Why do light bulbs 'go'

[Brown and Boris]

I mean stop working.

Is it a defect in the bulb (e.g. poor quality such that the filament fractures, gas escapes etc and better qualuty bulbs last longer), a defect of use (being turned on and off too much, being turned on while stil hot/cold etc) or a defect in the wiring/supply (surges, overload,loose wires or fittings etc).

I have six bulbs in one fitting which are so high up I have to get an extension ladder out to change them. I tend to change them all at the same time while I have the ladders out. I reckon that one will go within 2 or 3 weeks, then a few more 2 or 3 weeks later at which point I have to change them. Last time 5 of the 6 went in about 2 months. I have replaced the fitting and still they blow. I have used long life bulbs and they last no longer than the cheapo Morrisons ones I have now taken to using. If it is a wiring fault further back in the system and what type of fault is it likely to be (loose wires,if so wouldn;t the bulbs flicker sometimes?)

[100SRV]

Hi,
incandescent bulbs fail when the filament breaks. The filament gets very hot and metal is vapourised, the gas inside the bulb carries the vapour which is redeposited on the filament. If the supply voltage varies then the temperature of the filament will too which will cause thermal stress and eventually bulb failure.

Check your wiring for loose connections - these can result in fire. Try replacing with long-life "eco" bulbs as I suspect these will be more tolerant of varying supply voltage.

HTH

100SRV

[Meeja]

[pedantic]

You mean lamps.

Bulbs go in the ground, and usually start sprouting in the Spring....

[/pedantic]

[anonymous-user]

im sure the lamp is the physical object i.e. the stand or whatever, and the light bulb is the thing that produces the light?

Edited by nickg_44 on Monday 12th January 09:19

[Brown and Boris]

OK, Lamp.

I say potatoe, you say potato

[kambites]

nickg_44 said:

im sure the lamp is the physical object i.e. the stand or whatever, and the light bulb is the thing that produces the light?

That's my understanding too. The "bulb" is the bit shaped like the things which go in the ground. The Lamp is the whole assembly including the projector and, if it has one, lens.

If they're blowing often, it probably means the voltage being put through them is either too high or erratic so they're either overheating or fluctuating in temperature.

Edited by kambites on Monday 12th January 09:23

[Brown and Boris]

If it helps, they usually go 'pop' when I turn them on in the morning and it flips the fuse in the box too.

[funk odyssey]

Meeja][pedantic said:

You mean lamps.

Bulbs go in the ground, and usually start sprouting in the Spring....

[/pedantic]

no -- it's a bulb - the lamp is the device

[kambites]

Brown and Boris said:

If it helps, they usually go 'pop' when I turn them on in the morning and it flips the fuse in the box too.

What kind of fuse box have you got? Is the lightning circuit on an RCD, an RCB or an RCBO?

ETA: Or an actual fuse, for that matter

Edited by kambites on Monday 12th January 09:36

[funkyol]

Meeja][pedantic said:

You mean lamps.

Bulbs go in the ground, and usually start sprouting in the Spring....

[/pedantic]

Actually, they can be referred to as 'bulbs'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bu...

[rhinochopig]

Lights work by sucking in dark. It goes when it is full, hence it turning black.

HTH

[Heskey]

funkyol said:

Meeja][pedantic said:

You mean lamps.

Bulbs go in the ground, and usually start sprouting in the Spring....

[/pedantic]

Actually, they can be referred to as 'bulbs'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bu...

Hence they're boxed "Light Bulb"

[DrC]

A 'soft start' light switch is the solution here. I had the same problem with lamps/bulbs despite new consumer unit and wiring, but have not lost a bulb/lamp in over two years now with a soft start switch.

[Meeja]

funk odyssey said:

Meeja][pedantic said:

You mean lamps.

Bulbs go in the ground, and usually start sprouting in the Spring....

[/pedantic]

no -- it's a bulb - the lamp is the device

Happy to be corrected!

My lighting people we use to build our sets and light our filming always spit when you say "bulb"!!!

[Parrot of Doom]

Well you could always call them a 'bubble', which is what we do

[Brown and Boris]

DrC said:

A 'soft start' light switch is the solution here. I had the same problem with lamps/bulbs despite new consumer unit and wiring, but have not lost a bulb/lamp in over two years now with a soft start switch.

Like a dimmer switch?

[Brown and Boris]

kambites said:

Brown and Boris said:

If it helps, they usually go 'pop' when I turn them on in the morning and it flips the fuse in the box too.

What kind of fuse box have you got? Is the lightning circuit on an RCD, an RCB or an RCBO?

ETA: Or an actual fuse, for that matter

Edited by kambites on Monday 12th January 09:36

Lighting in that part of the house is on a seprate circuit. One big switch has RCD above it, the rest are smaller switches.

[DrC]

Brown and Boris said:

DrC said:

A 'soft start' light switch is the solution here. I had the same problem with lamps/bulbs despite new consumer unit and wiring, but have not lost a bulb/lamp in over two years now with a soft start switch.

Like a dimmer switch?

Yes, something like this http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLIQ1701.html

[Brown and Boris]

DrC said:

Brown and Boris said:

DrC said:

A 'soft start' light switch is the solution here. I had the same problem with lamps/bulbs despite new consumer unit and wiring, but have not lost a bulb/lamp in over two years now with a soft start switch.

Like a dimmer switch?

Yes, something like this http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLIQ1701.html

Bugger, it is on a posh triple switch panel which I only replaced 6 months ago