Lubricating ES bulb threads.

[Piratepete]

Hi Guys
Client of mine has loads of these old 100 Watt ES spot fittings. Called me in to fix. Most OK, just needed screwing in further but a lubricant would help. They're blooming tight. Any recommendation considering how hot these get? Considered recommending a spot of vaseline, but that's flammable and an insulator, some wiser heads than mine might have other ideas!

Cheers

Pete

 

[Plonker 3]

Have you looked in then.ampholder to see if there is a obstruction stopping the lamps being installed correctly. If they are tight surely swapping the lamp holder is the best option?

 

[davesparks]

Vaseline works well for this, also helps stop the end cap breaking off and staying in the fitting when taking the lamps out again.

In fact a dab of Vaseline is good for any electrical connection really, particularly lugs onto busbars and bussbar to bussbar joints.

 

[Marvo]

It's also worth checking the fitting with a good brand named lamp,I've come across complete batches of laps where the screw cap dimensions are incorrect and they also only made contact if they were wound in tight.

 

[dcelectrical]

been using Vaseline for last 8 years and nothing has gone wrong yet, if you are really fussed a motor factors will stock high melting point grease but it has a little odour to it so I would lube up outside. good luck

 

[HandySparks]

You could perhaps try a little silicone grease, as used by plumbers. It's not conductive and I think that it's stable to fairly high temperatures.

I don't think that a conductive lubricant would be a good idea in case it got onto the insulator at the base of the lamp.

 

[Marvo]

I wouldn't use lubricant, brass is pretty much self lubricating with its high copper content plus it will just make the dust stick everywhere you apply it. Light fittings are dust magnets at the best of times due to the high airflow through them due to the thermal effect.

 

[ayjay]

ky gel

 

[Geordie Spark]

Graphite ....... use graphite.

 

[Richard Burns]

Are you sure that the fittings are not E26 fittings into which you are fitting E27 lamps?
Not sure why this would be so but just a thought.
If not then I would tend to try and clean the fittings first as it may just be corrosion build up blocking the thread and lubrication will only ensure that ii stays there.

 

[Knobhead]

It's also worth checking the fitting with a good brand named lamp,I've come across complete batches of laps where the screw cap dimensions are incorrect and they also only made contact if they were wound in tight.

Are you sure that the fittings are not E26 fittings into which you are fitting E27 lamps?
Not sure why this would be so but just a thought.
If not then I would tend to try and clean the fittings first as it may just be corrosion build up blocking the thread and lubrication will only ensure that ii stays there.

Richard's saved me writing it.

American lamps don't go in to English fittings

 

[Besoeker]

Graphite ....... use graphite.

I know a good screw benifits from lubrication but graphite is very conductive.

And a bit of pub quiz trivia for you.....
Graphite is carbon.
Diamond is carbon.
One is the softest known solid element, the other is the hardest.
You may be able to work out which is which..................:smilewinkgrin:

 

[dingledong]

Go to bicycle shop you can get cans of chain grease that can be sprayed on

 

[Guest111]

I know a good screw benifits from lubrication but graphite is very conductive.

And a bit of pub quiz trivia for you.....
Graphite is carbon.
Diamond is carbon.
One is the softest known solid element, the other is the hardest.
You may be able to work out which is which..................:smilewinkgrin:

Actually Talc is the softest known solid element,it has a score of 1 on moh's scale of hardness which ranges from 1 to 10 in the following order, 1 talc,2 gypsum,3 calcite,4flourspar,5 apatite,6orthoclase feldspar,7quartz,8tungsten,9 carborundum,10 diamond.The only useful thing I learned when I studied geology.lol

 

[Besoeker]

Actually Talc is the softest known solid element,it has a score of 1 on moh's scale of hardness which ranges from 1 to 10 in the following order, 1 talc,2 gypsum,3 calcite,4flourspar,5 apatite,6orthoclase feldspar,7quartz,8tungsten,9 carborundum,10 diamond.The only useful thing I learned when I studied geology.lol

Talc - H[SUB]2[/SUB]Mg[SUB]3[/SUB](SiO[SUB]3[/SUB])[SUB]4[/SUB]
Gypsum - CaSO[SUB]4[/SUB]·2H[SUB]2[/SUB]O
Calcite - CaCO[SUB]3

[/SUB]These are compounds, not elements.
Carbon is an element.