Lights blowing

meg_mog · 2007-12-21T21:55:50+00:00

Hi there,I'm a newbie so hi there!Apologies if this is a stupid query but I'm doing my nut having toreplace bulbs on an almost weekly basis (and I have searched previousposts too but still need some advice..).We moved in about 2 years ago, the house was supposed to have been re-wired (at least partially) within the last 5 years, all the lights areon one circuit and we have modern switch type fuse box (sorry not atech, just giving my best description..).At first with standard bulbs they were blowing one every couple ofweeks, in addition the kitchen light (flourescent tube) had a flickeryeffect when coming on and was prone to tripping the circuit.First we replaced all our standard bulbs with energy efficient ones.No help, it just became much more expensive to replace them. Thekitchen light was quite old and also our son flooded the bathroom(directly above the kitchen) with the effect that everything gotsoaked and we thought maybe that had affected something in the lightfitting. Scrapping the whole light fitting we bought a nice brighthalogen track light from IKEA.Sometime over the last couple of months the rest of our lights seem tohave settled down and I haven't had to replace one for ages. The flipside of this is that the halogens have been a disaster, there are 5 xGU10 35 watt bulbs on the track and they blow at a rate of 1 or 2 aweek....In terms of contributing factors, they are not recessed, not anymoreexposed to heat/vapour than would be normal as it is a fair sizedkitchen with extractor, there has been once since we got them another'flood' from above (courtesy of my son - AGAIN) but they were alreadyblowing before this happened and I just don't know what is wrong orhow to find out (short of calling an electrician which seems a littleexcessive...)Any suggestions on what is wrong and how to remedy it would be verygratefully received :) thanks for reading, fay

Dec 21, 2007 21 Replies

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Dave Liquorice 18 years ago

Well worth putting in a complaint to your distribution company. Just be aware that they may or may not be able to do anything about it. Why don't you measure the voltage around the estate, always assuming you actually know anyone else on the estate... The whole area might be high, if so get them to complain as well.

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John Rumm 18 years ago

Transformers:

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that any electrical wholesaler will carry a good stock, and they all seem happy enough to deal with the general public.

Note that the fittings on the back of a 12V halogen are not the same as those on a mains one - hence you need new fittings as well. (not as daft as it sounds since it means you can't fit a LV bulb in a mains fitting!)

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