Blowing CFL's

[Steve from Socal]

I am replacing some MH lights with 105w CFL's , most have gone smoothly, a couple of bases blow bulbs with regularity. The bulb will light normally and operate for a little while usually less than half an hour then, an arcing sound and dead bulb. I have changed the wire and porcelain bases on these and still have issues. Are there high out of box failures on these bulbs?

Steve

 

[Aceman]

I am replacing some MH lights with 105w CFL's

Please tell me MH doesn't stand for metal halide.

 

[brewchief]

Please tell me MH doesn't stand for metal halide.

If it does I hope the ballasts have been removed and he is only using the fixture for the reflector. If so I also hope the lights were 120V not 240V.

 

[Kevin C]

Please tell me MH doesn't stand for metal halide.

Might be this....

http://synergylightingusa.com/convert-hid-or-metal-halide-to-cfl-with-the-new-litetronics-high-wattage-cfl/

 

[Steve from Socal]

Relax;

The CFL's are in their own conduit and are 120 volt. I did get some 277 volt CFL's but couldn't find any medium bases that were rated over 250 volts.

No, I am thinking I got a bad batch of bulb. I am guessing either the over temp is bad or some caps are out of spec. The ones that died only last a few minutes.

Steve

 

[Greatbear]

Are these CFLs being burned base up? Most of the larger CFLs don't like to be burned base up, the heat from the tube rises and will cause the electronics in the base to overheat and burn up. This is exacerbated if there is a reflector or diffuser enclosing the lamp.

 

[matt151617]

Did you check your voltage and be sure it isn't out of whack?

 

[rlitman]

Are these CFLs being burned base up? Most of the larger CFLs don't like to be burned base up, the heat from the tube rises and will cause the electronics in the base to overheat and burn up. This is exacerbated if there is a reflector or diffuser enclosing the lamp.

This is a problem I've experienced with most CFLs. Even reflector models designed to go into hi-hat cans. They just don't last, tip down.

In my garage, I have three 27W pigtail bulbs in ceramic bases on the same switch. The two at an angle on the rafters are still the original bulbs. I've replaced the tip down one on the ridge beam twice already.

 

[ddawg16]

I'm running 23W PAR23 CFL's in recessed cans in my garage....going on 3 years now.....haven't lost one yet...and they will be on for hours at a time....a couple of times I have forgot to turn them off over night (need to look into that remote switch)

 

[csp]

I replaced a MH recently with a 105w CFL (after removing the ballast from the fixture) and it's been great. The base is mounted up as well. This one is on only at night and it is outside, so the ambient temp is lower than it would be inside. This setup has been in place since May.

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

When chinese junk fails like this, PLEASE be sure to take it back for a refund, even if the cost is low.

It will let the retailer know the true price of junk and might even bring someone's job back to USA.