Flicking MR11 & 16 halogen lamps

[Notsosmart]

Hi All,

Out of curiosity has anyone else experienced the odd phenomenon of having to occasionally give a sharp flick of a finger ( no not to the Mrs you dirty minded lot) to a halogen downlight lamp which then stays lit for a time only to extinguish where-upon another flick, lights it fire (so to speak).

Any ideas?
Gaz.

 

[Doomed]

Yes.

I have deduced that the filament has broken, but not completely burnt away, and the flick can get the two ends to touch again.
I reason this to be the reason as they often fail completely soon after.

 

[Notsosmart]

Yes.

I have deduced that the filament has broken, but not completely burnt away, and the flick can get the two ends to touch again.
I reason this to be the reason as they often fail completely soon after.

I thought this but I have to regularly 'give the finger' to two of my kitchen down-lighters (over the last 3-4 months with no signs of burning out.

 

[mrloy99]

I thought this but I have to regularly 'give the finger' to two of my kitchen down-lighters (over the last 3-4 months with no signs of burning out.

I thought it might be something to do with the pins oxidizing or some coating forming over them,and the lampholder socket being of disimilar metals.And the slight movement was enough to scratch through this coating and establish contact again. I would be interested in finding the real answer however.

 

[Notsosmart]

I thought it might be something to do with the pins oxidizing or some coating forming over them,and the lampholder socket being of disimilar metals.And the slight movement was enough to scratch through this coating and establish contact again. I would be interested in finding the real answer however.

Again I've considered this but its the same two bulbs (the other four are behaving themselves) ~ I'm leaning towards either a dodgy filament or settling gas deposits within the bulb!?