Rather dramatic incandescent bulb failure.

[Sylvia Else]

On 18/05/2010 1:12 AM, ian field wrote:

"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf0cd33$0$15751$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
On 17/05/2010 3:19 AM, ian field wrote:
"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf0003d$0$7736$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
I just went to turn on a light. The bulb emitted a bright blue flash,
and
its glass envelope separated from the base, bounced off the rear
enclosure
of the television and fell to the wooden floor.

Scared the bejeezus out of me. The only redeeming feature was that the
bulb didn't shatter.

After fifty years and a few, that's a new one on me.

Sylvia.

Many years ago a UK store had cheap bulbs (made in Poland) and most we
bought did exactly that.



How many times did you let this happen before deciding they were more
trouble than the saving was worth?

Sylvia.

They were sold in a quantity pack, 10 or a dozen - after about 3 dropped
their glass on the floor at switch on we binned the rest of the pack.

Very wise.

Sylvia.

 

[kreed]

On May 17, 3:17 pm, Sylvia Else <syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote:

On 17/05/2010 12:38 AM, M Phillips wrote:> We've had a few of those, last one the bulb exploded and sent glass over
three metres, the still flaming filament landed on a leather chair. The box
it came in said "Quality Checked". Hope the new high efficiency ones don't
go the same way.

Anyone know what the typical failure mode of a compact fluorescent is?
(I assume that's the intent of "high efficiency").

Sylvia.

Usually the tube fails, I have checked dozens of dead ones over the
past few years. (Connect a normal tube to the terminals and it will
work.)

Havent seen any electronics failures, but in our case they all have
been operated inside ventilated equipment cabinets, the base to the
bottom.

Others have had other experiences however, judging by stories and pics
on some forums, though may have been used in hot areas, or sealed
fittings with nil ventilation. Under these circumstances, I see no
reason to doubt these reports considering some of the crap electronics
around, and the common failure of electrolytics in most applications.


I recall hearing years back about a mirabella brand bulb "exploding"
at switch on. It might have been on a consumer affairs program (that
one on ABC years back probably), a current affairs type program or
similar.

No details were given of the exact failure other than "big bang and
bulb flew out of socket" or similar.


Another warning I read of a long time back was the use of certain
incandescent (maybe QH or back reflected varieties of floodlight bulbs
used) in shop window displays. They could shatter when they failed,
dumping red hot filament pieces over clothing or other flammable
display items beneath, starting a fire.

 

[kreed]

On May 17, 2:58 pm, Sylvia Else <syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote:

On 17/05/2010 2:30 PM, Franc Zabkar wrote:



On Mon, 17 May 2010 00:24:59 +1000, Sylvia Else
syl...@not.at.this.address>  put finger to keyboard and composed:

I just went to turn on a light. The bulb emitted a bright blue flash,
and its glass envelope separated from the base, bounced off the rear
enclosure of the television and fell to the wooden floor.

Scared the bejeezus out of me. The only redeeming feature was that the
bulb didn't shatter.

After fifty years and a few, that's a new one on me.

Sylvia.

I've had Mirabella bulbs that did that.

- Franc Zabkar

Mine was an Osram.

I'm a bit surprised, indeed somewhat concerned, that the circuit breaker
didn't trip. It's rated at 10A, but the individual lamp sockets won't
be. I'm wondering how I can safely test it.

Sylvia.

Stem fuses in many bulbs. designed for moments like these

 

[ian field]

"Sylvia Else" <sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf2162f$0$24355$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...

On 18/05/2010 1:12 AM, ian field wrote:
"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf0cd33$0$15751$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
On 17/05/2010 3:19 AM, ian field wrote:
"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf0003d$0$7736$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
I just went to turn on a light. The bulb emitted a bright blue flash,
and
its glass envelope separated from the base, bounced off the rear
enclosure
of the television and fell to the wooden floor.

Scared the bejeezus out of me. The only redeeming feature was that the
bulb didn't shatter.

After fifty years and a few, that's a new one on me.

Sylvia.

Many years ago a UK store had cheap bulbs (made in Poland) and most we
bought did exactly that.



How many times did you let this happen before deciding they were more
trouble than the saving was worth?

Sylvia.

They were sold in a quantity pack, 10 or a dozen - after about 3 dropped
their glass on the floor at switch on we binned the rest of the pack.



Very wise.

It was mentioned elswhere in the thread about the glass assembly parting
company with the base - these ones the glass fractured around the edge of
the base, falling on the floor leaving the base complete with filament stem
sticking out of the light socket.

 

[Sylvia Else]

On 18/05/2010 11:53 PM, ian field wrote:

"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf2162f$0$24355$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
On 18/05/2010 1:12 AM, ian field wrote:
"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf0cd33$0$15751$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
On 17/05/2010 3:19 AM, ian field wrote:
"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf0003d$0$7736$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
I just went to turn on a light. The bulb emitted a bright blue flash,
and
its glass envelope separated from the base, bounced off the rear
enclosure
of the television and fell to the wooden floor.

Scared the bejeezus out of me. The only redeeming feature was that the
bulb didn't shatter.

After fifty years and a few, that's a new one on me.

Sylvia.

Many years ago a UK store had cheap bulbs (made in Poland) and most we
bought did exactly that.



How many times did you let this happen before deciding they were more
trouble than the saving was worth?

Sylvia.

They were sold in a quantity pack, 10 or a dozen - after about 3 dropped
their glass on the floor at switch on we binned the rest of the pack.



Very wise.


It was mentioned elswhere in the thread about the glass assembly parting
company with the base - these ones the glass fractured around the edge of
the base, falling on the floor leaving the base complete with filament stem
sticking out of the light socket.

That's a rather surprising failure mode.

Sylvia.

 

[ian field]

"Sylvia Else" <sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf34178$0$15775$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...

On 18/05/2010 11:53 PM, ian field wrote:
"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf2162f$0$24355$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
On 18/05/2010 1:12 AM, ian field wrote:
"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf0cd33$0$15751$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
On 17/05/2010 3:19 AM, ian field wrote:
"Sylvia Else"<sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:4bf0003d$0$7736$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
I just went to turn on a light. The bulb emitted a bright blue
flash,
and
its glass envelope separated from the base, bounced off the rear
enclosure
of the television and fell to the wooden floor.

Scared the bejeezus out of me. The only redeeming feature was that
the
bulb didn't shatter.

After fifty years and a few, that's a new one on me.

Sylvia.

Many years ago a UK store had cheap bulbs (made in Poland) and most
we
bought did exactly that.



How many times did you let this happen before deciding they were more
trouble than the saving was worth?

Sylvia.

They were sold in a quantity pack, 10 or a dozen - after about 3
dropped
their glass on the floor at switch on we binned the rest of the pack.



Very wise.


It was mentioned elswhere in the thread about the glass assembly parting
company with the base - these ones the glass fractured around the edge of
the base, falling on the floor leaving the base complete with filament
stem
sticking out of the light socket.



That's a rather surprising failure mode.

That's an understatement - ready for bed with no shoes on and the landing
light drops its glass on the floor the instant its switched on, so no light
to clear up the shattered glass.