Locktite for light bulbs?

[92GreenYJ]

Probably a dumb question, but is there anything like Locktite that can be used for screw base lightbulbs? I manage an arcade and several of my games have issues with the screw base bulbs working themselves loose from the vibrations of the game being played. Specifically my skee ball and basketball games. They all have cfl bulbs in them running on 120v. Anyone got any good suggestions for some way I can lock them in to keep them from working loose and still be able to easily change them when they burn out?

 

[mrb]

put a glob of silicone to secure the large plastic portion of the cfl

 

[klaw]

What he said

 

[Speedy Petey]

Sometimes I think there is Loctite on many of the lamps I have to replace.

Seriously though, ANY adhesive or Loctite on the screw shell would be crazy IMO. Find another fix, like suggested above.
You can also replace the sockets. A new socket will have cleaner and deeper threads. I bet they have worn down over the years.

 

[w1im]

If the sockets stick up from the base, you might be able to wrap electrical tape around the socket and continue up to the plastic ballast enclosure on the bulb. That would probably be the easiest to remove too.

 

[ddawg16]

I don't think tape will work well....the socket will get warm and cause the tape to loosen up.

I would avoid locktight or anything inside the socket.....chances are good that it would cause the bulb to not unscrew which cases the bulb to seperate from the male socket.

I think a dab of silicone applied to the side between the bulb and base is the way to go. Do it with the light cold...give it time to dry. If you ever have to remove the bulb, you can cut the silicon off.

 

[92GreenYJ]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll give a few of these ideas a try. I'm just getting tired of having to open the games up every few days just to re tighten the bulbs

 

[eljefino]

what if you drag a file sideways across the bulb's threads, so you make a few burrs?

 

[Sureshot]

Pure silicone does not set up. Not sure where you buy it though. PM me if you cannot find any.

Maybe a wrap of teflon tape at the top of the threads.

 

[2manytoyz]

Since these are CFL bulbs, I wouldn't expect the base to get very hot. I'd put a dab of hot glue on the top of the threads once the bulb is screwed in. Takes a fair amount of heat to soften hot glue.

I've been using hot glue for years to make outdoor connections water tight. It takes some effort to remove it, but it IS removeable. Don't goop it down into the fixture or the bulb won't come out short of using a torch on it!

Same goes for Loctite. I use Loctite all the time, but never on anything fragile, or something I can't put a wrench on.

 

[w1im]

Just had another idea, can you run a piece of wire or something similar between the two places the CFL tube enters the plastic base and secure the ends to the fixture somehow? I'm thinking of something similar to how lockwire is used on bolts.

Attached is a picture I tried to draw in MS Paint. The Blue line would be the wire, and it is secured to the two mounting screws that support the fixture. I'm sure the inside of an arcade game would be different, but hopefully you get the idea.