Exploding Lightbulb

HangTime · 2 Nov 2011 at 01:37

To be fair changing a lightbulb where there is no glass to hold on to and you can't be sure if the power is on or off is hardly an everyday occurrence.

As suggested my recommendation would be to turn off the ring on that floor so you can get your hands in there.

Angilion · 2 Nov 2011 at 01:50

Atomic said:
We have an old style fusebox. There is a on off switch. If I flick that too off that will guarantee all power is then stopped through out the house?

I don't have to yank out the fuse plug cartridge things, which are not labelled???

As far as I am aware domestic lighting sockets in the UK are always on the same circuit for at least an entire floor in a house (unless the house is so big that it has more lighting than could be served by one standard circuit). So as far as I am aware you could check by turning on the other lights on that floor and flicking the switch to 'off' on the fusebox - if the rest of the lights go out, there's no power to the one with the broken bulb in it. Probably. As far as I know.

Angilion · 2 Nov 2011 at 01:53

Out of interest, how dangerous is a standard domestic lighting socket? If it's live and you get a shock from it, is it likely to be fatal or just painful? Although painful could be fatal if you have an unlucky fall off whatever you're standing on to reach it.

Mickie · 2 Nov 2011 at 02:04

Angilion said:
Out of interest, how dangerous is a standard domestic lighting socket? If it's live and you get a shock from it, is it likely to be fatal or just painful? Although painful could be fatal if you have an unlucky fall off whatever you're standing on to reach it.

if he has a new electrical system, they're very safe, the trip switch normally trips as soon as a bulb pops, they're that fast..

its very unlikely that anyone would die because even if it didnt trip if you touched the light, you'd just get a shock and pull back, as the current is alternating, not direct..

all he has to do it turn off all the power to be sure its off and unscrew the smashed bulb using a rag so he doesnt cut his hand open

Werewolf · 2 Nov 2011 at 02:26

Mickie said:
if he has a new electrical system, they're very safe, the trip switch normally trips as soon as a bulb pops, they're that fast..

Unfortunately by the sounds of it he's got a relatively ancient fuse box.

My recommendation would be to go with the turn the main breaker off (making sure the PC etc is turned off first), that should kill all the power in the house then either a pair of pliers, or a the rad to get the base of the bulb out.

We had a small Edison screw bulb go the other day, and in typical homebase bulb fashion when I went to remove it, the glass unscrewed but the metal plug stayed in place.
Cue the lights for the extension getting turned off at the breaker box, and me getting a small pair of insulated needle nose pilers out (I've had to use them a few times on bulbs that have shattered).

One of the handiest bits of kit I've got in my tool box is a very old live wire detector/continuity tester (I think it must be Black and Decker but all the markings have rubbed off it's that old), which is extremely handy for finding out if something like a wire is live or not as it beeps when the end is near one

(even if there is no connection further on with an ac wire it'll beep - ie in a circuit with a switch turned off or a blown bulb as long as it's before the switch/dead bulb).

Aod · 2 Nov 2011 at 05:04

Globul said:
hey, I know what to do if this happens

Marry me!

Chief Wiggum · 2 Nov 2011 at 06:45

Werewolf said:
Unfortunately by the sounds of it he's got a relatively ancient fuse box.

My recommendation would be to go with the turn the main breaker off (making sure the PC etc is turned off first), that should kill all the power in the house then either a pair of pliers, or a the rad to get the base of the bulb out.

This! Plus when you throw the main switch back to on, you get to say "it's alive! Mwa ha ha ha ha!". (or is that just me :confused:

)

Luke · 2 Nov 2011 at 06:53

It's doubtful the bulb exploded. Far more likely the bulb section was fired away from the bayonet glue and it shattered when it hit something solid.
We have this all too regularly. As has been said, turn the power off at the fusebox, get a pair of pliers (or scissors if you don't have any) and remove the bayonet section.

Aod · 2 Nov 2011 at 06:55

Luke said:
It's doubtful the bulb exploded. Far more likely the bulb section was fired away from the bayonet glue and it shattered when it hit something solid.
We have this all too regularly. As has been said, turn the power off at the fusebox, get a pair of pliers (or scissors if you don't have any) and remove the bayonet section.

actually i've had a couple of lightbulbs explode on me, i was watching one at the time... big boom!

Luke · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:09

It happens, but far less often than what I described.

Broken Hope · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:22

Angilion said:
Out of interest, how dangerous is a standard domestic lighting socket? If it's live and you get a shock from it, is it likely to be fatal or just painful? Although painful could be fatal if you have an unlucky fall off whatever you're standing on to reach it.

Painful, I was a stupid child and decided to put my finger up a socket without a bulb in place, it hurts, but I'm still here, so it's either not fatal or I got lucky.

NightSt@lk3r · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:41

Just leave it until a man is available.

godinman · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:50

This thread depresses me. I have a couple of friends who are moronic and and can't do things like think 'Oh, I can't tell if this light is on or off, oh well, I'll just turn the mains power off instead', or 'Oh, I am a bum-nugget and don't own any pliers, perhaps I could use something else instead, oh look, here is something that I can use instead'.

Seriously, even monkeys have grasped basic tool use, get a grip and MTFU.

FNGsam · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:54

Broken Hope said:
Painful, I was a stupid child and decided to put my finger up a socket without a bulb in place, it hurts, but I'm still here, so it's either not fatal or I got lucky.

Is your name Electro and do you have a grudge against Spiderman now?

Jono · 2 Nov 2011 at 09:28

Have you recently taken in John Coffey as a lodger?

TaKeN · 2 Nov 2011 at 09:35

Sounds pretty simple tbh, just wrap a towel round what's left of the bulb and twist it out?

Cosimo · 2 Nov 2011 at 09:48

TaKeN said:
Sounds pretty simple tbh, just wrap a towel round what's left of the bulb and twist it out?

After the power has been switched off.

TaKeN · 2 Nov 2011 at 09:58

If you wrap enough towel round it you shouldn't get a shock! you shouldn't be trying to touch the filament anyway

Just the glass edges.

AFK_Matrix · 2 Nov 2011 at 10:05

simulatorman said:
After the power has been switched off.

Nah live dangerously and just grab that sucker and twist it out. You have a 50/50 chance of being shocked so its a good game!!!

(please don't do this as I think you may well do this if you don't know what to do if your lightbulb goes and you can't work out if its on or off and thus turn the damn power off rofl)

Globul · 2 Nov 2011 at 13:36

Aod said:
Marry me!

Sorry, already taken haha

But serious, my dad taught me things like this and the fuse box and things. I even know a small amount about cars, for when I eventually start driving. I find it sad a male does not know how to fix this problem