Light Bulbs drop from the ceiling

[Rick12]

Ok, I have light sockets that I haven't used for years in the garage ceiling. Last week I put in a par 38 LED and a few days later it dropped and smashed. The cap/sleeve of the bulb remained in the socket. No big deal just thought it was a faulty bulb. Removed the par 38 twist cap and Replaced it with a 75w halogen bulb.
Few days later, bang...same thing. Cap is still in socket. ??
Other sockets are fine.

 

[cybrdyke]

define what you mean by "cap" and "sleeve".
CD

 

[Rick12]

define what you mean by "cap" and "sleeve".
CD

The part that screws into socket that holds the bulb and stem and connector
(The twisty thing) holds bulb in socket

 

[Rick12]

The base of the bulb

 

[ABSTIFFGS]

You have Ghosts.

That is really odd.

 

[Gotcha640]

We had that happen with some really cheap bulbs in Morocco. These were only pennies a bulb, made in Azerbaijan according to my broken French conversation with the store owner.

 

[Rick12]

These were not cheap bulbs...Phillips

 

[lakeroadster]

Try a different brand... sounds like another toy 3rd world country outsourcing QA issue.

 

[jonjon1]

So the bulb fell apart? just in one fixture? I know bulbs that get hot in cold environments will unscrew themselves, OFTEN I had an outdoor fixture that we used flood bulbs in, if it was cold out and the light was on and off a bunch of times, it would unscrew itsself and smash to the ground, to stop it from happening I put high temp silicone around the last thread of the bulb, it doesnt happen anymore..

BUT that doesnt sound like what is happening to you, I would call phillips and tell them about the problem, also look up the bulb on amazon and see what the reviews say if it happens to other users...

It could be a bad batch, them things are expensive I would call and say "I dont mind sweeping up the glass and stitching up my head where the bulb hit me but I have a problem with pay for the bulb"...

 

[Rick12]

Yes the bulb fell apart. There are three sockets running next to one of the other. not all are on the same circuit. It is a cold environment. Only the one socket is affected. Other bulbs are fine. Haven't had bulbs in these sockets for years, but been using the bulbs in other sockets in this garage forever. I haven't even have one burn out on me.
The par 38 and the halogen are different brands.

 

[Rick12]

Wondering if it's an electrical issue. Things are too hot? Maybe should change socket?
Tomorrow I will call and ask...the bulb company may have an explanation

 

[Thumper68]

Sounds like that one fixture is over heating and weakening the adhesive in the bulb base.

Had that happen before with a older fixture, there was corrosion where the bulb made contact and caused the extra heat, cleaned out the corrosion and it was fine.

 

[cybrdyke]

It's not unheard of...but to have it happen twice in a row, with two different kinds of lamps is bordering on demonic. Do you have exceptionally bad karma?
All I can think of is...if the socket is old, does it require you to use a little extra force to get the lamp to screw into it? Maybe this puts too much torque on the "twisty part" as it goes in.
Beyond that, it's a mystery. But the LED lamp is under warranty. Take it back & get a new one.
CD

 

[Rick12]

Good karma, good karma ������
Corrosion is a possibility. There were salt water aquariums below, no bulbs in socket. Very humid environment.

 

[nehog]

Make sure the bulbs are rated all position and can be burned 'base up'...

 

[Rick12]

These are spot lights. Use them every where else in all other sockets. For years.

 

[CADPoint]

These are spot lights. Use them every where else in all other sockets. For years.

Good karma, good karma ������
Corrosion is a possibility. There were salt water aquariums below, no bulbs in socket. Very humid environment.

... It's not unheard of...but to have it happen twice in a row, with two different kinds of lamps is bordering on karma

FIFU

Go buy a lottery ticket

 

[Rick12]

I called Phillips and they sent a courier to pick up the broken bulb.

 

[cybrdyke]

I called Phillips and they sent a courier to pick up the broken bulb.

Daayamm! That's quite impressive.

 

[larry_g]

Garage door hitting the bulb? Any chance another family member could have hit it, loading the car or putting skis on the top of the car? Radio antenna?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Dustball]

Extreme vibration from the garage door opener?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Is there a bedroom above the garage?

 

[Rick12]

Garage door hitting the bulb? Any chance another family member could have hit it, loading the car or putting skis on the top of the car? Radio antenna?

lg
no neat sig line

No, just drop and scare the **** out of ya.

Is there a bedroom above the garage?

Haha, laughing and snorting my coffee through my nose.

 

[alfredeneuman]

PAR38 Lamps mounted vertically to a ceiling have a bad habit of separating at the base.
The lamps are attached to the base with glue. Sometimes the heat of the lamp is so intense as to melt the glue.
Case in point:
We replaced some PAR38 lamps in a Church once that were over the Altar. The bulbs were mounted about 25' off the floor. During a Sunday Mass the next week, when the lights were on full to brilliance, one of them crashed down about 3' from the Priest.


The lamps were Feit brand. We replaced all of them with Sylvania and had no further problems

But 2 in a row???? Must be Poltergeists