Sticking pins in BC light fitting.
RichardS
I have a ceiling light fitting that has 3 BC bulb holders in it.
Unfortunately, the pins inside one of the holders have started to stick,
with the effect that as the bulb is inserted & twisted and the (sprung)
pins are depressed to their maximum extent they no longer spring back to
hold the bulb securely in place and make electrical contact.
I've tried gripping them gently but firmly with a pair of long nosed
pliers and taking them through the full range of motion a few times, and
also using graphite from a pencil to try and lubricate them, but to no
avail.
I don't really want to have to take the fitting off the ceiling, attempt
to dismantle it and change the offending bulb holders, but obviously if
that's the only way then I'll have to do it.
So, any suggestions? Would electrolube or something similar work?
thanks
Richard
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Remove the obvious and change INVALID to DotCoDotUk to email.
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Alan Griffin
RichardS <pants@REMOVETHISTOREPLY_olifant.INVALID> wrote:
> I have a ceiling light fitting that has 3 BC bulb holders in it.
> Unfortunately, the pins inside one of the holders have started to stick,
> with the effect that as the bulb is inserted & twisted and the (sprung)
> pins are depressed to their maximum extent they no longer spring back to
> hold the bulb securely in place and make electrical contact.
> I've tried gripping them gently but firmly with a pair of long nosed
> pliers and taking them through the full range of motion a few times, and
> also using graphite from a pencil to try and lubricate them, but to no
> avail.
> I don't really want to have to take the fitting off the ceiling, attempt
> to dismantle it and change the offending bulb holders, but obviously if
> that's the only way then I'll have to do it.
> So, any suggestions? Would electrolube or something similar work?
Use WD40!
Alan Griffin
Lee Blaver
> > I have a ceiling light fitting that has 3 BC bulb holders in it.
>
> > Unfortunately, the pins inside one of the holders have started to stick,
> > with the effect that as the bulb is inserted & twisted and the (sprung)
> > pins are depressed to their maximum extent they no longer spring back to
> > hold the bulb securely in place and make electrical contact.
>
> > I've tried gripping them gently but firmly with a pair of long nosed
> > pliers and taking them through the full range of motion a few times, and
> > also using graphite from a pencil to try and lubricate them, but to no
> > avail.
>
> > I don't really want to have to take the fitting off the ceiling, attempt
> > to dismantle it and change the offending bulb holders, but obviously if
> > that's the only way then I'll have to do it.
>
> > So, any suggestions? Would electrolube or something similar work?
>
> Use WD40!
>
> Alan Griffin
I don't know if that was meant to be a serious reply, but remember that WD40
is flammable :-) It's not a very effective lubricant either.
I'd try a silicon or PTFE lubricant, or white lithium grease -- but make sure
it's a
non-conductive type.
However, the springs have probably lost tension through
overheating anyway. Best to replace the lampholders.
Lee
Bobby Bewl
risks.
Bobby
--
"RichardS" <pants@REMOVETHISTOREPLY_olifant.INVALID> wrote in message
news:3CDC58B9.6DAE2F0F@REMOVETHISTOREPLY_olifant.INVALID...
John Armstrong
:-)
--
John
RichardS
>
> Alan Griffin wrote:
>
> > > I have a ceiling light fitting that has 3 BC bulb holders in it.
> >
> > > Unfortunately, the pins inside one of the holders have started to stick,
> > > with the effect that as the bulb is inserted & twisted and the (sprung)
> > > pins are depressed to their maximum extent they no longer spring back to
> > > hold the bulb securely in place and make electrical contact.
> >
> > > I've tried gripping them gently but firmly with a pair of long nosed
> > > pliers and taking them through the full range of motion a few times, and
> > > also using graphite from a pencil to try and lubricate them, but to no
> > > avail.
> >
> > > I don't really want to have to take the fitting off the ceiling, attempt
> > > to dismantle it and change the offending bulb holders, but obviously if
> > > that's the only way then I'll have to do it.
> >
> > > So, any suggestions? Would electrolube or something similar work?
> >
> > Use WD40!
> >
> > Alan Griffin
>
> I don't know if that was meant to be a serious reply, but remember that WD40
> is flammable :-) It's not a very effective lubricant either.
My thoughts exactly, plus once the lamp's up to temperature surely all
of the oils in WD40 will have long gone and ceased to provide any
lubrication.
> I'd try a silicon or PTFE lubricant, or white lithium grease -- but make sure
> it's a
> non-conductive type.
> However, the springs have probably lost tension through
> overheating anyway. Best to replace the lampholders.
>
> Lee
Annoying thing is that this fitting is only about 1 1/2 years old.
Relatively stylish (he says modestly) standard kind of shed Poole
Lighting fitting - they've been reasonable good in the past, IME.
I'll try a couple of these lubricants, but for some reason was thinking
along the lines that they needed to be conductive to maintain reliable
electrical contact. Rethinking, this really isn't a good idea... oops!
Will replace the lamp holders as a last resort 'cause it really is a lot
more hassle taking the fitting down, dismantling, sourcing the correct
parts and then reassembling than it is to lubricate (if that works).
IIRC cost about £40, so I'd expect more than 18 months use out of it.
thanks for suggestions, though.
RichardS
Funny how these things don't strike you when you post them! I'm going
to try this, though, and see if it improves matters....
cheers
RichardS
hmmm, don't really see the danger - it's only sticking pins, not broken
or loose parts.
and it is a PITA to remove, dismantle, replace part, etc.... & at £40
not entirely what I'd call "disposable".
