Question for electricians

[47]

What exactly is it about a house(wiring) that blows light bulbs like crazy?

Several sockets in this house are notorious for burning bulbs...throw the switch, and poof, there goes 2 bulbs in the ceiling fan fixture. Table lamps, bathroom fixture etc.

Are they just making all light bulbs in China now or is there something else I need to have checked?

[StrayDog]

I'm no electrician but are all the bulbs on the same circuit?

Regardless, I'd check the neutral connection at your service panel/circuit panel. If you've developed a bad connection (loosened/failed mechanical fastener, corrosion, etc) as it could be the source of your problems.

If you do have a bad neutral connection the lights will usually shine REALLY bright - but it's sometimes hard to tell.

[47]

I'm no electrician but are all the bulbs on the same circuit?

Regardless, I'd check the neutral connection at your service panel/circuit panel. If you've developed a bad connection (loosened/failed mechanical fastener, corrosion, etc) as it could be the source of your problems.

If you do have a bad neutral connection the lights will usually shine REALLY bright - but it's sometimes hard to tell.

Not on same circuit. And actually the bulbs seem to be dimmer than expected.

[StrayDog]

I'd use a meter and check the voltage at multiple outlets. I know that sometimes the power company can provide a little higher voltage (i.e. greater than 120V) - it's normal to do this so I've been told.

I also know they sell light bulbs that are rated at 130V that are better for when the power company is providing a little higher voltage - might try a box of those if you measure >120V. But I'd definitely talk to a "real electrician" and not listen to some yay-hoo like me.

[Langston32]

I'd use a meter and check the voltage at multiple outlets. I know that sometimes the power company can provide a little higher voltage (i.e. greater than 120V) - it's normal to do this so I've been told.

I also know they sell light bulbs that are rated at 130V that are better for when the power company is providing a little higher voltage - might try a box of those if you measure >120V. But I'd definitely talk to a "real electrician" and not listen to some yay-hoo like me.

This! Not many people that aren't electricians know this. Not saying that you don't have a real electrical problem but changing your lamps to 130v will most likely fix you up. You will prob have to go a wholesaler to get them but that shouldn't be a prob. If this doesn't do the trick there could be a few things causing your problems and I would recommend calling a reputable electrical contractor that does service work to have his guys come trouble shoot it.

[krisw]

Yea I was gonna say not having bulbs rated high enough. I had a porch light that ate them up. Had to change to a heavier duty bulb. Probably just a higher wattage or something. But they lasted longer

[PineyWoodsBow]

cheap bulbs or higher than normal voltage from the power company

Jason

[J-Fish]

Get a meter and check that voltage. I see 115v-122 as being pretty normal loads.

No mater what, if you don't know what your doing, then don't mess with it. Call a pro.

[txfireguy2003]

I had a similar problem a few years back, but you'd know right away if it was what I had happen. We had a wind storm and the neutral wire broke loose at the power pole in the back yard. When that wire came loose, if fell down onto one of the hot transmission lines, creating a situation where 1/2 the circuits in my house had 120 coming in, but no neutral to complete the circuit, therefore, none of those circuits worked. That's not a big deal though. The problem is that the other 1/2 of my circuits had 120 coming into them on the hot leg, and 120 coming into them on the neutral leg, creating, in essence, a 240 volt circuit to 1/2 my 120 appliances. That little mishap cost the power company about $2000 to repair or replace my fridge, washing machine, alarm clocks, microwave, every light bulb in the house just about, ceiling fans, and various other items, and put us up in a hotel for a few nights. We used an ice chest for a fridge for a couple weeks until we could get the fridge fixed. Unfortunately, there were a few small items that I don't use often that also got fried that I didn't catch until months later.....I had to eat those.

Anyway, sorry I can't answer your question, but if nothing else, my story will give you an idea of just how bad it can be with a bad neutral.

[47]

I had a similar problem a few years back, but you'd know right away if it was what I had happen. We had a wind storm and the neutral wire broke loose at the power pole in the back yard. When that wire came loose, if fell down onto one of the hot transmission lines, creating a situation where 1/2 the circuits in my house had 120 coming in, but no neutral to complete the circuit, therefore, none of those circuits worked. That's not a big deal though. The problem is that the other 1/2 of my circuits had 120 coming into them on the hot leg, and 120 coming into them on the neutral leg, creating, in essence, a 240 volt circuit to 1/2 my 120 appliances. That little mishap cost the power company about $2000 to repair or replace my fridge, washing machine, alarm clocks, microwave, every light bulb in the house just about, ceiling fans, and various other items, and put us up in a hotel for a few nights. We used an ice chest for a fridge for a couple weeks until we could get the fridge fixed. Unfortunately, there were a few small items that I don't use often that also got fried that I didn't catch until months later.....I had to eat those.

Anyway, sorry I can't answer your question, but if nothing else, my story will give you an idea of just how bad it can be with a bad neutral.

Yikes... had a similar thing happen at my house in Brownwood several years ago. Service line coming from the pole had been draped across a tree branch for sometime, and through a long dry spell and windy days the branch had slowly worn away the jacketing.

Went home for lunch one afternoon and out of nowhere a cloud blew up and it rained for about 3 minutes... that's when all hell broke loose.

Long story short, I lost my HVAC system, door bell, 2 TV's, microwave, dryer, by the time I could get all the breaker thrown...friend of mine with Oncor told me if I hadn't been there, the house would have burned to the ground.

[waterdog]

Ask the city power dept. to come out and check the voltage being put out by the transformer at the pole. It could be set to high. Your other appliances are at risk also. Check the voltage coming out of you outlets.

[47]

Ask the city power dept. to come out and check the voltage being put out by the transformer at the pole. It could be set to high. Your other appliances are at risk also. Check the voltage coming out of you outlets.

Yep...off to Home Depot to get a meter.

[warrington]

I have the same problem. Have lost 2 10 yr old freezers over the past couple years. Hundreds of bulbs burnt out. I gotta check into this. Does this mean it might be running 122 and double for 220. That's not good for the sc

[StrayDog]

Just curious if you found a voltage problem?

[db@100]

A lot of things can cause this to happen. You could have a switch going bad. The arc when when the switch closes can cause a surge that will make lamps burn out. Could be a voltage problem like others have said. A loose neutral like was said earlier will cause voltages to go up on one phase and down on the other. This will cause electronics to go out also.