Hi there,
I have a question regarding particular components required for an electronics project I am working on. I hope that anyone with a reasonable knowledge of transistors gets a chance to answer this question as it would be a great help to me.
I have a small electronic radio powered with a 9v pp3 battery. I cut the wires to the speaker (which is an 8 ohm variety) and am left with two wires which suppied the signal to the small speaker.
What I am seeking to do is use this signal to power a mains light bulb so that it will flicker according to the signal the radio is receiving. I am not too picky about a hi-fi relationship, as long as the light flickering approximately mirrors the signal that is enough for me. The lightbulb is 40 Watts and I am in the UK using mains (240v) electricity.
My question is: what are my options? I am especially interested if there is a particular high-powered transistor on the market which could work directly to amplify the small radio signal in series with the lightbulb. I do not know how to read transistor data sheets meaningfully. I have worked with mains before but lack the particular electronics knowledge to know how to do this. I do not for instance know if any diodes are required to convert the AC across the Collector/Emitter or into the Base from the speaker wires. Any 'workings' would be helpful for me to know about in case I change my requirements.
Any help gratefully received!
Jasper