This is an exterior fixture. There are 2 of these on my garage. I noticed last week that all the bulbs were burned out in the one fixture so I replaced them. I used 60 watt bulbs, that is the max rating on the fixture. I only used the lights a couple of times before I notice all the bulbs out again. As you see in the picture(I hope, I've never added a pic before) 2 bulbs were exploded and the third is burned out and cracked. The sockets look alright and the bulbs were just snug in the sockets. Voltage at the fixture is 124v, bulbs are stamped 120v. An electrician once told me that there are bulbs rated at 130v that won't burn out as easily, not sure that is an issue or not. Any ideas?
What is causing these bulbs to explode?
- Thread starter kingchevy
- Start date
Danguitarman
Well-known member
Agreed.
FullRaceMerc
Well-known member
130 bulbs are available in more common styles. I worked at a store that sold them. I' don't know if you'd find them in a style like that.
That said, minor voltage issues like 120 vs 124 might shorten the life of the filament, but not usually break the glass.
So were the first bulbs just burnt out, or broken like these? If just burnt I'd wonder if you got a bad batch with the second set.
That said, minor voltage issues like 120 vs 124 might shorten the life of the filament, but not usually break the glass.
So were the first bulbs just burnt out, or broken like these? If just burnt I'd wonder if you got a bad batch with the second set.
Mustang51js
Well-known member
Try using a 40 watt bulb. Even though it's rated for 60 watts it seems like they are getting to hot and cracking when cooling down. Either that or a bad batch of bulbs,but out of all the bulbs I've seen break like that,95% of them were in outdoor fixtures like yours with those same bulbs
Mustang51js
Well-known member
You can see in the pic how the paint came off from the heat and the metal bar started to rust.
Rookie2
Well-known member
Does it say 60 watts is the max. wattage for the lamps or max. wattage for the fixture ? 180 watts in a small fixture is excessive.
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
Try new fixtures.
^^^^ This.
Get 3 20 watt bulbs.
Or, even better, get 3 LED bulbs. Those little incandescent bulbs only live about 1000 hours (if you get the heat issue figured out). The LED ones will last about 25,000 hours.
CD
lostmind
Well-known member
It may not have rained , but does it get cool at night. I think you have condensation build up , and the heat makes it worse and it drips on the bulb.
Super Mech
Well-known member
Too much wattage for the fixture.
If you believe that they will last 25,000 hours I have a bridge in Brooklyn, and a tower in Paris to sell you.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Looks like too much heat to me. 3 60w bulbs will put out a LOT of heat!
And it has a glass cover, and glass doesnt transfer heat very well!
And it has a glass cover, and glass doesnt transfer heat very well!
If you believe that they will last 25,000 hours I have a bridge in Brooklyn, and a tower in Paris to sell you.
Sorry you're so cynical.
They can actually last longer than that...but I'll not waste any time trying to convince you.
CD
Rob_b
Well-known member
I have a few of those little LED lights and yes, they do last more than 25K hrs. I have one on a bookshelf that is always on for about 5 years now. 5 X 8760 = 43800 hrs so far and still working well.
I'm not about to get into a ******* match about the longevity of LEDs, however my experience is very positive with the lifespan. I have 50 of them installed in a buddies business where they replaced 100w incandescents. That was over 3 years ago and they are ALL still going strong. I thought we had one go bad and it turned out to be corrosion on the contacts. Cleaned everything up and it was good as new.
3 years in a business where the lights flash on and off and run most of the day is pretty damn good considering I was replacing about a dozen incandescents a WEEK beforehand. His electric bill has also taken a big hit from it as well.
3 years in a business where the lights flash on and off and run most of the day is pretty damn good considering I was replacing about a dozen incandescents a WEEK beforehand. His electric bill has also taken a big hit from it as well.
They can but they don't yet.
What's funny is you seem to think LEDs are a new thing. They were invented in the 60's and many are still running strong.
As a general lighting source it's quite recent, and when the bugs are ironed out they will do well. I do like the light they produce, so can't call me a "hater".
To the OP, I would try the LED candelabra base lamps, I have them in a chandelier & done well so far, I just don't believe the claims of long life.
Last edited:
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Platonic Solid
Well-known member
OT
I'm currently working on 200,000 hr. MTBF LED lamps and drivers. 25,000 hrs.+ is here and now.
