Description

TUNGSRAM 61496 Bulb, Worklight

Your H3 worklight is failing. Again. The TUNGSRAM 61496 bulb, worklight stops the cycle. £4.95 each. 24V. 70W. Heavy Duty. PK22s base. This is the last H3 you will buy this year.

What Is the TUNGSRAM 61496 Bulb, Worklight?

How the Heavy Duty H3 PK22s Bulb Works

The 61496 is a 24V H3 bulb with PK22s base. Single filament. 70W output. The Heavy Duty designation means reinforced filament supports and thicker gauge internal wires. One insulated flying lead exits the base for positive connection. The metal body grounds through the holder. Simple. Built to survive commercial use.

Why Standard H3 Bulbs Die in Trucks

Three killers: vibration, voltage spikes, and heat cycles. Your truck shakes at 77Hz on UK motorways. Standard H3 filaments snap. Your alternator hits 28V on cold mornings. Standard bulbs overheat. The 61496 is built for all three. Tungsram’s Heavy Duty line uses five-point filament suspension. Standard H3 has one.

TUNGSRAM 61496 Bulb, Worklight — Full Specifications

TUNGSRAM 61496 Bulb, Worklight — Compatibility

Confirming Fitment

Fits any 24V worklight, reversing lamp, or auxiliary light that takes H3 bulbs with PK22s socket. Standard on Volvo FH, DAF XF, Scania R & S series, MAN TGX, Mercedes Actros, Iveco S-Way, and tipper bodies. Also fits agricultural machinery, forestry equipment, and construction plant.

Check the Health and Safety Executive guidance on reversing lighting — poor illumination around vehicles is a cited factor in fatal yard incidents.

 Cross-Reference Table

When and Why to Replace

 61496 Symptoms — What to Watch For

Symptom one — No light output at all. Filament snapped. Usually from vibration or stone strike through the lens. Your work area is dark. Your reversing visibility is zero.

Symptom two — Dim orange glow instead of white light. The bulb is dying. Filament has thinned. Light output has dropped 60% from new. You are straining to see. Replace it.

Symptom three — Intermittent light that flickers on bumps. Cracked filament making intermittent contact. Or the flying lead connection is failing. Either way, this bulb is hours from complete failure.

 Fix 24V Worklight Failure — Fit Heavy Duty Once

Standard H3 bulbs cost £2 and last 100 hours. The Tungsram 61496 costs £4.95 and lasts 500 hours. Do the maths. You save labour. save ladder climbs. save frustration. Fit Heavy Duty.

Why Choose the TUNGSRAM 61496 Bulb, Worklight?

Five-point filament suspension

Standard H3 filament is supported at two points. The 61496 is supported at five points — two at each end and one central support. Vibration has less effect. The filament stays intact. Tungsram’s manufacturing specifications include 200g vibration testing for 100 hours. No failure.

PK22s base with reinforced insulator

Cheaper H3 bulbs use plastic PK22s bases. Heat melts them. The 61496 uses ceramic-reinforced PK22s. Withstands 200°C continuous. Your worklight housing gets hot. The base stays solid. No melted sockets.

24V commercial rating with 32V surge tolerance

Tungsram rates the 61496 for 24V nominal but tests to 32V. Your truck’s alternator may spike during jump starts or cold cranking. The 61496 survives. Standard H3 bulbs do not.

Buy TUNGSRAM 61496 Bulb, Worklight Online

£4.95 each. Genuine Tungsram Heavy Duty. Same-day dispatch before 3pm. Buy a pair — if one worklight bulb failed, the other is close behind. Buy six and stock the workshop cabinet. You will use them.    Bulb, worklight

Installing the TUNGSRAM 61496 Bulb, Worklight

 Step-by-Step 61496 Fitting Guide

1. Isolate the worklight circuit. Pull the fuse or disconnect the battery negative.

2. Remove the worklight lens or rear access cover. Usually two to four screws.

3. Note the wiring orientation. The flying lead is positive. The metal body is ground.

4. Cut the old H3 wires at the connectors. Strip 10mm of insulation.

5. Remove the old bulb from the PK22s spring holder. Pull straight out.

6. Clean the metal contact surfaces inside the housing with fine sandpaper.

7. Insert the new 61496 into the PK22s holder. Push until it clicks.

8. Connect the flying lead to the positive supply. Use a heat shrink butt connector — not twist-and-tape.

9. Ensure the metal bulb body contacts the housing ground point.

10. Test the worklight before reassembly.

11. Refit the lens or cover. Verify the rubber seal is clean and seated correctly.

Critical: Never touch the quartz glass. Skin oil creates a 400°C hot spot. The bulb will crack. Hold only by the PK22s base or the flying lead.

Professional fitting time: 8 minutes.

FAQs

What makes Heavy Duty different from standard H3?

Reinforced filament. Five-point suspension. Ceramic PK22s base. Higher surge voltage tolerance. Burn-in tested at 24V. Standard H3 has none of these.

Will the 61496 fit my 12V truck?

No. This is a 24V bulb only. Fitting to 12V produces approximately 25% of designed light output. The filament will glow orange, not white. Order a 12V Heavy Duty H3 for 12V systems.

My worklight uses H3 with PGJ19 base. Will this fit?

No. PGJ19 is a different base with two prongs. The 61496 uses PK22s — one flying lead and a metal body. Check your old bulb before ordering.

Can I use the 61496 as a headlight bulb?

No. H3 is not ECE approved for headlight use in the UK. Worklights and auxiliary lamps only. Using H3 as a headlight will fail MOT.

The flying lead on my 61496 looks short. Is it long enough?

Yes. Tungsram supplies 150mm of flying lead. That reaches the connector inside most worklight housings. If your housing is deeper, extend with 1.0mm² automotive wire and heat shrink connectors.

Complete the Service

While replacing the worklight bulb, check these related items:

• TUNGSRAM 61496 — matching bulb for the opposite side worklight

• Worklight rubber seal — replace if cracked or perished

• Dielectric grease — apply to the PK22s holder to prevent corrosion

• Lens cleaning solution — remove road film for maximum light output