Exploding Fluo Lts
- Thread starter rrrusty
- Start date
- Status
hbiss
EC, New York NEC: 2017
- Location
- Little Falls, New York NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- EC
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
No, not that I can remember. Sounds kind of unlikely anyway since there is not a great deal of heat generated compared to other types. Why do you ask?
There is a thread about exploding HID lamps over here: http://electrical-contractor.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004507.html
There also have been references to exploding incandescents but these were not under normal circumstances.
-Hal
No, not that I can remember. Sounds kind of unlikely anyway since there is not a great deal of heat generated compared to other types. Why do you ask?
There is a thread about exploding HID lamps over here: http://electrical-contractor.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004507.html
There also have been references to exploding incandescents but these were not under normal circumstances.
-Hal
T
taylorp
Guest
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
Rusty:
Some years back we had a warehouse where the owners swore that some of their fluorescent lamps had exploded. We did some troubleshooting, and found that they were using F48T12/CW/HO fluorescent lamps in fixtures about 18 feet from the ground. The ballasts on these fixtures were GE Bonus Line #8G3699 1500 mA ballasts. The ceiling area of the warehouse was very hot due to July temperatures. All the voltages and wiring were in order. The only thing we could figure out was that they received a few faulty lamps. No problems since then. It was/still is an electrical mystery.
Rusty:
Some years back we had a warehouse where the owners swore that some of their fluorescent lamps had exploded. We did some troubleshooting, and found that they were using F48T12/CW/HO fluorescent lamps in fixtures about 18 feet from the ground. The ballasts on these fixtures were GE Bonus Line #8G3699 1500 mA ballasts. The ceiling area of the warehouse was very hot due to July temperatures. All the voltages and wiring were in order. The only thing we could figure out was that they received a few faulty lamps. No problems since then. It was/still is an electrical mystery.
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
What part of the country are you from ??The reason I ask is that lightning prone areas can have some strange things go on
What part of the country are you from ??The reason I ask is that lightning prone areas can have some strange things go on
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
A panicky restaurant customer calls (and left a message) and made it sound like a fluo light exploded; so after I return and give him a call it turns out that it was a incandescent bulb that exploded; Yes we do get a lot of lighting but on this occasion it was a clear day with nice weather; They have been having some surges and spikes that have toasted some of the shake machines; After the manager purchased a "SurgeStrip" no more problems with the shake machine
A panicky restaurant customer calls (and left a message) and made it sound like a fluo light exploded; so after I return and give him a call it turns out that it was a incandescent bulb that exploded; Yes we do get a lot of lighting but on this occasion it was a clear day with nice weather; They have been having some surges and spikes that have toasted some of the shake machines; After the manager purchased a "SurgeStrip" no more problems with the shake machine
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
Sounds very much like shared neutral problems or the service neutral connection bad.
Sounds very much like shared neutral problems or the service neutral connection bad.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
Actually it is called implode.But only bulbs i seen implode were incandescent other than a few florescent that did not pass the drop on floor test
Actually it is called implode.But only bulbs i seen implode were incandescent other than a few florescent that did not pass the drop on floor test
friebel
Senior Member
- Location
- Pennsville, N.J.
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
To: rrusty, You have asked, " is there a thread concerning exploding flourescent tubes", and the answer is Yes.
I reported this back on May 17, 2004, in the Safety heading.
I have been in the electrical business all of my life, 45 years in the industrial arena, and now the past 5 years in the Teaching arena.
I have never experienced an exploding flourescent tube until the one in my kitchen exploded.
It was a 24 inch tube above my kitchen sink.
I have put a new tube in and all is working fine.
Believe me, I checked everything out before I installed the new tube, and I could not find anything wrong.
But, this was a very dangerous situation with exploding pieces of glass flying out.
There were comments about a loose terminal, etc.
As I said, I checked everything out and could not find anything wrong.
To: rrusty, You have asked, " is there a thread concerning exploding flourescent tubes", and the answer is Yes.
I reported this back on May 17, 2004, in the Safety heading.
I have been in the electrical business all of my life, 45 years in the industrial arena, and now the past 5 years in the Teaching arena.
I have never experienced an exploding flourescent tube until the one in my kitchen exploded.
It was a 24 inch tube above my kitchen sink.
I have put a new tube in and all is working fine.
Believe me, I checked everything out before I installed the new tube, and I could not find anything wrong.
But, this was a very dangerous situation with exploding pieces of glass flying out.
There were comments about a loose terminal, etc.
As I said, I checked everything out and could not find anything wrong.
marissa2
Senior Member
- Location
- Connecticut
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
Taylorp
You said that in the waerhouse they were using
F48T12/CW/HO lamps with 1500 ma ballasts.
I have tryed to use HO lamps on 1500 ma ballasts and have had problems with shore lamp life. 1500 ma ballasts are for VHO lamps.
Taylorp
You said that in the waerhouse they were using
F48T12/CW/HO lamps with 1500 ma ballasts.
I have tryed to use HO lamps on 1500 ma ballasts and have had problems with shore lamp life. 1500 ma ballasts are for VHO lamps.
Re: Exploding Fluo Lts
I've seen the results of a 24" bent-tube fluorescent lamp actually burn thru the glass and create a hole near the socket end. The cause was determined by poor ballast design from about 8 to 10 years ago. When the lamp reached the end of its life it obviously would not strike an arc, therefore the ballast continued to try and start the lamp which ended up burning a hole thru the glass. Ballast made today have an end of life circuit to prevent the ballast from continuing to start a lamp that has totally failed. Lithonia Lighting help research this problem about two years ago.
I've seen the results of a 24" bent-tube fluorescent lamp actually burn thru the glass and create a hole near the socket end. The cause was determined by poor ballast design from about 8 to 10 years ago. When the lamp reached the end of its life it obviously would not strike an arc, therefore the ballast continued to try and start the lamp which ended up burning a hole thru the glass. Ballast made today have an end of life circuit to prevent the ballast from continuing to start a lamp that has totally failed. Lithonia Lighting help research this problem about two years ago.
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