I wonder if there is an answer to this?
I was watching one of those flashing battery operated barricades they put on road construction sites. The bulbs are incandescent, similar to the bulbs used on taillights on cars. (except the new LED type).
I came up with two questions:
- Which consumes more electricity, a bulb that is constantly on, or flashing? (My thinking says it would be the constant on bulbs would use more electricity) ??????? [but that's just a guess]
- This one is much more puzzling. Will the filament last longer on a flashing light or one that is on constantly? I am looking at this in several ways. It would seem that flashing would be hard on those filaments. That flashing on and off about 40 times a minute seems like it would beat up that filament.
At the same time, the filaments never really reach full brightness long enough to develop much heat, so that could possibly make it last longer because of the decreased heat. So, this could go either way?
I'm sure someone has tested this ...... But who knows the answer? I do know that of those older C5 and C7 christmas bulbs, both the regular and the flashing ones seemed to burn out some of each every year (for whatever that's worth).
Does anyone know the answer?