Why do my bulbs keep blowing?
3 min readDo I have to switch to LED lamps?
First, electricians call them lamps, but we know that most people call them light bulbs, so that’s what we’ll call them in this article.
Some of you may have a small supply of traditional lamps, but do you have to dump them for LED? We don’t waste here, so although they are very inefficient (80% of the energy that is converted into a traditional incandescent lamp is converted into heat, not light), you shouldn’t dump them yet. If you have purchased bulk to keep track of the number of bulbs that continue to blow, consider why they continue to blow and do something about it.
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When a lamp blows, why does it blow the wick?
When a lamp blows, chances are that your fuse or circuit breaker will also burn out or trip, making the problem seem a lot worse than it is. The reason that a blowing lamp can cause a breaker to stumble is because just before the lamp fails, the element overheats and melts, the resulting resistance causes a surge of current that shuts off the breaker or blows the wick, which is not necessarily a problem, it is the Wick or the circuit breaker is doing its thing.
So why do my bulbs keep blowing?
There can be many reasons why your lamps keep blowing – here are some of the most common ones.
Cheap Bulbs
Unbranded lamps of lesser quality, which are often transported halfway around the world, burn out faster with normal use. These cheaper lamps are made of thinner materials, making them more susceptible to malfunctions and often have little or no quality control.
Cheap Lighting Fixtures
Unbranded luminaries of poorer quality are also often transported over large distances, which increases the risk of transport damage. These luminaries may be poorly designed, with poor airflow around the lamp fitting which then overheats the lamp causing it to malfunction more quickly.
Electricity Sparks
When a light bulb does not fit correctly in a fixture, it can lead to current (a very small spark) between the fitting and the light bulb. This arc can generate excess heat, causing the blub to blow prematurely.
This problem is more common with old or cheap fixtures, but can also occur with expensive new fixtures. When replacing a burned-out lamp, always check the old lamp and the fitting for dark or discolored and / or pitted areas that indicate sparks. If you notice discoloration or pits, ask for advice, as this may be the beginning of something that gets worse.
High Voltage
Only a small amount of excessive voltage is needed to drastically reduce the life of an ordinary light bulb. Just like electric sparks, high voltages can cause excessive heat.
Vibrations
Light bulbs are often very delicate, especially if they are made cheaply. Vibrations can come from a variety of sources, eg nearby devices, sound waves, slamming doors, footsteps from the floor above, ceiling fans, etc. If vibrations are the cause of light bulbs blowing, the switch to an LED light will remedy it.
Will the use of LED lamps reduce the risk of blowing lamps?
We recommend the use of LED luminaries and lamps that last at least 10 times as long as traditional light bulbs and are highly efficient in creating light, so no heat, so save money and reduce the risk of significantly blowing lamps. The reason for this is that LED lamps are generally not made of vulnerable components and they operate at a much lower wattage.
Did this help?
If this article has been relevant to you, you can call us. We can do a little research to see if there are any signs of underlying issues, and we recommend all the steps you need to take to prevent a minor inconvenience from becoming a much more expensive issue.
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