stew
Senior Member
- Location
- federal way,washington
got a can light in a restaraunt that i service that has begun to go thru lamps twice a week . any suggestion?
can lite lamp burn out issue
- Thread starter stew
- Start date
- Status
ArcNSpark
Member
- Location
- Coventry, RI
Remove the lamp and look down to the bottom of the lampholder. Make sure that the "tongue" that carries the current through the lamp isn't pushed down flat against the bottom of the porcelain. I've seen that happen, and it can cause an arcing event that waaay shortens the life of the lamp.
Or maybe it's something completely different. Good luck...I hate those chase-your-tail kind of assignments.
Or maybe it's something completely different. Good luck...I hate those chase-your-tail kind of assignments.
As mentioned, check the center tab in the socket. And install next lamp correctly (DON"T screw it tight... just enough to light, then ? turn).
Use name-brand lamps that are listed for base-up use.
Use rough-service lamps.
Use 130v lamps.
Change to FCL or LED.
Use name-brand lamps that are listed for base-up use.
Use rough-service lamps.
Use 130v lamps.
Change to FCL or LED.
Same thing my predecessor suggested. Seems like there's a loose contact, that causes the base to arc. That will kill a lamp, especially incandescents, FAST
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
Yea if there is vibration you need to change brands to a heavy service type. If they are a R-lamp and a cheap brand vibration will kill the lamp in no time.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Yeah, but it's gonna sound like a smart a## answer when I say it. I'm guessing either a voltage problem or a neutal problem. If it's only one I would look at a neutral problem.
Sorry there were no answers when I started to typ this. Those are good ones too.
Sorry there were no answers when I started to typ this. Those are good ones too.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
If all things are equal then my guess is that the bulbs are 120V and not 130V. Big difference.
Allso check if the can light has a thermal protector those can go bad as well
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I have never seen a bad thermal protector in the tens of thousands of cans I have installed. If the thermal protector was bad it would not light the bulb or it would come on and off as the unit heats and cools.
Jim W in Tampa
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa Florida
Drop the can down and check to see if insulation is covering it (can be very messy). While its down redo all the connections and yes check the socket and replace with quality lamp.
Can not rule out neutral or thermal. Check to see if this can is the last one in the loop, if so chase it back to where it started. Intermitent problems are never fun
Can not rule out neutral or thermal. Check to see if this can is the last one in the loop, if so chase it back to where it started. Intermitent problems are never fun
If the thermal protector goes bad it can kill cheap lamps i have seen lots of them
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Tell me how that is possible other than it will turn the lights on and off and eventually burn out a bulb. A TP is nothing more than a thermostat(switch)If the thermal protector goes bad it can kill cheap lamps i have seen lots of them
I don't know what brand you use but I have literally installed ten thousand or more Halo cans and I can't recall every replacing a TP. I have had them turn on and off because the bulb was not correctly sized.
I will be interested to see the results- I will still bet on the bulbs being 120V because that has been my experience.
lakee911
Senior Member
- Location
- Columbus, OH
That's all I could figure too ... maybe if it was very quickly turning it on and off if it was bad?
stew
Senior Member
- Location
- federal way,washington
took a while b4 i could post the answer to this issue. The hamfisted lamp replacer that does thier lamp replacements tightened to lamp too tight maybe more than once. the shell twisted and became loose from the rivets that hold it to the base. twisted just right and viola the lamp lights....... for a while until the neutral gets hot at the point of contact then I assume arcing takes the lamp out. With a meter had neutral at the point where the wire connects but not at the shell itself. New lampholder and all is well at the Red Lobster.
Well Dennis we have halo and other brand's Allmost all the time when i have run into bad "TP" it has been because of oversized lamps.
And i do not know if the on off cycle effect incadecent lamp life span wise so with that statement i was wrong.
The on off cycle does however shorten the life of CFLs
The can lights are not coming through with "TP's any more so that problem will go away over time.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Told you it was a neutral issue.:grin:
I just noticed where you are from, my sister in law is near there, in Browns Point.
curt swartz
Electrical Contractor - San Jose, CA
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
The can lights are not coming through with "TP's any more so that problem will go away over time.
I'm not sure where you heard this from but all recessed lights are required to have thermal protection.
- Status