Uh.... Lynn, how about flicker bulbs? Just put a candelabra base in there and use flickering bulbs?

Total cost for 6 lanterns: about 12 bucks.

I built my lanterns this year and did a good bit of experimenting with them. I started out using the flicker bulbs and unfrosted globes. This setup looked really cool, but did not shed a whole lot of light. I ended up swapping out the flicker bulbs for orange C7's and frosting the globes. It gave me a lot more light, and a nice warm glow. I did make an extension cord with a starter/flicker circuit in it, and was not really thrilled about the results. The lantern flickers pretty erractically and almost goes completely out at times, borderlines blinking. My lanterns have inline plugs like Christmas lights. I tried chaining them all together, and then they all follow the exact same pattern and I think it looks worse. Just what I learned through experimentation.

So, Diabolik which did you like better ? Since I'm planning on 6 of them down a hallway that I want to be pretty dim lit..... Would just the flicker bulbs give me the best effect anyway ? Rather than making the flicker circuit ?

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Lynn

If I build it, will they come ?
http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r247/p0032/

I needed the light outside, so the orange C7's without the flicker were my best choice.

Once you convert your lanterns to electric, changing from flicker bulbs to the C7's is easy enough. You can get the C7's 6 for 99 cents here. I would build your lanterns, and test them in a dark room. I had all six running in my house with the flicker bulbs, and it looked okay. Once I tried them outside in the yard, they looked lost.

If you run several lanterns off of one flicker circuit, they are all going to follow the exact same pattern. I tried it this way, and did not like it.

If you are depending on these things to provide any useful light, you'll find the flicker bulbs probably will not suffice in a larger area. If you are using them more for props just to set the atmosphere, I think the flicker bulbs would be fine. I did not frost my globes when i was using the flicker bulbs. I simply dusted the globes with a flat black paint to dirty them up a bit.

Then, the flicker bulbs may work just fine. Not a lot of area and just for atmosphere.

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Lynn

If I build it, will they come ?
http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r247/p0032/

Yes, it sounds like it might be the best route for you then. Now's a great time to find the flicker bulbs too. I think I got my last ones at Walmart.

I got and used this (BLF) a couple of years ago and use it in my lantern for atmosphere: http://hauntmasterproducts.com/3.html

It works really well, but I've never been entirely satisfied with the flicker - you have to manually adjust the 3 pots (and I have ad infinitum) so it's probably user error. Runs off a 9 volt battery (or 9 volt wall wart).

Here's a good tutorial: http://hometown.aol.com/hauntscapesc...ectsPage1.html

I'll just go with flicker bulbs if this thing ever burns out.

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I finally invested in SimFlame this year. I bought one of the 3 circuit ones and it works flawlessly. No more complex DMX lighting and sound-to-light setups. The only thing though is that they are limited to 100 watts.

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I just use the fluroesent starter setup, it works great.

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just chiming in here... I used the Flourescent starter Flicker circuit for my hallway candle setup in the office here, but I added a Diode across the terminals of the Starter. ( some pics in my album ) This prevented the "flicker" from going out completely as ocurred with just the starter in line. (looked more like flashing before the Diode) It also allowed the bulb to remain lit if the starter had burned out, since the connection across the terminals would still be through the Diode. (which worked out since one did stop flickering ) I built three separate circuits so each candle would be random in its flicker and again, if one stopped not all of them would. I used the small Flame shaped night light bulbs and misted them slightly with Red, Orange and Yellow spray paint for a more orangish/flame glow. They worked great and will look to incorporate more of these for next year!

Happy Haunting!!!