Anyone have the slightest idea of how long one of these things is supposed to last?

I know they're for temporary use only. The one in my room has been there for two years.

It literally shorted itself out yesterday...looked like carbon tracks in the phenolic insulator disk that holds the center contact in place away from the outer screw shell... Thank goodness for working circuit breakers).

Well these are the limits on temporary wiring in general, I have know idea what the designed life span of a rubber socket is.

During the Period of Construction,

or

90 Days for holiday decorative lighting and similar purposes

or

Emergencies and Tests

[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 08-25-2003).]

In Canada we use them for permanent lighting in small areas such as crawl spaces. I have installed them protruded through a 1/2" knockout/w bushing in a regular octagon light box. The inspectors didn't seem to have a problem with it.
When something bumps them they just swing away. A cage, called for according to our 'under 7 foot' code rule would just get smashed, bulb and all, in a similar situation.
They should last as long as a regular fixture, but make sure your bulb wattage is low. As with any other fixture, I assume there is a max rating for them.

Thanks guyz.

I was using a 60 watt/130 volt household bulb. That shouldn't have cause a problem...should it? I've seen 100 watt bulbs in the strings used in construction sites. If I remember correctly, the lampholder was rated for 600 volts/660 watts (anyone ever seen a 660 watt bulb?)

The pigtail wasn't supposed to stay up this long -- it was originally connected when the defective fixture was removed and prior to painting the place. That's when I discovered the brittle wires (insulation was intact but brittle and hard).

I decided to leave that thing in place instead of disturbing the wires any more until I replaced EVERYTHING (there goes the nice paintjob).

But you know how it is with temporary things.... -- wish I wasn't short of money right now....

[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 08-26-2003).]

Quick question, whats everyone paying for these right now? I'm in the same boat as pinemarten, exact same use.

Yesterday I called up my kid brother from work and asked him to go to a real electrical supply house near his neighborhood to pick up two new ones (UL listed and mfg by West Port Mfg. in USA).

He paid US$1.25 for each and they appear to be made out of vinyl instead of vulcanized rubber. Construction seems decent...except they use 16AWG TFF stranded instead of the usual 14AWG stranded for the pigtails.

The cheap-cheezey (non-UL) listed black rubber sockets from China that I see in hardware stores across town are $2 and change. I think I saw one place selling them for $2.79 ( )

There's one company (Cooper, I believe) that makes them out of BAKELITE! I've been trying to score one...but no luck, so far -- two of the supply houses I called don't carry those -- one doesn't even carry any type of lampholder.

These bakelite ones are the ones used normally in making those lighting strings I mentioned for use in the subway during construction.

Today I was in a job-lot surplus store that was selling Mexican Leviton rubber sockets for like US$2.50 or so.

Sven: In an old house where I used to live many years ago, the entire service entrance consisted of a 60a. 240 volt safety switch (with a-base meter above, of course) and two of those bakelite sockets connected to the load lugs at the bottom of the switch, along with conductors to feed an electric range. The sockets simply laid inside on the bottom of the switch box, and each one contained a 30a. fuse for the two 120v. lighting circuits(neat, huh... ). I changed the fuses to 15 amp., then had the entire house rewired shortly thereafter. I'm guessing that those bakelite sockets had been there since about 1940 or so. They seemed to be in reasonably good condition, save the brittle rubber-covered conductors from the excessive heating.

Mike (mamills)

[This message has been edited by mamills (edited 08-27-2003).]

They are used in barns also, we have a couple of the 1950s ones still in service.

I have also seen them used as fuseholders for pole mounted light fixtures.

So have I. I don't believe they're listed for use as fuseholders.

Apparently fuseholders must have the amperage rating stamped on them. Lampholders have wattage ratings on them.

Has anyone seen a pigtail with amp ratings on them? I've only seen them labelled 600 or 250 volts/660 watts.