No Paul, he is not confusing it.

There is a lamp 110Vac tear drop style, with a funny shape filament,
that keeps bouncing and flickering... it is common to find it in special
arts and hobby stores.  It bounces from one side to another and
flickers, trying to simulate a candle flame in the wind... well, it does
not a good job, except if from distance, since the filament rithm is
almost predictable.  The interesting point to see a lamp in action is
that the filament really bounces almost one inch from one side to
another inside the lamp... it is curious at least.

Wagner



"Paul B. Webster VK2BZC" wrote:
>
> Peter Tiang wrote:
>
> > There are actual light bulbs that simulates candle light,
> > made of two (just) touching filament shaped like a candle flame
> > (teardrop)
>
>   The description of a "filament" shaped like a teardrop sounds a bit
> odd to me, and bimetallic switch flashers are generally a bit slow.
>
>   You're not confusing this with a standard "flicker flame" neon are
> you?  These have been used for most of my lifetime(!) and contain a pair
> of parallel "teardrop"-shaped electrodes excited by the AC via a
> resistor in the base.  I presume the facing surfaces of the electrodes
> are covered by an insulating coating.
>
>   Since the neon glow discharge area is directly proportional to the
> current flowing, in these lamps the current is such as to light only
> half the area of the electrodes.  With the electrodes flat and parallel,
> and I suspect dependent on heating effects and the electrode coating,
> the glow is unstable and rapidly moves to occupy different areas on the
> electrodes, causing the "flicker" effect.
>
>   If due to damage or manufacturing error the electrodes become other
> than parallel, the "flicker" effect is compromised or lost.
>
>   Now you've reminded me.  They used to be sold in the radio parts shops
> and I've never owned one, always wanted to.  An associated device was a
> glow lamp with flower-shaped electrodes in which the leaves glowed green
> and the flower, orange or red.
> --
>   Cheers,
>         Paul B.