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#20076 01/08/03 04:51 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 8
B
buddy Offline OP
Member
A hallway in an apartment building burns out bulbs approximately every 3-4 weeks. Any ideas for troubleshooting? All other areas do not have any problem.

#20077 01/08/03 05:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 210
S
Member
Bulbs are only rated for so many hours. Are your hall fixtures left on continuously? I am assuming they are incandescent bulbs. To increase bulb life, buy 130volt rated bulbs instead of 120volt rated. Also dimming greatly increases bulb life.

#20078 01/08/03 05:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 1
C
C-H Offline
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Is there something sending vibrations to the bulbs? For example another hallway above it or a heavy door nearby.

#20079 01/08/03 06:20 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 70
B
Member
Check the wiring in the fixture, check the connections (riveted) at the socket base and look for vibration causes (doors). Older fixtures and those that have bulbs that are larger than the fixture is rated for will ruin the fixture wiring and cause the riveted socket connections to loosen.
Bob

#20080 01/08/03 07:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 444
S
Member
Have you experimented with different types/brands of bulbs?

Try the "rough service" type light bulbs, the ones the auto mechanics use in their trouble lights when working on cars. Those bulbs take a beating and don't burn out easily.

The 130V suggestion mentioned earlier is good advice too.

Bye for now.

#20081 01/08/03 08:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
OK, we've covered the incandescent end.
Is this a fluorescent?
If so a ballast might be in order.

[This message has been edited by electure (edited 01-08-2003).]

#20082 01/09/03 11:48 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 83
P
Member
In my apartment building the bulbs are burning out very frequently also. But the problem isn't electrical. It's the tennants who slam doors. It's one of those "angry" families with twentysomething kids living with their single mom who slam doors as a form of expression. If they can shake the building hard enough to knock pictures off my walls. Than it's not hard to understand that much force breaking a white hot filiment. Of course they don't slam doors on the rare occasions when the landlord is around, so he thinks he has an electrical problem too.

Thanks for letting me vent, I have to go lay down now.

#20083 01/09/03 03:08 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 103
J
jes Offline
Member
Are you sure that the bulbs that are 'burning out' the same ones you put in shortly before???

#20084 01/09/03 08:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 134
L
Member
i would suggest you stop bye an electrical supply house and pick up some 130 volts rought service bulbs.you will be surprise how much longer they will last.or for a few bucks more you can pick up a screw in fluorescent bulb....is the hall light on 24 hours a day????if so,go with the screw in fluorescent bulb if you can.

jes...i was thinking the same thing.

#20085 01/09/03 11:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,691
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Member
Next time you replace the bulbs....mark the new bulb before screwing it in. That way next time it "burns out," you can tell whether it was someone who swapped bulbs on you...or whether it's as you say - short lived bulbs.

If it is bulb swapping....I remember reading about a device that physically locks the bulb into the socket until you remove it with a special key (dunno if it will work with CFLs).

Or go with (more expensive) left-hand threaded sockets & bulbs [Linked Image]

Do they make compact fluorecents with left-hand threads?

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