Re: OT
Until LED luminaires have years in service they will be unproven, what happens in a lab ain't the real world, HPS used to have a lot of problems w/ igniters, now they a reliable but mature light source that will be/ is declining in usage because of LED's & people like white light.
Until LED luminaires have years in service they will be unproven, what happens in a lab ain't the real world, HPS used to have a lot of problems w/ igniters, now they a reliable but mature light source that will be/ is declining in usage because of LED's & people like white light.
mobiledynamics
Well-known member
Re: OT
I hate the white light. While it's considered more ~modern~, I still prefer the amber 2700K AE Rings that was on my previous bimmers.
I do think it's awesome on freeways with the LED. We'll see about longevity
They have replaced 2 way roads on the streets with LEDS. If I was a residence on those blocks, I would hate it IMO. It's too damm sterile and cold IMO.
The older streetlights which have that orangish case, IMO is a better color spectrum for streetlights. I know this is going to be subjective IMO
I hate the white light. While it's considered more ~modern~, I still prefer the amber 2700K AE Rings that was on my previous bimmers.
I do think it's awesome on freeways with the LED. We'll see about longevity
They have replaced 2 way roads on the streets with LEDS. If I was a residence on those blocks, I would hate it IMO. It's too damm sterile and cold IMO.
The older streetlights which have that orangish case, IMO is a better color spectrum for streetlights. I know this is going to be subjective IMO
If you believe that they will last 25,000 hours I have a bridge in Brooklyn, and a tower in Paris to sell you.
My flood light is rated for 50,000 hours.
mobiledynamics
Well-known member
Those specs are based on a set environments - probably turned on and speced till it goes out.
Real world usage has X turn on/turn off cycles, temp, etc that I would think skewer those results by a bit
Real world usage has X turn on/turn off cycles, temp, etc that I would think skewer those results by a bit
Yep, and that's only until it has dimmed by 30%. It will keep going much longer than that.
Real world On/off doesn't effect LED because there's no filament or gas chamber. There's an explanation of how LED's are rated for life in this thread...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278963
CD
Back to the bulb cracking.........had the same problem with a outside fixture on a post. Water cracking the bulb and general short life. ( This is before reasonable priced LED). Mine seemed to fail right after a windy rain. 30-90 day bulb life was the norm.
I switched the bulb and post to low voltage (12 volt) and but a car tail light bulb and socket in the fixture. Used a baby food jar to shield the bulb from water rain or condensation.
The fixture was a dusk to dawn photo cell. The tail light bulb lit on both elements last for years !!!!! While I did not keep exact records, I was there for 17 years guessing I replaced the bulb 2 or 3 times max.
I switched the bulb and post to low voltage (12 volt) and but a car tail light bulb and socket in the fixture. Used a baby food jar to shield the bulb from water rain or condensation.
The fixture was a dusk to dawn photo cell. The tail light bulb lit on both elements last for years !!!!! While I did not keep exact records, I was there for 17 years guessing I replaced the bulb 2 or 3 times max.
knobby
Well-known member
Re: OT
There are plenty of 2700K LED retrofit lamps available thing is though if you chose 2700K order roughly double the wattage of what you would if the lamp were 6400k.
It is just that human eyes don't perceive a light source with a color in the 3K range as being very bright until its very very bright.
FWIW 2700K is far better for street lighting than daylight spectrum because the redder color cuts through fog better.
There are plenty of 2700K LED retrofit lamps available thing is though if you chose 2700K order roughly double the wattage of what you would if the lamp were 6400k.
It is just that human eyes don't perceive a light source with a color in the 3K range as being very bright until its very very bright.
FWIW 2700K is far better for street lighting than daylight spectrum because the redder color cuts through fog better.
Last edited:
checkthisout
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2008
- Messages
- 5,232
As stated, it's getting too hot. You can see where the galvanization has burned off the cover support rod there leading to oxidation.
Lower wattage bulbs or run it without the cover on it or if the cover as a lid, leave the lid off. Surprised the sockets are holding up? Must be a fairly nice lamp assembly if the sockets are still good.
Lower wattage bulbs or run it without the cover on it or if the cover as a lid, leave the lid off. Surprised the sockets are holding up? Must be a fairly nice lamp assembly if the sockets are still good.
This^, even if it is 60w each, I would drop down to a 20-40w and see what happens. You stick 180w in a small glass cage and it gets HOT!