100 watt bulb on 110 volt DC. One benfit of using DC is the bulbs last longer! Hope this helps. It is important to understand that 110 volts AC is also referred to as "effective voltage" or "DC equivalent voltage". In reality, the true voltage at the wall outlet is anywhere from 311 to 340 volts peak to peak alternating current in the U.S. at 60 cycles per second. A cycle is a sine wave starting at zero volts at the short slot on the outlet swinging negative to approximately 160 volts negative in respect to neutral or ground then going to approximately 160 volts above ground or neutral 120 times per second. The 110 volts is derived by dividing the peak to peak voltage by two, then multiplying .707 root mean square, which equals the term 110 to 120 volts alternating current.

Answer

The original answer is incorrect. An incandescent lamp will work on a.c. or d.c. and will provide exactly the same power at the same voltage. This is because 110 V d.c. provides exactly the same heating effect as 110 V a.c.

Answer 2

There is no such thing as a DC bulb or an AC bulb. All [incandescent] bulbs could be powered by AC or DC. The real problem is that bulbs designed for use in a DC environment will be rated for the voltage they work best at. This is typically in the range from 6VDC to 24VDC. Bulbs designed for AC use are designed to work at 11OAC (US) or 220AC (UK). With DC the voltage supply is linear (stays at the nominal voltage all the time) AC works on a sine wave (voltage oscillates from zero to max then back to zero about 50 times a second). It is not the AC oscillation that blows the "DC" bulb. It is the enormous voltage.

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It is an obscure fact, but some lamp (i.e. bulb) manufacturers say that a lamp will have longer life if operated on AC instead of DC (at the same voltage). It is due to the way the metal crystals in the filament deteriorate--more symmetrically when the current alternates. Apparently the effect is greater with smaller (lower wattage) lamps. The lamp/bulb will work but may have shorter life on DC.

Answer 3

If you are referring to an incandescent lamp, then there is no such thing as an 'a.c.' or a 'd.c.' lamp. Providing the lamp is operated at its rated value of voltage, it will operate normally whether supplied by a.c. or by d.c.

Answer 4

If the lamp is incandescent, and if the voltage rating is the same, it will work (providing the bulb isn't blown)

Answer 5

The difference I know is that DC bulbs last longer than AC bulbs.

Answer 6

The common light bulbs are directly connected to the AC grid, so AC.

Answer 7

An incandescent or halogen bulb can run equally well on dc or ac. Other types can only work on ac.

Answer 8

Yes