rogue fixture

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rwbrick

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This might not be the appropriate forum; if not, sorry.

I have a "rogue" light fixture. It's a barebones plain dual bulb (only one is used) ceiling fixture with a plain fiberglass insulator pad in a garage. It burns burns out bulbs every 1-5 months -- compared to the bulb in the bouncy garage door opener which is going on 5 years now. What on earth could cause this??
 
It could be any number of internal problems. I suggest the following test.

Step 1: Replace the light fixture with a new one, and see if the problem goesaway.

Step 2: Perform a "float test" on the old fixture.

Step 3: Hope that some other member has a more useful suggestion to offer. ;) :grin:
 
What is the space above the garage used for, e.g. is it a room, storage, etc. something that is causing vibration.

Is the garage door opener causing undue vibration?

Try putting a rough duty lamp in it, or better yet a compact fluorescent. At worst case use a ceiling fan bulb.
 
Is the bulb properly sized for the fixture?
Is the tab in the base of the lamp-holder making good contact with the bulb? Sometimes these become flattened out over the years and fail to make good contact which causes the lamp to overheat.
Last resort, replace the bulb with a compact fluorescent, it SHOULD last much longer.
I assume you already know to use 130-volt bulbs if at all possible.
 
if the rogue fixture is something that you are really attached to (came from your grandmother's house, family heirloom, birthday present from a dead friend), then maybe you should take it down and bench test it, looking for loose wires, inspecting wires for overheating, etc. while you do that.

otherwise, I'd throw it in trash and just get a new fixture (unless you find the loose wires, etc while checking it out).

jmo
 
haskindm said:
I assume you already know to use 130-volt bulbs if at all possible.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't assume that, but it's good advice. :smile:

A ceiling-fan bulb is also a vibration-resistant option.
 
haskindm said:
I assume you already know to use 130-volt bulbs if at all possible.
Click to expand...

This would be my advice as long as their is no flickering (loose connection) within the fixture.

120 volt bulbs won't last long if the utility is suplling a voltage greater than 120v. That's is why we are recommending 130 volt bulbs
 
Dennis Alwon said:
That's is why we are recommending 130 volt bulbs
Click to expand...

I thought it was for the slightly lower lumen output, or is it just for the placebo effect? :grin: Kidding the filiments are slightly more robust....

My suggestion though is to follow the circuit back and check for a loose connection. Sometimes this can be in the hot or neutral, anywhere all the way back to the panel. But most often it is either in or near-by the fixture. I've seen worn lamp bases do it too. The hot tab in the bottom of the base may be slightly corroded or tarnished, or show signs of arcing. (Carbon build up) Shut the circuit off scratch it with a sharp cabinet driver, and bend it up slightly... I've found that it can sometimes do the trick. Then before you go on the goose chase... (Assuming you have a DMM and it is not on a dimmer) Drop the fixture to expose the connections, disconnect the hot, turn it on and check voltage to both ground and grounded, and take note of it. Then reconnect the fixture so that it operates under load - if the voltage to either then changes - you have a loose connection somewhere in series with the load - the hunt is on! FYI mearly disturbing a loose connection will make it vanish, and you may not know when you've found it, so go ahead and tighten them all anyway... Then again you may be surprised what you find.

*Hmmmm... I'm gonna change my little signature....
 
I would start by replacing the
fixture. Sounds like a standard fiber keyless lampholder which is not more than a few bucks. Probably a loose connection in it. Not unheard of in those things. How old is it?
 
electricmanscott said:
Sounds like a standard fiber keyless lampholder which is not more than a few bucks.
Click to expand...
Wow, you've got good hearing! :grin: Actually, I heard one of those cheap contractor-grade 2-socket metal pan fixtures.

The sockets usually have the wires riveted to them, and they are generally poor quality connections.
 
Also, check the metal tab in the center of the socket and see if it's been flattened out. If it has, it may not be making good connection with the bulb and overheat.

Shut the power off and use a small screwdriver to bend it back up to a 30? angle.
 
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