What caused this fixture to catch on fire?

[LTC8K6]

Jesus...

And maybe arcing or heat build-up from loose connection, crappy bulb, crappy socket.

Thank Jesus for LED bulbs that only use about 20W to produce the same lumens as a 100W incandescent and won't turn into a mercury bomb if it breaks like a CFL... but still manages to put out a ton of heat.

An LED bulb wouldn't have made any difference at all. The problem is in the fixture.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Possibly a loose connection. About a month ago I flipped on my bathroom light in my apartment and the light bulbs started flickering (all 4 above the medicine cabinet). I immediately went to the breaker to shut it off and then popped open the light switch that operates those lights. I went back to the breaker, turned it on, and went to see if I could see anything with the light switch open. Turned out there was a loose connection that was arcing between the wire and the termination on the switch causing some serious sparks and smoke. I tightened it back up and has been fine ever since.

 

[Stopsignhank]

Well we definitely modified the fixture. This light looks completely different than the other 30 lights we have here. This morning our electrician, who would have done the repairs said, "it probably got some dust in there". Uh, that would be a no. Dust did not cause this.

BTW, it is an incandescent bulb. No way would we waste all that money on an LED bulb. (I say this sarcastically. If it were up to me I would be buying LEDs for all the fixtures here.)

 

[Humpy]

Well we definitely modified the fixture.

LOL Well there's your problem!

 

[Charmonium]

Well we definitely modified the fixture. This light looks completely different than the other 30 lights we have here.

Do you have any idea why it was modified, what it was modified for?

That makes the bad connection idea a lot more palatable than if it were a standard fixture.

BTW, was this a recessed fixture, free hanging, something else? Can't really tell from the photos.

 

[Stopsignhank]

We repair these fixtures all the time. Unfortunately it seems that someone did not use the same components that they normally do. The can is sticking out of the end of this lamp and none of the other ones have the light colored ring around the switch box. I am guessing that it was supposed to have been repaired, but obviously was not done correctly.

The gooseneck for this fixture is mounted on the workstation and the operators move them around pretty much all day long.

 

[Ruptga]

Has anyone mentioned aliens yet?

 

[Stopsignhank]

You mean those SOBs that broke my light bulb and threw acid on Lee?

 

[88keys]

Obama

 

[sm625]

Thermal expansion pushes the socket down and then it cools and reduces the actual contact area to the point where it acts as a resistor which heats up and burns?

 

[Ken M]

Gay Marriage

 

[MongGrel]

I suspect Terrorists...

 

[Charmonium]

Zombie Hitler - that's my guess.

 

[Imp]

Thermal expansion pushes the socket down and then it cools and reduces the actual contact area to the point where it acts as a resistor which heats up and burns?

That reminds me... Apparently, you can over-tighten a bulb when you screw it in. Something to do with the spring/bent tab on the bottom of the socket that makes contact with the bulb.

 

[SKORPI0]

Has anyone mentioned aliens yet?

 

[pcgeek11]

I've worked on those too many times. The constant moving and articulation is hell on the wiring. That one obviously developed a short circuit in the area of the switch connection.

Where I work we have gone more to the DC goose neck LED Lights. Brighter and lasts a long time.

 

[Stopsignhank]

PC

Can you get me the information on the lights that you use? We use these all day long (literally) and move them around. The DC would be better because there would not be heat near the operator.

I have kind of looked at getting different lights. In fact we have these workstations where there are 8 lights in a 10'x6' area. I looked at trying to use fiber optics with a central light source but could not find anything yet.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I don't know what caused the short, but I do think I see un unused ground terminal.

 

[pcgeek11]

PC

Can you get me the information on the lights that you use? We use these all day long (literally) and move them around. The DC would be better because there would not be heat near the operator.

I have kind of looked at getting different lights. In fact we have these workstations where there are 8 lights in a 10'x6' area. I looked at trying to use fiber optics with a central light source but could not find anything yet.

http://www.bannerengineering.com/en-US/support/partref/85376

Banner P/N # WL50-2PB Work Light and the Flex Mount Base: Data Sheet here, the base part numbers are at the bottom of the data sheet.

http://info.bannerengineering.com/cs/groups/public/documents/literature/171922.pdf

We have them mounted on magnetic bases for easy portability. These are great lights and are pretty rugged IMO.

 

[Stopsignhank]

Thanks a lot! I am going to look into these on Monday. Well after I get ready for the county inspection and continue my argument with corporate.

So maybe I will look into them next week.

Thanks again.

 

[pcgeek11]

I hope it helps. Our Machinist and setups love them.