An often overlooked but very
important safety feature in
many sockets is the cardboard
insulator (A) seen in figure 1. It
is used to prevent the inner
thread of the socket (B) from
making contact with the outer
shell of the socket (C). It is
also used to prevent the
thread of a light bulb from
accidentally connecting with
the outer shell of the socket
when being screwed in.
Hundreds of lamps come into
the shop with these insulators
badly deteriorated, and this is
a big concern when one thinks
of the damage that can be
caused by this neglect.
In figure 2 we see what can
important safety feature in
many sockets is the cardboard
insulator (A) seen in figure 1. It
is used to prevent the inner
thread of the socket (B) from
making contact with the outer
shell of the socket (C). It is
also used to prevent the
thread of a light bulb from
accidentally connecting with
the outer shell of the socket
when being screwed in.
Hundreds of lamps come into
the shop with these insulators
badly deteriorated, and this is
a big concern when one thinks
of the damage that can be
caused by this neglect.
In figure 2 we see what can
was brought to me shortly after it was "re-wired" by
another repair shop. In fact, a new cord was simply
brought up just inside the base and attached to the old,
inner cord. This is not only lazy, it is dangerous. When the
socket was opened, I found the insulator was badly
burned out even towards the bottom, and the cord's
insulation had been burned off from over use. This should
have been caught by the repair person. One way or
another this lamp was going to short out. Unfortunately it
shorted out in the worst possible way. When the customer
put in the bulb it connected with the outer shell and the
result is pictured here. Part of the light bulb is still welded
to the socket. The customer not only received a nasty
shock, but was cut and burned on the hand by broken
glass and hot metal.
It should be pointed out to the reader that the socket
another repair shop. In fact, a new cord was simply
brought up just inside the base and attached to the old,
inner cord. This is not only lazy, it is dangerous. When the
socket was opened, I found the insulator was badly
burned out even towards the bottom, and the cord's
insulation had been burned off from over use. This should
have been caught by the repair person. One way or
another this lamp was going to short out. Unfortunately it
shorted out in the worst possible way. When the customer
put in the bulb it connected with the outer shell and the
result is pictured here. Part of the light bulb is still welded
to the socket. The customer not only received a nasty
shock, but was cut and burned on the hand by broken
glass and hot metal.
It should be pointed out to the reader that the socket
| To be continued... |
© 2011 THE LAMP REPAIR SHOP
shown here is made of solid brass, which has a melting point of 1700°F (926°C)! This short
circuiting and subsequent melting all happens in less than a tenth of a second. You'll have
no time at all to react until after the damage is done.
circuiting and subsequent melting all happens in less than a tenth of a second. You'll have
no time at all to react until after the damage is done.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 1
happen when such neglect is ignored by repair shops. This socket is from a lamp that
Halogen lamps have proven to be the biggest problem in my lamp repair business. Yet,
people love them! Their sleek, European designs and intense white light have captured
consumers since the 1970s. The problem however, is halogen lamps generate enormous
amounts of heat, and that presents a great danger in the home. I know many people have
heard these warnings yet chose not to heed them. My hope here is that a few examples
might open some eyes.
people love them! Their sleek, European designs and intense white light have captured
consumers since the 1970s. The problem however, is halogen lamps generate enormous
amounts of heat, and that presents a great danger in the home. I know many people have
heard these warnings yet chose not to heed them. My hope here is that a few examples
might open some eyes.
The above photo shows two 500 watt halogen bulbs. The top one is brand new, being
an example of what they should look like. The bottom one was taken out of a lamp
brought to me because of flickering. Not only are these bulbs a colossal waste of
energy, but the heat they generate can melt glass, as seen here. This requires a
temperature of 2600 to 2900 degrees Fahrenheit! The thing is, this bulb was in a lamp
that stands over six feet tall, so this danger was unseen by the home owner. On top of
that, all the safety features were removed, such as the UV radiation shield and the
safety cage. This was a barely averted house fire.
an example of what they should look like. The bottom one was taken out of a lamp
brought to me because of flickering. Not only are these bulbs a colossal waste of
energy, but the heat they generate can melt glass, as seen here. This requires a
temperature of 2600 to 2900 degrees Fahrenheit! The thing is, this bulb was in a lamp
that stands over six feet tall, so this danger was unseen by the home owner. On top of
that, all the safety features were removed, such as the UV radiation shield and the
safety cage. This was a barely averted house fire.
To the left is a photo of a halogen desk
light. This is a typical example of a 12 volt,
30 watt bulb in a swing arm style lamp,
often found on desks and mounted to walls.
If you look behind the bulb you will notice
the aluminum heat shield has melted. If the
bulb can melt aluminum, how hot must the
top of the lamp been?
light. This is a typical example of a 12 volt,
30 watt bulb in a swing arm style lamp,
often found on desks and mounted to walls.
If you look behind the bulb you will notice
the aluminum heat shield has melted. If the
bulb can melt aluminum, how hot must the
top of the lamp been?
To the right is a standard glass
holder from a newer chandelier,
the kind that holds a glass shade
using three screws. A recent cost
cutting measure is to use plastic
sockets in place of ceramic ones.
But even when using the
recommended watt bulb (usually
60 watt) the heat generated has no
where to go (remember, this is
inside a glass shade), so the lamp
over heats and destroys the
plastic socket. This lamp was
only two years old!
holder from a newer chandelier,
the kind that holds a glass shade
using three screws. A recent cost
cutting measure is to use plastic
sockets in place of ceramic ones.
But even when using the
recommended watt bulb (usually
60 watt) the heat generated has no
where to go (remember, this is
inside a glass shade), so the lamp
over heats and destroys the
plastic socket. This lamp was
only two years old!
This is a converted oil lamp
done by a handyman for a
customer. The moment it was
plugged in the bulb exploded
and the house went dark. The
first thing I noticed was there
is nothing protecting the metal
lamp from the electrical wires.
No insulation whatsoever!
Below is the socket as it
appeared when removed from
the lamp. Suffice it to say, if
you don't know what you are
doing, don't do it!! It costs
less than 30 dollars to do it
right.
done by a handyman for a
customer. The moment it was
plugged in the bulb exploded
and the house went dark. The
first thing I noticed was there
is nothing protecting the metal
lamp from the electrical wires.
No insulation whatsoever!
Below is the socket as it
appeared when removed from
the lamp. Suffice it to say, if
you don't know what you are
doing, don't do it!! It costs
less than 30 dollars to do it
right.
This is an arm off a swing-arm
floor lamp. We all have these
lamps, and they all do this
eventually. Take a moment to
pry off the cap on the elbow
and look at the wire. Here it is
clearly seen that the insulation
has become brittle and broken
off, exposing bare wire to the
metal and the user to a nasty
shock. If you cannot do it,
please bring it in and we will
gladly show you how.
floor lamp. We all have these
lamps, and they all do this
eventually. Take a moment to
pry off the cap on the elbow
and look at the wire. Here it is
clearly seen that the insulation
has become brittle and broken
off, exposing bare wire to the
metal and the user to a nasty
shock. If you cannot do it,
please bring it in and we will
gladly show you how.