In the scary days here right after 9/11, my cell phone was going through an x-ray machine one to three times a day. If the energy had been at all significant I am sure it would have been fried.
Back in the day, when I serviced consumer electronics, a commonly used device for visually testing the power distribution in microwave ovens was a grid of small neon lamps, embedded in a plastic tray. These were rather pricey if purchased new, so one could also build a homemade version simply by snipping off the wire legs of several neon bulbs, and fashioning a suitable plastic mount. They gave off a nice, flickering orange light, giving one a crude way of verifying even power distribution in the oven cavity.
But for actually measuring the microwave leakage through the door's choke seal, a properly calibrated microwave survey meter is really the only good way. Relying on any lamp or bulb for visual indication only ensures that you're measuring above the ionizing radiation level any leak large enough to light the lamp.
Federally mandated safety limits for microwave exposure is now below the ionizing level. Recent studies also show some biological effects below the ionizing level. For years, such studies were suppressed, back in the days when telecommunications were primarily via microwave relay towers, rather than fiber optics, as is more common now. Somehow, those who are positioned to profit the most have the privilege of ensuring that federal safety standards are set in their favor - or so it seems.
Regarding creative uses for flash bulbs, as I recall, the US Army/CIA manuals know as the "Improvised Munitions Blackbooks", published years ago, illustrates how effective these can be for use as detonators for IED's. I suppose the TSA doesn't want to hear about that, though. But if they ask, just tell them the US Government invented the idea in the first place.
Is it a good idea to fly with flashbulbs? For example, is it possible that X-ray checks could ignite them? A suitcase fire would be a pretty nasty experience. Or probably airport officials believe that they are potential explosives and will refuse you to board the plane if they find any flashbulbs? With all the post-9/11 paranoia, the security regulations are somewhat tighter, and the fact that people in 1960ies probably flew quite happily with all the flashbulbs they would ever want does not mean that the same thing is possible today. What is your experience (if any)?
I flew with 4 dozen bulbs to Vegas in 2005. Sure, I got pulled aside when my Graflex syncronizer showed up as a dense, cylindrical object in my carry-on through the x-ray machines. However, they didnt blink at the bulbs at all, just asked me what they were for and I told them. Went right on through and did the same thing coming back.
In the 1950s we were forbidden to carry flash bulbs as passengers in military aircraft. One flashbulb igniting in close proximity to others is said to be capable of igniting them. Just now an old 900 Watt microwave ignited an AG1 flashbulb in less than a second. A repeat test yielded the same result. A 120V 7 Watt bulb promptly burned out and continued to arc erratically
Back in the fifties I walked by a radar unit on a sub tied up along side I had a bag of flash bulbs and it fired them all and those were the old WWII powered radar units I kept the bulbs in their paper containers after that.
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