Replies

1. 
   davidmeiland | Oct 01, 2005 05:50pm | #1

   That strikes me as a lot of cans on one circuit, but someone who knows will be along to tell you shortly.

2. 
   calvin | Oct 01, 2005 06:10pm | #2

   Z,   I have seen the early burnout on some mini cans.  Oddly, a couple of new cans in a group showed short bulb life.  Looking at the base of the bulb you could see dark discoloration, suggesting arcing was occuring.  Cause of the arc, a poor connection between the base of the bulb and the contact in the socket. 

   With the power OFF to the can, I pryed up the contact a bit using the combo beer bottle opener/paint can opener.  No problems after that.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   Quittin' Time

3. 
   ruffmike | Oct 01, 2005 08:03pm | #3

   I have similar cans, but only 4 in the circuit. Had trouble with 50 watt lamps burning out too quick. Went to 30 watt and haven't had any trouble since. Not a noticable diference in amount of light. I assumed the problem was too much heat, my cans are in ceiling between floors.

                               Mike

       Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.

4. 
   maverick | Oct 01, 2005 09:33pm | #4

   I have the same problem. My electrician told me to get my bulbs at an electrical supply house and be sure to get bulbs rated for 120 volts, not 110

   I have'nt tried it as yet, just thought I'd pass it along

1. 
   BillHartmann | Oct 01, 2005 09:37pm | #5

   "My electrician told me to get my bulbs at an electrical supply house and be sure to get bulbs rated for 120 volts, not 110"Could that be 130 volts, aka "long life" bulbs.. Standard line voltage is 120.

5. 
   TRIGGER | Oct 02, 2005 12:32am | #6

   I live in a crappy house with crappy light fixtures at each crappy exterior door. My light bulbs would go out quite frequently, so I posted here on the subject.

    Turns out that the vibration of slamming the doors, (kids fault), were knocking the cheapa$$ fifiment loose on the cheapa$$ bulbs I used.

   P.S. ..............Lotta cans on one circuit.

1. 
   zbalk | Oct 02, 2005 03:46am | #7

   Calvin and Bill,  and others,

   Thanks Calvin, I'll try try the base trick and see.  Several more bulbs burned out today.  I think, Bill, you are on to something.  These bulbs are from an electrical supply house and are rated on the box as 130 volt - and made in Brazil - and not cheap.  Gonna return all of them, burned out or not, on Monday and SCREAM BLOODY MURDER.  Turned a new decade today, maybe that's part of my piss off, but I suspect not. 

   Not putting up with any crap any more - Big box, small box, mom & pop - don't care one way or another; no more crap.                          Zbalk.

6. 
   bhackford | Oct 02, 2005 05:29am | #8

   Is the laundry room above the burned out bulbs?

7. 
   NateMeredith | Oct 02, 2005 02:06pm | #9

   Two possibilities that I found out about the hard way.

   1. I was driving 75W par 16 halogens in Halo track, with a 600 Watt Lutron dimmer. I overloaded the dimmer by 150 watts, and found that the $10.00 lightbulbs lasted 200 hours instead of 2000. Look into that.

   2. The reverse is true as well. All Lutron dimmers must be loaded to 50% of their rating, or the do some weird voltages passed through to the load. That piece of info came from Lutron Tech. As a result, I always make sure that my dimmers are properly loaded, and inform the customers how to manipulate the bulb wattages and the placement of fixtures (Track in commercial, mostly on that one).

   Last thought: You said globe bulbs. I assume that is the round "baseball" type used in a broadway bar. In cans, I noticed that regardless of the rating sticker that allows you to use them, incandescent bulbs have no life in a recessed fixture. Probably b/c the heat trapped in the fixture cooks the filament prematurely.

   Worth a try, good luck.

   Nate

   The only thing I practice in moderation is my excess.