SilverStar Question

[ptung07]

Hi,
I when taking out my silver star bulb I accidently touched the bulb. I have not put the bulb back in yet because I know it shortens the life of the bulb. (because of fingerprints, etc) Should I use 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol to clean the bulb before using it?
Thanks, Paul

 

[josh220]

It's because of the oils on your skin, not because of your fingerprints. Like when you touch a butterflies wing, it will die, same effect.

I don't know that the % matters, just any alcohol that will take off the oils so that the bulb doesn't pop.

 

[broke down]

alcohol content doesn't really matter that much. What does matter is that you clean it fairly quickly i believe. If I remember correctly, the oil from your skin allows the halon gas to ecsape through the glass. Once it escapes, the bulb gets much hotter, as the gas keeps it cool. I think I heard from a knowledgable source, that the longer it's on there, the more "damage" done. But I may be totally wrong about that.

 

[Methodical]

The oils of your skin that stick to the bulb create a hot spot on the bulb. The bulb is an explosion risk (I had one blow up in my face once, don't underestimate!) when not perfectly clean.

 

[ptung07]

Thanks guys! I cleaned the bulb, however, now my front directional signal turn bulb is burnt out. haha, that was the bulb I least expected to burn out because I replaced it about 1 year ago. (after doing the DRL mod)

 

[ALt4r]

Like when you touch a butterflies wing, it will die, same effect.

:awais: Myth.

 

[josh220]

:awais: Myth.

Haha, no it's not. If you strip off the powder from their wing, they cannot fly. If a butterfly cannot fly, it dies. Not that this conversation is relevant to headlight bulbs lol.

 

[ALt4r]

Haha, no it's not. If you strip off the powder from their wing, they cannot fly. If a butterfly cannot fly, it dies. Not that this conversation is relevant to headlight bulbs lol.

Powder only uncovers their membrane. A butterfly guy did this with several butterflies, tagged them, and they were still alive a while later. With your logic, if it rained and a raindrop took some powder off its wing, the butterfly would die. I guess there aren't any butterflies in the rain forest.

Sorry for thread hijacking.
I think the bulb you cleaned should be fine, although i heard of an instance where life was shortened by touching it, even when cleaned. Either way, you never know how long yours is going to last anyway, silverstars are unpredictable.

 

[jrs2]

The touch a butterfly wing and it dies is a myth mothers tell their children so the kids don't molest the butterflies.

Here's a video on how to repair broken butterfly wings: http://livemonarch.com/hospital.htm

 

[josh220]

The touch a butterfly wing and it dies is a myth mothers tell their children so the kids don't molest the butterflies.

Here's a video on how to repair broken butterfly wings: http://livemonarch.com/hospital.htm

Wow, very interesting.