Cheap Globe light mounted vertically?

The builder installed a cheap standard (found in many closets) light in my pantry that has a glass globe that attaches with 3 screws. It is mounted on the wall, not the ceiling.

After 9 years, I came home and the globe had broken off and shattered everywhere. It was not loose as the neck that the screws attach to was intact still in the fixture.

My question is are these lights meant to be mounted on a wall or do I need a new fixture? It could have just been a fluke that it broke off after all this time, but I could see how hanging sideways would put stress on the glass.

Reply to
Mike C
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If the globe was fairly small, then those were meant to be attached to the wall. Bigger ones (maybe 6"+ across) usually go on the ceiling. Any of the "big box" stores likely have a close replacement, or take the opportunity to get something you really like. Easy to swap out, and typically cheap enough.

Reply to
professorpaul

Mike C wrote the following:

The screws could have been too tightly turned and expansion of the glass from the light heat caused it to break off at the neck. Solutions?

  1. Do not screw the new globe on too tightly, let it float a little for expansion.
  2. Use a CFL instead of an incandescent bulb.CFLs stay much cooler than incands.
Reply to
willshak

You got good advice about the CFL. The fixture is fine on the wall, IMHO. Just be careful that when you tighten the screws that you leave enough looseness that you can easily turn the globe by hand. That's the standard I use with globes like that.

Reply to
Nonny

Judging where it broke, I doubt it was over tightening. The neck was entirely intact still attached to the fixture.

The globe is around 6" with a 4"neck (I'm guessing).

I wondered if heat was a factor. I had a 60 watt bulb in there. A CFL probably won't work as this is a pantry with a motion sensing switch so it goes on and off many many times a day and the lag for the CFL would also be an issue. Maybe I'll try a incandescent 40 watt bulb and see what happens.

Reply to
Mike C

re: "Judging where it broke, I doubt it was over tightening. The neck was entirely intact still attached to the fixture."

I feel you judge in error.

The globe expanded and would have loved to expand the neck along with it. Since the neck was immobilized by the screws it couldn't expand and the globe cracked at the nearest place that could - just above the neck.

Reply to
DerbyDad03

re: "Judging where it broke, I doubt it was over tightening. The neck was entirely intact still attached to the fixture."

I feel you judge in error.

The globe expanded and would have loved to expand the neck along with it. Since the neck was immobilized by the screws it couldn't expand and the globe cracked at the nearest place that could - just above the neck.

Bingo!

Reply to
The Post Quartermaster

That's usually the case.

Yeah, waiting a couple of seconds for the bulb to get to full brightness would be a major issue. How long do you stay in the pantry with incandescent bulbs?

Reply to
willshak

I appreciate the advice, but it actually is an issue. We go in there dozens of times a day and sometimes for 2 seconds- like to grab a coke. I also believe CFL are not intended for that kidn of constant on/ off use.

Reply to
Michael Cortese

If you look around the wewn, you will see:

:On/Off cycling: CFLs are sensitive to frequent on/off cycling. Their rated lifetimes of 10,000 hours are reduced in applications where the light is switched on and off very often. Closets and other places where lights are needed for brief illumination should use incandescent or LED bulbs. "

Reply to
Michael Cortese

I agree. Not counting using it, I go in the bathroom only 3 or 4 times a day and it's a rreal pain to wait until the lights warm up. And it takes either 10 or 15 seconds for them to warm up, I forget.

I'm pretty sure if you look under the fixture, it's rated for 60 watts. And I understand why one might tighten the screws more when it it is horizontal. When it's vertical, leaveing one still leaves it the globe straight. But when horizontal, one would have the feeling it was drooping, even if in fact it barely was.

Reply to
mm

I think we need more civil rights for glass globes. Why should it have to crack at the nearest place it could? Or, why can't it crack right at the screw? A circle is pretty strong, but I think it would crack at the point of stress. If it were to break elsewhere, I'd blame it on something else.

So, despite my other post, OP, I don't think it's at all clear why it broke. How long have you used it? I'd just buy another one and figure it might last much longer this time. And I would leave one or two of the screws loose a little. I alwasy do with the two fixtures I have like that, on the ceiling. If the same thing happens, re-evaluate.

Reply to
mm

That's what I am going to do- make sure nto to tighten the screws too much and get a 40 watt buld instead of a 60. Luckily, those globes are cheap enough that if it happens again, it is just the inconveninece of the mess.

Reply to
Michael Cortese

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