incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
- Thread starter flyingjon
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charlie tuna
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
see if he can buy these same lamps with a voltage rating of 130 volts...
see if he can buy these same lamps with a voltage rating of 130 volts...
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
10% seems high to me, are you sure or is this "common knowledge"? We are held to plus or minus 5% of nominal with a few exceptions but never as much as 10%.
10% seems high to me, are you sure or is this "common knowledge"? We are held to plus or minus 5% of nominal with a few exceptions but never as much as 10%.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
A few things are possible
1 he might have a loose neutral,check from meter to panel and all connections in panel
2 are there any neighbors on the same transformer with = problem
3 you checked voltage (digital ) but this might be changing thruout the day
4 ask poco to put the box on it for a few days.That would clear them.
5 find 130 volt bulbs or install the replacement florescent bulbs
A few things are possible
1 he might have a loose neutral,check from meter to panel and all connections in panel
2 are there any neighbors on the same transformer with = problem
3 you checked voltage (digital ) but this might be changing thruout the day
4 ask poco to put the box on it for a few days.That would clear them.
5 find 130 volt bulbs or install the replacement florescent bulbs
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Try a traffic signal lamp, are rated at 8,000 hours @ 130V, the filaments have more supports, and they have a brass base. They are usually changed every year, even the used ones will last years.(Well OK the yellows are changed every three years)
Try a traffic signal lamp, are rated at 8,000 hours @ 130V, the filaments have more supports, and they have a brass base. They are usually changed every year, even the used ones will last years.(Well OK the yellows are changed every three years)
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
While that is a cure i would try and find the real problem,how many other items might be getting a short life if there is indeed a problem.Is it possible he is just buying low quality 10 cent bulbs.
I was having a blinking problem and found my own neutrals needed tightened.This could be the start of a bad neutral,catch it early.POCO do have what i believe is plus or minus 10 volts.
Am thinking this allowed as low as 110 to high as 130 .I might be off on those numbers so check with local poco.
usually they stay near 120
While that is a cure i would try and find the real problem,how many other items might be getting a short life if there is indeed a problem.Is it possible he is just buying low quality 10 cent bulbs.
I was having a blinking problem and found my own neutrals needed tightened.This could be the start of a bad neutral,catch it early.POCO do have what i believe is plus or minus 10 volts.
Am thinking this allowed as low as 110 to high as 130 .I might be off on those numbers so check with local poco.
usually they stay near 120
goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
In addition to some of the possibilities already mentioned if the light fixtures you are using have a globe or glass cover that covers the light bulb and basically contains the heat inside that compartment you may be reducing the life of the bulb due to overheating. I've come across this problem with fixtures in "common areas" of apartment buildings. A few things I've tried to reduce this problem were to drop down the globe portion slightly so that the compartment is not sealed and hot air will escape. If this is not possible install a dimmer switch and keep the bulb at a lower illumination level. Or, install compact fluorescent bulbs instead of standard "A" bulbs. Hope this helps.
In addition to some of the possibilities already mentioned if the light fixtures you are using have a globe or glass cover that covers the light bulb and basically contains the heat inside that compartment you may be reducing the life of the bulb due to overheating. I've come across this problem with fixtures in "common areas" of apartment buildings. A few things I've tried to reduce this problem were to drop down the globe portion slightly so that the compartment is not sealed and hot air will escape. If this is not possible install a dimmer switch and keep the bulb at a lower illumination level. Or, install compact fluorescent bulbs instead of standard "A" bulbs. Hope this helps.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Beware! Some compact flourescents are not to be installed in a closed fixture. Read the instructions.
Pierre
Beware! Some compact flourescents are not to be installed in a closed fixture. Read the instructions.
Pierre
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Five hours before your guessing at the voltages supplied by the POCO, Charlie, The Utility Guy told us what the POCO is general held to.
This is from a POCO web site
114 to 126 for 120
198 to 218 for 208
228 to 252 for 240
263 to 291 for 277
456 to 504 for 480
Notice they use percentage of voltage, not a certain number of volts.
[ January 27, 2004, 04:41 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
Jim do you read the posts ahead of yours?
Five hours before your guessing at the voltages supplied by the POCO, Charlie, The Utility Guy told us what the POCO is general held to.
Plus 5% of 120 is 126, if you are seeing 130 you should call the POCO.Originally posted by charlie:
10% seems high to me, are you sure or is this "common knowledge"? We are held to plus or minus 5% of nominal with a few exceptions but never as much as 10%.
This is from a POCO web site
Service Voltage allowable ranges.
114 to 126 for 120
198 to 218 for 208
228 to 252 for 240
263 to 291 for 277
456 to 504 for 480
Notice they use percentage of voltage, not a certain number of volts.
[ January 27, 2004, 04:41 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
charlie tuna
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
florida power and light's is + or - ten per cent of nominal voltage.
florida power and light's is + or - ten per cent of nominal voltage.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Are you sure Charlie? or is someone playing fast and loose with the numbers.
