Would an improperly grounded light fixture cause premature light bulb failure?

Question

I have several light fixtures around the house that go through light bulbs almost on a monthly basis. With only a few hours a night (if that) of use for each fixture that is way too soon for bulbs to burn out. I'm wondering what would cause this problem. Could the switch be at fault? the fixture itself? Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

Your line voltage might be too high. There might be a lot of vibration. Your bulbs might be poorly made. I would start by measuring the line voltage. Your utility company might need to change the tap on the transformer that feeds your power.

Oh yes, you also might have a disconnected neutral somewhere that is leading those lights to receive voltage from both phases of your panel. That would definitely make them burn bright and die quickly. Assuming you are in USA, measure the AC voltage at one of the fixtures with a meter. If the voltage is more than 200 volts you have a neutral problem. If the voltage is something like 135 volts then talk to the utility company. The 135 would show up at your receptacles too.

Grounding shouldn't have much to do with it.

Answer 2

In the olden days, there were two-prong outlets that did not have a grounding wire, and lamps and fixtures worked just fine. Much of this wiring is still found in old homes. So I don't think it's a grounding problem. Quite frankly, I have found that the quality of incandescent bulbs has gone down the toilet. I have had bulbs that I have used for very brief periods, only to have them burn out; it's really exasperating. And all of my wiring is new from a complete reno of my house. I have found that GE bulbs and some Phillips bulbs don't last long at all. In fact, I will only buy GE bulbs as a last resort. I think that some of these end up as lower-end bulbs and find their way into the mainstream market as seconds. There's got to be some explanation for the poorer quality of bulbs now. I remember when changing a light bulb was a once- or twice-a-year chore; now, it's almost a part of your normal housework... So I think it's poor bulb quality. Also, your fixtures should be checked, just in case they were wired wrong, or could have shorts, or your wiring in general is in need of changing. Good luck.

Answer 3

Wiring problems don't cause bulbs to burn out. They cause trips and fires.

Premature bulb failure is a common problem....and it's rarely a direct wiring problem....

And it can be a real pain to troubleshoot...and has several possible causes and generally - when it's found to be an electrical problem...it's typically from over-voltage....which happens so often that several manufacturers now make 130 volt bulbs just for this reason. Incandescent bulbs are extremely prone to this... Although the standard household voltage is 120 volts nation-wide...the actual electric supply to any house is hardly stable...and if you probe a circuit with a digital volt-meter over time...you'll find the reading typically flucuates between 117 and 123 volts all day long (with 120 volts being the average reading)

I mention all that because you may suffer from a greater extreme then I do here...(lots of people do)..your power may be coming in slightly higher then norm in the first place...depending on a variety of things - how close you are to your power companies main distribution lines...and the nearest transformer...and how many other houses are on the same transformer. Typcially, the power is highest in the basement because that is where the main panel is usually located....as well as circuits closest to the panel...including those on the upper level. The further you travel from the panel...the more the available voltage decreases ("voltage drop")...and the less likely a circuit (or a bulb) is to suffer from excessive voltage. The majority of electrical appliances are designed to handle and tolerate these voltage rises/dips... most bulbs aren't.

If the lights that burn out quickly are located closest to the incoming power (or switch) on the circuit...odds are they are....especially if it's the same fixtures blowing bulbs over and over.

An actual digital readout of the voltage going to the fixtures in question is the first step in troubleshooting.If you don't have a digital meter...you can experiment by using one of the specially designed 130 volt bulbs I mentioned (most hardware stores carry a limited line of 130 volt bulbs - the only real difference between these and regular 120 volt bulbs is they have a heavier filament in them) in the fixtures that are known for quick burn out to see if that rectify's the problem.

If the problem continues...even with these bulbs as above...then it's time to do some in-depth testing and examination. But, the majority of time (about 95% of the time), these specially made bulbs do the trick - so you may want to try those first.

Answer 4

99% of the people in this world screw the light bulb down too hard. If you will look at the bottom of the light bulb, you see one of the contacts, the side of the bulb is the other contact.

I think your problem is in the light socket and it is caused by screwing the light in too hard.

Repair: First cut off, or unplug, the lamp fixture. Second, unscrew the bulb and remove it. Third, look inside the fixture and you will see on the bottom a flap that is meant to make contact with the bottom contact of the bulb. If that is sitting too far down in the socket, it will make poor contact. You need to force it up, but only a little bit. I would use a plastic knife, careful not to touch the sides of the bulb with your hands, and bend that flap up just a touch. That will cause the bottom of the bulb to make a good contact with the flap.

If the flap is stuck on dead bottom, you are getting minimal contact if you are getting contact at all. That may mean that you are getting an arc between the flap and the buld and not a direct connection.

You also have to remember, though it says no where on the packaging, that lamp life is rated on turn on/turn off and the number of times that your light is turned on, the faster it will burn out.

Answer 5

yikes lots of decent answers but here's mine(e1 for over 30 yrs)
first off i feel you need to check the bulbs your buying... what wattage and what voltage they are rated for... i feelothers may be missing the actual problem. You may be buying incandescant bulbs(cheap ones) that are not for the fixtures your using... MOST fixtures have max bulb wattage listed on the bulb socket or lamp itself... CHECK IT and ONLY buy bulbs under the max wattage!!! also if you have a choice buy bulbs with the higher VOLTAGE rating as possible and hard or heavy duty use. When in doubt buy a 130 volt bulb over a 110 rated volt bulb. Third... try buying the new mini flourescents! they last for a year or more!
also note a standard cheap incandescent bulb may be rated to last 700 hours.... always check the hour rating also! Think about it... if its rated for 600-700 hrs and you use it 10 hrs a day, in 2 months the bulb SHOULD be burnt! If you use it more of course the time would even be less than 2 months!

Answer 6

Most times a premature bulb failure is caused by the bulb not installed tightly or a bad fixture. Make sure the bulb is not too large if covered by a globe. In a nut shell, the bulb is getting too hot or arching at the base of the bulb.

Answer 7

Check all the connections in your breaker panel for loose taps, also your power co, could test that for free, as far as incoming power, good luck