Halogen light problems
 

The halogen ceiling light in the basement keeps blowing 'bulbs'. The bulbs are about the size of a pencil - tube like, 150w. Hardly use the light and the bulbs only last about two weeks. Obviously, something else is wrong, what should I be looking for?


thanks

Has this problem just started, or has this been going on since the installation of the light? is it overheating (halogens, as you probably know, run really hot)?

What about the quality of the bulbs? Are they from the same manufacturer?

Beyond that, I would look at the fixture itself...maybe the transformer is simply not working probably.

Another thing to check is moisture accumulation in the fixture. Perhaps water condensing on the ceiling?

The light was installed about 5 years ago, the tubes just started blowing out in the last two months. Since it worked for the longest time w/o problem I doubt if its heat related. Forget the manufacturer of the tube, but its a name brand, Sylvania maybe.

The light is seldom on for a very long period of time. Rare if its more than an hour at a time. We're seldom in the basement.

No condensation in the area.

I had a problem with a regular light that took a certain kind of bulb. I finally figured out I was purchasing new bulbs from the same store, same brand, probably the same defect. I went to a different store and haven't had the problem any more.

also make sure not to touch the bulb the oil from skin heats up and busts the bulb.

Good advice, I know I touched the bulbs with my fingers when installing them, however they show no signs of being burnt or burst. The bulbs look fine.

I'm afraid this may be the culprit....

i'd go with cynth on this one..if you tyouch the bulb with your fingers you can kiss your bulb goodbye.

tell us how you go

one more vote for the "don't touch it" answer.

I speak from experience.

Check the outlet with a volt meter, you may have a bad ballast in there now, and it is supplying the wrong voltage to the light. Also try a piece of tissue of paper towel when you install the new bulb to keep you from touching it. You will not see the problem but the oils form your hands will cause localized heating.

p.s. If you don't know how to safely check the outlet with a voltmeter, find someone who does. It's not worth it if it kills you. you can always hire an electrician to come check it out for you.:thumbsup:

Touching the bulb will create a hotspot on the bulb. The glass will generally darken, warp, or even crack/puncture at the spot where you touched it. The fact that the bulb looks fine tells me that it's probably not you touching it.

What brand of bulbs are you using? A lot of people use Abco/Westinghouse because they're cheap. I call them flashbulbs. Which is somewhat unfair because camera flashbulbs often last longer ;)

Bulbs by Sylvania tend to be decently reliable.

If that doesn't work, it could be a heat generation problem in your light. Poorly designed (cheap) hallogen lights can trap so much heat that it damages the bulb.

What kind of bulbs are we talking here? Long, thin, with metal contact points on either end, screw in, 2-prong, what?

bad fixture I think. i'd replace the fixture as the cost of a new one may be cheaper than a repair. buying lights at a home centre is a crap-shoot. go to a lighting store and ask some questions.

thanks for all the responses, it seems to be working fine now.

I was extremely careful to not touch the bulb when I replaced it. So far, so good.