Technical Tips

Lamps

1. Why does lamp burn out prematurely?
   Line voltage lamps may be subject to power swings. Check line voltage. Minimize power swings to less than 20% Halogen lamps should never be subject to voltage operation above 10% of its rated voltage. Never use dimmers above this value. Inspect sockets for arcing or bad connections.
2. Why did lamp turn black?
   Is the lamp over-cooled? Direct airflow on the bulb can cause the lamp to turn dark.. Minimize cooling.
3. Large bubbles swell upon the bulb
   May also be related to over cooling. Dark spots that have collected on the bulb will absorb heat, then the quartz may bulge.
4. Why does lamp base crack or break?
   Often related to installation and poor quality or damaged lamp sockets. Check and maintain the sockets. Are they oxidized, burned or bent and dirty? Periodically replaced them.
5. Why is there a white haze on the quartz?
   May be silica haze or smoke. Generally not a problem and most often is silica left over from the production process. Typically will not cause a performance problem.
6. Why is there varying resistance across lamp pins?
   Usually this is humidity related. Finite amounts of moisture collect in the base. Should this be an issue, the solution may be as close as a heat gun or drying oven.
7. Why do I need to change lamps so often in a large installation?
   It is important to change all the lamps on large circuit strings at the same time. Lamps all have some sort of average life. Should you just change a few lamps at a time as they burn out, you may later find a whole series failing sometimes at an inopportune time. These additional failures may be simply the related to the fact that they have reached end of life.
8. Why are there color temperature variations across strings of lamps?
   Make sure the voltages to all the lamps are consistent. Power variations can cause some lamps to operate above or below rated color temperature.
9. Unexpected lamp burst
   Never handle lamps with bare fingers. Inspect the bulb for accumulated dust or dirt. Wipe the bulb as needed with alcohol and a lint free cloth.
10. Why is the filament broken or melted?
    Make sure the lamps do not encounter serious vibration. The lamps should never be over driven. Maintain maximum voltage rating at all times.
11. How is lamp life determined?
    Life Expectancies are general guidelines. Voltage, color temperature, heat and duty cycles all establish life expectancies.
12. What is the definition of overheating?
    Never allow the lamp pinch seal to exceed 350 degrees Celsius. Bulb surface temperature should be between 250 degrees Celsius and 550 degrees Celsius (800 degrees C. for heater lamps).These values are based on open air or free standing lamps-those not burned in fixtures.