why do bulbs explode?

[bikeindy]

Have a customer who says her outdoor yardlamp bulbs keep exploding. any ideas?

[hockeyoligist2]

Maybe water getting in?

[celtic]

Maybe water getting in?

Maybe...but my side door light bulb is 1/2 full (or empty :D ) of water and it's been "ON" for the last 6 months - yes, there is a switch, I just leave it "ON" to PO my REA friend.

I was thinking maybe water or the wrong type lamp ~ but then the above comes to mind and blows my theory.

My new theory is: water and cheap bulbs ~ and my side light is way cheap!

[77401]

Is there Diet Coke & Mentos in there?

[hardworkingstiff]

Have a customer who says her outdoor yardlamp bulbs keep exploding. any ideas?

A hot bulb gets a drop or two of water on it?

[LarryFine]

Have a customer who says her outdoor yardlamp bulbs keep exploding. any ideas?

If they're anything like my better third, all it takes is leaving the toilet seat up.



(Just kidding, Dear!)

[bikeindy]

It is a brand new fixture that I put in 2 months ago, I don't think water should be getting in there.

[roger]

I agree with Hardworkingstiff. Even though it is a new fixture, is there a possibility that some water (even a drop or two as Hws states) is hitting the lamp after it is hot?

Roger

[LarryFine]

Or the bulb is grossly oversized for the fixture's wattage rating? Try a compact fluorescent.

[bikeindy]

Just got off the phone with the customer. 60 W bulb And she said she didn't see signs of water. Happened twice she is going to try a better bulb and get back with me.

[hillbilly]

Check the neutral (oh..excuse me...grounded conductor) for a loose or corroded connection..
steve

[77401]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6815455079461724639&q=exploding+bulb

[charlie b]

I would also suspect a loose neutral. Can you get her to give you more information about the incidents? Did she see it happen? What does she mean by "explode"? Does the bulb shatter, or is it just a matter of coming back the next day and noticing that the bulb no longer works?

Here's key question: Does it shatter immediately upon being turned on, or does it happen after the bulb has been turned on for some time (i.e., long enough to get hot)?

[77401]

I would also suspect a loose neutral.

Really? I've never seen a loose neutral blow up a bulb!

[bikeindy]

I installed the new fixture a couple of months ago. it's on a photo cell the bulb is shattered after a couple of weeks use. it survives many rains before this happens twice in two months. I don't think it is a loose connection, I had this problem early in my carree not getting some connections tight, I am pretty sure this is a good clean connection and i may stop by sometime when I am in her neighborhood.

[Shockedby277v]

Is her husband a plumber??? You know how those plumbers are with their ladders ... their ladders are drawn to light ... they don't even need to be using em. :o

[77401]

Is the light facing a golf course?
I could be the reason they are exploding

[charlie b]

Really? I've never seen a loose neutral blow up a bulb!
A loose neutral in a multi-wire branch circuit can cause up to 240 volts to be dropped across the bulb. That can cause the bulb to explode.

The loose connection need not be anywhere near the luminaire. It could be anywhere along the branch circuit. So one thing I would do, if the problem is not otherwise resolved yet, is to determine whether this is a multi-wire circuit. If not, then a loose neutral is not among the possible causes. If so, then the next step is to find out what else is powered on that same circuit. Then I would check the tightness of all connections on all switches and outlets associated with the circuit.

[speedystevie]

Did the pain in the A** 12 year old boy next door get a new BB gun.

I remember when I was the pain in the A**12 year old boy and what I use to do with my BB gun.

[bikeindy]

the fixture is not open it has glass panes. and they are not broken. the circuit is the same as the garage circuit and there are no exploding bulbs and I am not 100% sure but I don't think this is a MWBC.