Alan Griffin
Lee Blaver <lee.b...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
> I don't know if that was meant to be a serious reply, but remember that WD40
> is flammable :-)
That's funny. I thought it was inflammable!! :>)
Alan Griffin
Lee Blaver
>
>
> Annoying thing is that this fitting is only about 1 1/2 years old.
> Relatively stylish (he says modestly) standard kind of shed Poole
> Lighting fitting - they've been reasonable good in the past, IME.
>
> I'll try a couple of these lubricants, but for some reason was thinking
> along the lines that they needed to be conductive to maintain reliable
> electrical contact. Rethinking, this really isn't a good idea... oops!
>
> Will replace the lamp holders as a last resort 'cause it really is a lot
> more hassle taking the fitting down, dismantling, sourcing the correct
> parts and then reassembling than it is to lubricate (if that works).
>
> IIRC cost about £40, so I'd expect more than 18 months use out of it.
>
> thanks for suggestions, though.
>
> Richard
>
>
>
The quality of BC fittings varies , I have a 3-lamp fan thing here with
standard size BC fittings
that is around 5 years old but the pins are solid copper with the springs at the
bottom and show no signs of
overheating from the 100W bulbs fitted.
Otoh, the crappy fitting that was in another room had BC fittings with hollow pins
that have the springs
inside and these failed after less than 2 years with the pins sticking and showing
signs of severe overheating from 40W bulbs :-(
The bulbs themselves can play a part though -- some cheap no-name bulbs seem
to run much hotter at the base than equivalent branded ones. I've seen some
run hot enough to melt the solder on the bulb's pins.
No coincidence maybe that these bulbs don't last as long as the branded ones either
:-)
Lee
Terry
>
> Saw the subject and thought this was some sort of DIY voodoo ritual
Me too.
"Why would anyone stick pins into a light fixture?" I thought!
Visions of some esoteric DIY 'fix' were imagined.
Then I recalled that UK (European?) 'bayonet cap' light bulb
sockets have two contacts on the bottom! And I recollect, from
some 50 years ago now, fiddling with those two irritating little
brass screws to attach the wires.
Have never encountered a similar problem with Edison Screw
lamp/bulb fittings used in North America, where, at 115 volts, we
are dealing with twice the current. And the bulb sockets, even
the ones with a ceramic shell, are pretty cheaply made!
With this system one contact is the outer metal screw portion of
the bulb itself (usually aluminium except in the case of special
and high quality bulbs such as exterior floods etc.) and, except
in the case of those dual wattage lamps, the other contact is the
centre of the lamp base.
However one can use an 'ordinary' bulb in those dual wattage lamp
sockets and since one can buy el cheapo economy light bulbs for
anywhere from 77 cents to one dollar (Canadian) for a pack of
four bulbs; roughly equiv, say, to ten pence apiece, ones 'end
table lamps' tend to end up being single wattage bulbed anyway!
Cheers.
patndave
"Terry" <tsan...@nf.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:3CDDDDFF...@nf.sympatico.ca...
>
> Have never encountered a similar problem with Edison Screw
> lamp/bulb fittings used in North America, where, at 115 volts,
we
> are dealing with twice the current. And the bulb sockets, even
> the ones with a ceramic shell, are pretty cheaply made!
>
> With this system one contact is the outer metal screw portion
of
> the bulb itself (usually aluminium except in the case of
special
> and high quality bulbs such as exterior floods etc.) and,
except
> in the case of those dual wattage lamps, the other contact is
the
> centre of the lamp base.
Hi Terry,
Do you ever have a problem with the temperature changes making
the Edison screw lamp/bulb work loose?
I have encountered this problem with our British miniature screw
bulbs/lamps which I use for spot lights on my electronics/radio
bench. Or are your centre contacts spring loaded?
Just wondering.
Dave
C-H Gustafsson
>
> Do you ever have a problem with the temperature changes making
> the Edison screw lamp/bulb work loose?
> I have encountered this problem with our British miniature screw
> bulbs/lamps which I use for spot lights on my electronics/radio
> bench. Or are your centre contacts spring loaded?
>
> Just wondering.
>
> Dave
Vibrations can cause Edison screw bulbs to work loose. I have three
ceiling lights from IKEA where the bulbs unscrew themselves time and
again. I've never had this problem with lamps from other
manufacturers, though.
The British bulbs are far superior from this point of view. No wonder
that bayonet cap sockets are used in all cars...
/Clas-Henrik
Owain
| Annoying thing is that this fitting is only about 1 1/2 years old.
| Relatively stylish (he says modestly) standard kind of shed Poole
| Lighting fitting - they've been reasonable good in the past, IME.
Then it's not "satisfactory" so take it back to the shed and
nicely-but-firmly ask for a new one or a refund. Or a letter to Poole
Lighting may produce a jiffy bag in the post with replacement bits. If it
doesn't, tell us and we'll all boycott them in sympathy :-)
Owain
Owain
news:0rcqdusa9o2hb2if1...@4ax.com...
| Saw the subject and thought this was some sort of DIY voodoo ritual
| :-)
Don't knock it till you've tried it ;-)
Now, was it RichardS trying supernatural powers to solve his lampholder
problem, or some visitors from New Orleans trying to convert us to ES?
Owain