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porter · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK

Moved into a new house recently and seem to have a lot of bulbs blowing - in ceiling halogen fittings, table lights, oven extractor unit. It's not a daily event, just seems more often than what is normal.

Is there anything I can check, as a DIYer?

Many thanks

vince knight · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

Use a voltage tester to test the in-coming supply to start with.
Halogen downlights are very fragile when hot a subject to vibration from above(my kids bedroom is a case in point)

Vince

porter · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK

Just checked it - it's 248 - 250V. That sounds high to me. Is there anything I can do? I read somewhere else that the legal max is 254V - is it likely to exceed this at times of low use?

vince knight · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject:

Quite possible.
Your lamps/bulbs are burning brighter and hotter than designed so will blow quicker and be more vulnerable to vibration

porter · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK

Thanks mate...that explains a few things then. Anything I can about it?

vince knight · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

Buy good quality lamps/bulbs from an electrical wholesaler not tescos or asda's etc. Very Happy

Vince

porter · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK

So all bulbs are not the same then? The low energy fluorescent bulbs (branded) seem to be able to cope - I'll probably switch to over to those in time

Thanks

vince knight · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject:

They work because the control circuits in the base limit the voltage Smile