why do my lightbulbs keep exploding?

-Laser- · 12 Jan 2007 at 11:59

well, not actually exploding, but seriously must have gone through 6 bulbs in the last 2 or 3 months, in the light in the front room. anyone hazard a guess as to why this is? they're 100w bulbs (some prev ones might have been 60), in a light fitting that takes three bulbs. more annoying than anything else, it keeps tripping the breaker box or whatever, and i have to stumble about in the dark to put it back on, and then climb a wobbly step ladder in the dark to put the new bulb in!

VIRII · 12 Jan 2007 at 12:00

-Laser- said:
well, not actually exploding, but seriously must have gone through 6 bulbs in the last 2 or 3 months, in the light in the front room. anyone hazard a guess as to why this is? they're 100w bulbs (some prev ones might have been 60), in a light fitting that takes three bulbs. more annoying than anything else, it keeps tripping the breaker box or whatever, and i have to stumble about in the dark to put it back on, and then climb a wobbly step ladder in the dark to put the new bulb in!

Either cheap quality bulbs, electrical fluctuations in the supply or a poorly fitted light fitting.
I'd have the light switch and fitting checked over and probably replaced, well I'd do it myself but if you're not confident get a sparks in.

iCraig · 12 Jan 2007 at 12:02

How often do you switch the light on and off?

'Busy' lights will blow much quicker than those left on for long periods of time, and only switched off/on a few times per day.

StevenG · 12 Jan 2007 at 12:16

also changing in temperature can be a factor. if it gets cold when the room isnt used and then u turn lights on that can help lower the life of the bulb.

VIRII · 12 Jan 2007 at 12:20

iCraig said:
How often do you switch the light on and off?

'Busy' lights will blow much quicker than those left on for long periods of time, and only switched off/on a few times per day.

But they won't take out the main fusebox.

philhoole · 12 Jan 2007 at 12:30

I heard (I don't this for sure) that it's a certain type of fuse/breaker box that causes this. The particular type is not used in new houses. My sister has the same problem.

the_candyman · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:00

ive had a lightbulb in my bedroom before that lasted for well over a year. and the room was used really oftern with my on the computer etc. i was shocked at it when it blew. good old style bulbs were better than todays lightbulbs

Wyrdo · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:08

I take it it's not normal for the circuit to trip when bulbs go? When bulbs in my kitchen strip go it always trips that circuit, without fail

the_candyman · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:31

yeh mine does that in my house. the house is plunjed (spelling wrong i know but i dunno how to spell it) into darkness when a bulb blows. then you can hear swaring in the distance as a housemate is cooking or showering

dannyjo22 · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:37

VIRII said:
But they won't take out the main fusebox.

Nah mine does that too. Modern house with really sensitive trip switches. Most of the time the light circuit trips when a bulb goes.

WillyNelson · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:39

-Laser- said:
they're 100w bulbs in a light fitting that takes three bulbs

I pheer your electricity bill.

Are you sure the fitting can take 100w bulbs? Try 60w ones instead.

Will_3rd · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:42

I had the same problem at uni, two light bulbs blew in 3-4 days

bought some Philips light bulbs, job done

-Laser- · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:46

VIRII said:
Either cheap quality bulbs, electrical fluctuations in the supply or a poorly fitted light fitting.
I'd have the light switch and fitting checked over and probably replaced, well I'd do it myself but if you're not confident get a sparks in.

hehe, i guess it could be any of those actually! it's an old house, so the fitting or switch might be a bit dodgy - will have a look when i get in, could well be cheap bulbs too, and as for fluctuations - wouldn't surprise me!

iCraig said:
How often do you switch the light on and off?

'Busy' lights will blow much quicker than those left on for long periods of time, and only switched off/on a few times per day.

not an awful lot, it's front room, so it would usually be on from when ppl get in from work around 5 ish till we go out or go to bed.

i was wondering if it was a problem with it having three bulbs, i had a triple spotlight fitting for my desk at the old house, and that use to blow bulbs all the time too, and so did the hall light at the previous house to that - also a three bulb fitment.

Werewolf · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:50

Are they homebase bulbs?

The only bulbs I have ever had explode on me were homebases ones, repeatedly (at least 3 R50's over the space of 6 months from differing packs).
They also tended to only last a few weeks each (about 6-8 weeks use).

Swapped to a different store brand and not only are they lasting (much) longer, they aren't tripping the lighting circuit when they die, or exploding/cracking when they die.

dannyjo22 · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:53

Yes my mate an electrician swears by Osram bulbs. They last me ages and when the 3 died in my bathroom, they died within a week of each other. So the life on them was consistent.

-Laser- · 12 Jan 2007 at 13:54

dannyjo22 said:
Nah mine does that too. Modern house with really sensitive trip switches. Most of the time the light circuit trips when a bulb goes.

this house is ancient though, the switchbox itself has gotta be 60s or older i reckon, looks like that bakalite (sp?) stuff

Nelson said:
I pheer your electricity bill.

Are you sure the fitting can take 100w bulbs? Try 60w ones instead.

yeah could be that i guess, i was thinking that if there's not enough power to give them 100w each they simply wouldn't be able to draw that, wasn't thinking about the cabling or fitting! i'll maybe get some 40w or 60w ones.

not too sure on the brand they were tbh, i'll try and get better quality ones.

Zogger · 12 Jan 2007 at 15:31

also make sure your hands are clean when you put the new bulb in. Apparently a little bit of dirt can lead to hotspots on the surface which can build up and reduce the bulb's lifetime, and light fittings can get a bit dusty so it's easy to get stuff on your hands when removing the old one.

I think.

Jez · 12 Jan 2007 at 15:41

Most likely to be the condition of the supply. My parents house with an old old system is always blowing bulbs. My house however (new, and therefore new wiring and up to date consumer unit) hasnt blown a single one out of literally loads in over 18 months of being here.

VIRII · 12 Jan 2007 at 15:44

Jez said:
Most likely to be the condition of the supply. My parents house with an old old system is always blowing bulbs. My house however (new, and therefore new wiring and up to date consumer unit) hasnt blown a single one out of literally loads in over 18 months of being here.

If it is just the one fitting then I'd suspect the fitting first.

Craig321 · 12 Jan 2007 at 15:46

VIRII said:
But they won't take out the main fusebox.

They might, our house works one a few different circuits, whenever a bulb blows that part of the circuit trips off and has to be turned back on again.