As in plus or minus 5% is a 10% range.
If they truly use plus or minus 10% that is a 20% range.
That would provide you with as little as 108 and as high as 132 volts.
That puts it right at the edge of what UL lists equipment for, no room for voltage drop on the circuits in the building.
Are you sure Charlie? or is someone playing fast and loose with the numbers.
As in plus or minus 5% is a 10% range.
If they truly use plus or minus 10% that is a 20% range.
That would provide you with as little as 108 and as high as 132 volts.
That puts it right at the edge of what UL lists equipment for, no room for voltage drop on the circuits in the building.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
I decided to check for myself and while the references are volts in place of percentages this page was geared for home owners.
It seems FLP prefers to stay within the plus or minus 5% standard but Florida law allows them to go plus or minus about 6.5%.
From FLP Web Site
[ January 27, 2004, 06:37 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
I decided to check for myself and while the references are volts in place of percentages this page was geared for home owners.
It seems FLP prefers to stay within the plus or minus 5% standard but Florida law allows them to go plus or minus about 6.5%.
From FLP Web Site
[ January 27, 2004, 06:37 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Yes, I am sure and the voltage variation is regulated here by the State of Indiana to within 5% in most places. Take a look at page 13 of the document. As a result of the statement, we try to hold to the range of 116 to 126 volts for 120 volts nominal.
Yes, I am sure and the voltage variation is regulated here by the State of Indiana to within 5% in most places. Take a look at page 13 of the document. As a result of the statement, we try to hold to the range of 116 to 126 volts for 120 volts nominal.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Bob i wasn't far off.We ran into this not long ago.I too was shocked at there wide spead.And that's the limits there supposed to stay within.Nothing says they make that.At time i got that info it had been second hand .
Will say this about FP they seem to usually be no lower than 118 and seldom see more than 122
And by the way our power company in area i live (pasco) is FP not FPL and most of Tampa is on TECO and WACHULA
And BOB yes i had read the previous post,but just because they they have smaller limits doesn't mean we all do.
[ January 27, 2004, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: jimwalker ]
Bob i wasn't far off.We ran into this not long ago.I too was shocked at there wide spead.And that's the limits there supposed to stay within.Nothing says they make that.At time i got that info it had been second hand .
Will say this about FP they seem to usually be no lower than 118 and seldom see more than 122
And by the way our power company in area i live (pasco) is FP not FPL and most of Tampa is on TECO and WACHULA
And BOB yes i had read the previous post,but just because they they have smaller limits doesn't mean we all do.
[ January 27, 2004, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: jimwalker ]
bill addiss
Senior Member
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Here's some other opinions to the original question:
Bulbs that are loose in sockets may burn out quicker.
Are they subject to vibration? - where are the bulbs located?
as others have said replacing with 130v bulbs may be an easy fix.
Bill
Here's some other opinions to the original question:
Bulbs that are loose in sockets may burn out quicker.
Are they subject to vibration? - where are the bulbs located?
as others have said replacing with 130v bulbs may be an easy fix.
Bill
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Did run into one customer we did remodel in.Wanted to blame us because his bulbs in master bedroom fan kept burning out.Since we touched the house blame us even when we were not near the master bedroom.Real easy cure,replace that missing shade so fan isn't shaking.What added insult to this was this man was a gas inspector for the county.Would think he had some mechanical common since.
Did run into one customer we did remodel in.Wanted to blame us because his bulbs in master bedroom fan kept burning out.Since we touched the house blame us even when we were not near the master bedroom.Real easy cure,replace that missing shade so fan isn't shaking.What added insult to this was this man was a gas inspector for the county.Would think he had some mechanical common since.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
LED lamps are good for perhaps 100,000 hours. I feel with in ten years LED screw A base lamps will be common. they are available now, we use them for traffic signals with great success.
LED lamps are good for perhaps 100,000 hours. I feel with in ten years LED screw A base lamps will be common. they are available now, we use them for traffic signals with great success.
catchtwentytwo
Senior Member
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Bear in mind that a typical bulb probably has a 750 hour average life (which equates to 31.25 hours). One of the easiest ways to prolong the life is replace the switch with a toggle-style dimmer (or other type). That seems to deal with the thermal shock when power is first applied.
Bear in mind that a typical bulb probably has a 750 hour average life (which equates to 31.25 hours). One of the easiest ways to prolong the life is replace the switch with a toggle-style dimmer (or other type). That seems to deal with the thermal shock when power is first applied.
catchtwentytwo
Senior Member
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Fat finger that one, it should be 31.25 Days.
Fat finger that one, it should be 31.25 Days.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: incandescent bulbs, short life. Voltage problem?
Dimmers will help that is a fact,but get them out of there fast if you swap to them florescent.
Dimmers will help that is a fact,but get them out of there fast if you swap to them florescent.
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