LED 6W bulb modification

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junkhound

junkhound

Senior Member
Location
Renton, WA
Occupation
EE, power electronics specialty
If I am installing a LED bulb in a fixture that only has downward or outward lighting direction I always bandsaw off the plastic bulb and put a dab of RTV over the exposed terminals if any..

I get a lot more light from the same lamp. :)

Is there anything in NEC that prohibits this? o_O
 
You mean the solder points? You're suggesting that insulating them makes the light brighter?

Is it April 1st?
 
Oh, so the actual mod is leaving the globe off, not covering the terminals. Completely missed that.

1729215839624.jpeg

Having said that, it's your bulb and fingers. I'd be hesitant about doing it for customers.

After having said all of that, most of the LED bulbs I've "broken" open just pop off.
 
From a safety perspective, I would expect there to be fairly low voltage dc on those terminals, which the markings seem to indicate. I may have to break a bulb open and measure with a meter.
 
J2H said:
From a safety perspective, I would expect there to be fairly low voltage dc on those terminals, which the markings seem to indicate. I may have to break a bulb open and measure with a meter.
Click to expand...

Hard to say for sure, but I’d bet those solder joints are where the 120VAC connects to the circuit board. It would add unnecessary cost to have the driver connected to the LEDs by wires when they can easily be on the same circuit board.
 
junkhound said:
If I am installing a LED bulb in a fixture that only has downward or outward lighting direction I always bandsaw off the plastic bulb and put a dab of RTV over the exposed terminals if any..

I get a lot more light from the same lamp. :)

Is there anything in NEC that prohibits this? o_O
Click to expand...
Funny the couple type A lamps I have where the diffuser has broken off are WAY MORE DIRECTIONAL. The diffuser obviously spreads the light out more evenly but without it, it's like a spot light. Not better or worse, just different.

Rob G - Seattle
 
The terminals on this particular lamp show 40.1 Vdc on meter -- you can see the + and - symbols on the pic.

Note the original post says "in a fixture that only has downward or outward lighting direction"
 
A Luminaire includes the lamp:
Luminaire. A complete lighting unit consisting of a light source such as a lamp or lamps, together with the parts designed to position the light source and connect it to the power supply. It may also include parts to protect the light source or the ballast or to distribute the light. A lampholder itself is not a luminaire​

410.6 Listing Required. All luminaires and lampholders shall be listed.
Also, 410.5 prohibits live exposed terminals.

So it appears to me that this does not conform to NEC requirements.
 
Well well should of looked before leaping guess you guys are right.
So now I can turn people in for changing light bulb without a permit or electrician.
 
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