2007-11-23 08:19:19 · 14 answers · asked by Pam P 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
There are some good answers here, a few ideas that I had not thought about.
The reason I am asking is that often when in the shops buying light bulbs I often wonder if the packages have suffered from handling/transportation abuse. Or dropped of the high shelf onto the floor only to be replaced (perhaps multiple times) by the store.
Or worse still, if a big box of bulbs is taken from the stock room from a 10 foot high shelf but dropped onto concrete. The shop may sell any unbroken bulbs and the customer wouldn't know untill his light stopped working a week later or something.
This has happened to me before. I have bought bulbs which did not work or worked for only a few hours.
I did not take them back as who can be bothered for a lightbulb? and I had no reciept and had probably endeed up throwing one blown bulb out anyway so had no full pack to return.
Thanks for answering and try not to loose any sleep over this issue (though I must say I have).
2007-11-23 08:39:06 · update #1
Shock usually reduces the lifetime of the bulb since the filament is very weak. I wouldn't say 100% of the time though, it has to be a pretty good shock/impact.
You can purchase impact resistant bulbs though, they are pretty expensive but can take a beating. These are typically used in extension lights or working lights that get dropped or take a beating in a garage.
2007-11-23 08:24:29 · answer #1 · answered by Rhathid 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes... first of all if it shatters...it's dead (or drop dead! lol) if it didn't break, its possible that it still won't work, or will blow sooner than normal.
What you need to do is check the filament inside. You know the little wires!? Usually they are all connected together. Some people will shake a light bulb when it blows to check if it makes a noise. That noise is the noise made form the movement (or jiggle) caused by one or more of the filament wires that are no loger attached. Usually when it burns out, & the light goes "POP" the force of that pop, blows the filament's connection.
Dropping a bulp or subjecting it to a shock can cause a filament to detach (which means it won't work) or to come loose (which means it may work, or work intermittently, but will probably blow out earlier since a firm connection has been compromised.
2007-11-23 08:27:15 · answer #2 · answered by Yobo Cat's Mom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you drop it, and it breaks, obviously it doesn't work anymore.
Also theres a small coil inside light bulbs that easily comes apart with excessive shaking etc. The light bulb then stops working. But that's all I know about light bulbs.
2007-11-23 08:25:59 · answer #3 · answered by amor fati 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, a drop can destroy a bight bulb especially if it is lit or just shut off. When it is hot a heavy blow can cause the elements inside to touch and break (short out) -- Good bye bulb!!
2007-11-23 08:24:49 · answer #4 · answered by ijcoffin 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
bouncing around on the ship from china also
bulb filiments are very fragile when on
you must of got these bulbs at menards everything is made sooooo cheaply now
2007-11-23 11:43:25 · answer #5 · answered by vincent s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are three reasons a lamp will go bad, time, voltage(over voltage) and vibration. I do not know what you mean by shock? If you drop it it will reduce the lifespan of the lamp.
2007-11-23 08:24:58 · answer #6 · answered by sparky8786 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a regular bulb- the fillimant could be broken.
2007-11-23 08:22:54 · answer #7 · answered by Fred F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes- Carbon filaments are fragi
2007-11-23 08:22:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps to zero as it hits the ground, and it can't be good for the filaments..
2007-11-23 08:21:55 · answer #9 · answered by DrB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you drop it ---------It makes a big pop! shatters all over the
floor, it is useless and a differcult clean up.
2007-11-23 08:23:37 · answer #10 · answered by jenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