light bulbs keep blowing

Grant M · Jan 5, 2016

I've got a situation where a property keeps blowing bulbs, as in they need to be replaced every couple of weeks. I measure 248v, could that be the problem? Could the problem be external to the property? Apparently the flat above has the same problem.

What possible solution could there be? I've thought about installing lights that are 12v, or LED, hoping that the transformers or drivers might deal with the issue. What other options are there?

Thanks,
GrantM.

andyb · Jan 5, 2016

It's probably the voltage, if you are getting 248v volts when testing it could be even higher at other times, though 248v would certainly shorten the life .
Could be cheap lamps or poor fittings over heating.

As 248v is within tolerance (just) there is not much to be be done really. It might be worth a chat with your dno though.

uksparks · Jan 5, 2016

Hi,

Every couple of weeks seems a little odd. A lot of properties have voltages getting towards 250v, even my parents has 248v.

If your house and the one above have this issue, although a light bulb is quite straight forward and nothing really to go wrong, the fact that you are having lamps blow every couple of weeks would make me think there is some kind of surge maybe or prolonged periods of voltages in excess of 250v.

I have no idea really, but just stabbing in the dark.

How many bulbs are you having to replace every couple of weeks in total would you say?

Richard Burns · Jan 5, 2016

I have a local area where the voltage is high and lamps keep failing and have not been able to offer any solution other than use lamps that can take a voltage range on input, multinational LED and CFL lamps can often take up to 260-280 V input and may be less likely to fail. Incandescent lamps will just have a shorter life.

andyb · Jan 5, 2016

Also, uksparks may have a point re how often. Quite often the client thinks that they are blowing more than they actually are.
Last summer I was called to a house for the same reason, 'my bulbs keep blowing'. One of the lamps on a 3 spot cluster had blown and according to the customer had only been changed the previous week. On looking though it was a non branded lamp supplied with the fitting over 3 years previously. (she had a stock of Homebase lamps she was using)
I told her to write down what lamps were blowing and when, I also advised her to get some branded lamps and to get back to me if the problem persists.
Not heard anything yet.

malcolmsanford · Jan 5, 2016

I don't really rate these things as a money saving device but might be worth a punt to stabilise the voltage

Vphase VX 1 Voltage Optimiser | eBay

marc8 · Jan 5, 2016

beat me to it I was just about to say earn some money fit the whole block with VO's

Guest77 · Jan 5, 2016

Could be cheap lamps as well as the voltage, have you considered low energy lamps

Lucien Nunes · Jan 5, 2016

What type of lamps, specifically, are failing? Is there vibration present?

NDG Elecs · Jan 8, 2016

Cheap European imported lamps with a lower voltage rating won't help when your voltage is high ish. Some lamps are specifically rated at 240V and these may fare better. LEDs would help I think. Other than that get a spark to extend your meter tails by 100 metres! That last bit is a joke!

R G · Jan 8, 2016

Half the time the fittings are the issue , had a few calls and see old story lamps keep blowing , the very narrow design of the shades and the downward facing ones are the worst , usually having golf ball or candle lamps , the heat can't dissipate , quite often I find the caps have been left in the fitting where the heat has separated it from the glass and when you get it out the colour of the base shows the lamp has been subject to excessive heat , the answer always has to be LED lamps to reduce the heat ...

Sesl · Jan 17, 2016

First post on the forum so be gentle!

Just to add a personal experience to this thread, although poor quality lamps could be the issue, I did find that a loose connection in the circuit was the reason for frequent lamps blowing on a job. Possibly due to a higher than expected current being drawn through the filament, although not as bad to trip mobs.

7029 dave · Jan 17, 2016

Try 250v lamps

captaincaveman · Dec 4, 2016

I was drinking with a retired engineer recently who swore the most common reason for filament bulbs going is people walking around upstairs making the filaments wobble... May be some truth to this?
I investigated a house last week where the "LED candle bulbs kept going every couple of weeks". In the end it was apparently 2 bulbs that had gone, not LEDs and not screwed in tightly (and candle bulbs as well).

If I got paid for the amount of times customers have (unwittingly) mis-led me I'd retire tonight

Had a DIYer this week who I 'suspect' connected a yellow (off 3-core) light cable to the cpc when moving the switch out of zone (without RCD protection) then forced the MCB against it's will, under fault, breaking it & nearly burnt the whole system down. Apparently he "just replaced everything in the switch like for like". Hmmm

[ElectriciansForums.net] light bulbs keep blowing

Pete999 · Dec 5, 2016

captaincaveman said:
I was drinking with a retired engineer recently who swore the most common reason for filament bulbs going is people walking around upstairs making the filaments wobble... May be some truth to this?
I investigated a house last week where the "LED candle bulbs kept going every couple of weeks". In the end it was apparently 2 bulbs that had gone, not LEDs and not screwed in tightly (and candle bulbs as well).

If I got paid for the amount of times customers have (unwittingly) mis-led me I'd retire tonight

Had a DIYer this week who I 'suspect' connected a yellow (off 3-core) light cable to the cpc when moving the switch out of zone (without RCD protection) then forced the MCB against it's will, under fault, breaking it & nearly burnt the whole system down. Apparently he "just replaced everything in the switch like for like". Hmmm

View attachment 34739

Does the idiot who "forced" the cb on still have all of his fingers? what a pr=t

light bulbs keep blowing

Grant M

andyb

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uksparks

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Richard Burns

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andyb

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malcolmsanford

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marc8

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Guest77

Lucien Nunes

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NDG Elecs

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R G

Sesl

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7029 dave

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captaincaveman

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Pete999

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