Converting a Bell & Howell Lamp

[Joel Margolese]

Hello, I'm new here and trying to resurrect our old family Bell & Howell projector. Of course it is missing the DJL lamp. Replacing the lamp seems like an expensive and bad idea (especially because I don't even know how well the projector works yet, so that's going to be phase 2.)

I've seen here people using the QLV-1 holder as a replacement, but all the specs I see rate the QLV-1 as 60V and the DJL as 110V. It doesn't seem like a good idea to drive the socket over its rated voltage. Is there a 110V version of the QLV-1? Another solution people have found?

Thanks in advance!

[Chip Gelmini]

Look online you might find a halogen lamp with the four pin socket that will work for your machine and you won't have to do any major modification or change unplug the 15 hour bulb and plug-in the 50 hour halogen. It's that easy

https://www.ebay.com/itm/291025347853

[Janice Glesser]

Welcome Joel! I don't know where you got the information about the QLV-1 but the max voltage is 125V and I've seen wattage 650 -660W. I have used this adapter on several lamp conversions of Bell & Howell projectors and never had an issue. The conversion is a little time consuming but very doable and well worth it.

[Joel Margolese]

Thank you for the helpful replies.

Duh, I was looking at the QLV-1 here and totally missed that there is a 2nd SKU that is high voltage!

The plug in option looks far easier but perhaps less fun.

[Chip Gelmini]

Joel try Optech lighting
19 lupine rd n andover
ask for john
he's a good repair man he might have the bulb and the kit you need

[Chip Gelmini]

And make sure you drive there. It shouldn't be too far for you. It's a trip down memory lane to the days of an old-fashioned camera shop. You will love it.

[Janice Glesser]

Here are some pics of conversions I've done.



I have never written the instructions on how to do this. I'll see if I remember and can write down the steps.

[Dominique De Bast]

Here are some pics of conversions I've done.

Janice, your pictures don't appear on my screen.

[Janice Glesser]

Dominique... When I first launched that thread today my pictures didn't show up either although they did when I saved the reply. Then they showed up about two or three minutes later. Very strange. I'll see if it's not too late for me to go in and attach them from another folder otherwise I'll repost it.

[Janice Glesser]

I'm reposting the photos of the lens conversions I've done since they are not showing up for everyone.



Let me know if you can't see the photos.

[Dominique De Bast]

Yes, Janice, the pictures now appear 👍🏽

[Brian Fretwell]

Same for me I can see them in the second post, not the first. Tks for reposting.

[Joel Margolese]

Joel try Optech lighting
19 lupine rd n andover
ask for john
he's a good repair man he might have the bulb and the kit you need

Thanks Chip, I did go to Optech and spoke with Gary. They are great and the offered to do the conversion. I ended up renting a projector from them for a few days to test things out. I'll probably go the conversion route when I get some spare time.

[Chip Gelmini]

I still think you might be able to find a bulb that will do what you need and it will have the regular four pin socket that the projector was originally manufactured. For other words you swapped the bulbs. You stop using DJL and plug in the halogen whatever code that is Directly into the DJL socket this will avoid costly remodel to the lamp, house

[Janice Glesser]

Joel Margolese George Tveden has an LED upgrade available you might consider.