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Posted By Cathy Ricketts
Can anyone throw any light on this one (excuse the pun)
We have halogen spotlight bulbs which are used in our windows to light posters. Every now and then we get one explode. Originally we were told this was a one off due to a faulty filament but it has now happened on several occasions and not in the same office. Any help to find the cause of this would be appreciated.
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Posted By stevehaigh
Halogens do run hot therefore ensure you have the correct wattage.
Also consider dimmer switches, and turning off the bulbs to allow cooling.
These bulbs can also present a significant fire hazard if not used correctly and should not be left switched on when the area is vacant or near combustible materials e.g posters
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Posted By Brett Day
Another thing to bear in mind is that they need to scrupulously clean of grease, if the person puts them in with bare hands that can cause bulb failure.
In stage lighting we often used a lint free cloth for handling bulbs to avoid this problem (a double thickness of kitchen roll will also do).
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Posted By Frank Hallett
Good evening Cathy
I suspect that Brett has identified the real problem provided that the electrical circuits concerned have been independantly checked out. Halogens are notorious for failing if you get any grease - including contact with human skin - on them. Usually they just develop miniscule fractures that allow the atmosphere in and the filament fails; sometimes the grease on the glass produces a more spectacular effect!
Clean, non-oily or greasy material is a must when handling halogens of all types.
Frank Hallett
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Posted By Robert.
There are various manufacturers of halogen lamps. Some good and reliable, others not so(the cheap end where lamp life iand reliability is poor.
I suspect that you are using LV dichrioc lamps which are "open" and do not have a protective glass cover. They were reknowned for their "failure rate. Use a reputable manufacturer stock. Also check the transformer output. As far as over heating is concerned, yes, it is always a problem. There are intumescent hoods that are available if the lamps are recessed into the ceiling. All halogen lamps (ELV or LV) require a good degree of ambient cooling--free air, circulation. This may also be a contributing factor.
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