blowing light bulbs

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elechank

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Got a customer that complains about having to change the par 30 floods in their track lighting system way too much. I think they're using cheap bulbs, any one with ideas?

Hank
 
Vibration may be the culprit. I have seen this before. Does the HO have kids...is there a second floor above these lights where they can run aruond slam doors etc.? Try a halogen lamp.
 
Check the voltage. Many utilities are supplying voltage in excess of 120-volts. In this area it is running 125 or 126-volts. It is easy to see that a 110-volt or 120-volt rated light bulb would not last long at those voltages. 130-volt bulbs are available but are harder to find and cost a little more. The other causes for short life are vibration and heat. Do they make a compact fluorescent lamp that the owner would find acceptable?
 
The higher voltage rated bulb could very well correct the issue. Of course you would have diminished lighting.
 
elechank said:
Got a customer that complains about having to change the par 30 floods in their track lighting system way too much. I think they're using cheap bulbs, any one with ideas?

Hank
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We have had this discussion before and I bet it is the bulbs. 120 volt (not watts) bulbs may put out more light than a 130V bulb but it is almost undetectable. The podco power often fluctuates above 120v and every time it does it is weakening that bulb. The 130 volt bulb can handle the surges-- they will last much longer.


I would almost guarantee the problem is the bulbs unless they are leaving the lights on all day long.
 
elechank said:
I think they're using cheap bulbs, any one with ideas?

Hank
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This is probably not your problem but it's a funny story. I went to a new home because the homeowner complained of bulbs going out. I checked voltage and couple of fixtures then when I didn't see a problem I asked the homeoowner where he buys his lamps.

Buy them, he didn't buy the lamps he was bringing them home from work after a maintenance company changed them out. They were still working and the homeowner didn't want to waste them. It Happens :)
 
growler said:
This is probably not your problem but it's a funny story. I went to a new home because the homeowner complained of bulbs going out. I checked voltage and couple of fixtures then when I didn't see a problem I asked the homeoowner where he buys his lamps.

Buy them, he didn't buy the lamps he was bringing them home from work after a maintenance company changed them out. They were still working and the homeowner didn't want to waste them. It Happens :)
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Sometimes taking home leftovers works out great though. About 5 years ago my boss kept saying a yard light wasn't working, I checked it several times and everything was OK. He finally said put up a new one, so I did. I took it home instead of trashing it, put it on my barn, It was still burning this morning!
 
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"

I keep forgetting that quote; though it is a good one.

As far as the bulbs go; I am with the person who said vibration. When my grand kids are over for a visit; I have many more bulbs burn out. I am using 130 volt bulbs.:D
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I would almost guarantee the problem is the bulbs unless they are leaving the lights on all day long.
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Incandescent bulbs usually give up the ghost at turn-on, due to cold-filament inrush current. All-day burning probably allows the greatest number of hours of life.

It is certainly worth asking when the bulbs usually go out; when turned on or while they've beed on. And are the heads open or enclosed?
 
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I've gotten the same complaints in the past. For that reason, the PAR lamps that I provide are the halogen version. MUCH longer lived, even at the higher voltages. It's more difficult to find 130V rated PAR and R lamps.
 
Sass5150 said:
Vibration may be the culprit. I have seen this before. Does the HO have kids...is there a second floor above these lights where they can run aruond slam doors etc.? Try a halogen lamp.
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I agree as this might be a possiblity that wouldn't get thought of normally.
 
And some homeowners go from a home with a few scattered lamps in each room, to newer homes or renovations where suddenly, each room has 4-8 ceiling cans and tracks with 4-12 heads on them, and to them is seems that every week they're changing bulbs... and they are.
 
The biggest thing i always heard some comuster buy the bulb from big box store or walwart store or some Le Cheapie centres they are not really dependable at all.

I agree with other about the 130 volt bulbs but only item is more harder to find is the 145 volt switchboard bulbs [ i am not kidding on this one :D ]

but most common issue is the power surge that what useally get them pretty good

Merci , Marc
 
elechank said:
Thanks for the help, the heads are closed and I'm told that the bulbs mostly fry out when they're turned on.
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Sounds like it could well be a combination of excessive heat and vibration. Compare the bulb wattage to the fixture label.

mdshunk said:
In that case, that settles it. They have a problem. :D
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Thank goodness you're here! :wink:
 
LarryFine said:
Incandescent bulbs usually give up the ghost at turn-on, due to cold-filament inrush current. All-day burning probably allows the greatest number of hours of life.
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That wasn't my point. If the bulbs are on all the time (24/7) It could be possible that the bulbs life span was used up. Also if there are sporadic surges they will have a 100% chance of being on when the spike occurs.

I agree turning on the switch is when most bulbs do burn out. So it does not surprise me when you say:
I'm told that the bulbs mostly fry out when they're turned on
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This is kinda related.(New bulb quality). I got a call to a guys house one day. He said his light in his shed was not working. I lokked and it was obviously burnt. I asked him if he had any more bulbs, he said yes and went into his house to get one. While he was gone I checke the fixture for voltage (115vac). I put in the new bulb right out of the box and it would not work. I was perplexed:confused: . I asked him for another one. I put it in and it worked:confused: :smile: .
 
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