light bulbs blowing


  #1  
Old 04-05-06, 06:49 AM
L
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 14
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
light bulbs blowing

Hello,
I have a question about my light bulbs blowing in my house. Light bulbs in my house don't seem to last very long and I was wondering what the cause could be. I measured and I have 120 volts at the receptacles. I have even tried the long lasting bulbs to no avail. If any could help it would be appreciated.
Thank you
 
  #2  
Old 04-05-06, 09:07 AM
I
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Near Lansing, Michigan
Posts: 9,785
Upvotes: 0
Received 45 Upvotes on 43 Posts
Light bulbs just aren't made like they used to be; a couple months is normal with cheap bulbs. Short bulb life can be attributed to a few causes:

Vibration: Do the kids run around or roughhouse a lot shaking the ceilings and floors?

High voltage: A few companies make 130V rated bulbs; you could try those.

Is it all the bulbs in the house or just certain fixtures that seem not to last? How long do the bulbs usually last?
 
  #3  
Old 04-05-06, 09:21 AM
F
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wet side of Washington state.
Posts: 16,321
Received 38 Upvotes on 30 Posts
"Standard" life for "standard" bulbs is 750 hours. PAR reflector bulbs (like in recessed lighting) have "normal" life of 1,000 to 1,500 hours. "Rough-Service" bulbs have about the same normal life as standard bulbs but they resist shaking much better. "Long-Life" bulbs will not be as bright and will be more "yellowish" than standard bulbs.

Ibpooks said it best, buy 130 volt bulbs.
 
  #4  
Old 04-05-06, 09:46 AM
W
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Florida
Posts: 488
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I have the same problem but only on my front porch fixture where we use those yellow "bug light" bulbs. I get a couple months maximum life.
 
  #5  
Old 04-05-06, 10:51 AM
F
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wet side of Washington state.
Posts: 16,321
Received 38 Upvotes on 30 Posts
Approximately 700 hours in a month. If you leave your porch light on during all dark hours (photocell?) then two months of use is about normal.
 
  #6  
Old 04-05-06, 11:02 AM
W
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Florida
Posts: 488
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by furd
Approximately 700 hours in a month. If you leave your porch light on during all dark hours (photocell?) then two months of use is about normal.
The photocell doesn't work, too shady. Never did the math...Thanks!
 
  #7  
Old 04-06-06, 04:39 PM
DaVeBoy's Avatar
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,565
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Most sockets in a light fixture have the wire leads attached to the aluminum socket with a brass crimp. These can fail. Remove the bulb and carefully look in the socket and see if you see blackish arcing flash marks around those 2 crimps, or any oxidation where it just doesn't look like new. If so, you have found your cause. I have had to replace many light fixtures due this cause and the call was from tenants saying their bulbs kept burning out.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: