Why Would A Light Bulb Explode. Blowing light bulbs can be extremely frustrating and annoying when you’re trying to read, watch TV, or research something.
Unfortunately, this occurs more often than you would hope, but there are simple solutions that take almost no time regardless of how long you’re left in the dark.
How does an explosion begin? We will explore the main reasons why this terrifying phenomenon happens so that hopefully you – the owner of such a tragic situation – can quickly and easily get things back up and running.
Why Would A Light Bulb Explode
If the bulb is poorly insulated and the filament overheats, gasses can escape which might cause it to explode.
Cheap bulbs are more likely to suffer from this problem, so purchasing better quality bulbs can help you save money in the long run by avoiding any unnecessary damage that might occur from exploding light bulbs.
Let’s take a look at why a light bulb might explode.
Socket Connection Is Loose
Electric bulbs can also explode due to loose connections between their sockets and the bulb. A loose fit between them can cause electricity to jump across the contact as opposed to flowing through it, causing things to get too hot or overheated, which can break your light bulbs or cause them to blow.
By tightening the bulbs in their sockets until they feel snug, you can eliminate this problem.
Insufficient Insulation
Cheap lightbulb manufacturers sometimes cut corners and use poor materials that cause the metal base of the bulb to not be properly insulated where it meets the glass enclosure.
This can cause heat to build up in the metal part, which when left on for too long can melt and begin to leak gases through the seals over time.
Bulbs like these will eventually explode due to swelling or unequal pressure within the said bulbed casing, so take care and make sure you’re getting quality products from a trusted manufacturer! It’s recommended that you invest in solid-state lighting whenever possible.
Unmatched Wattage Of Bulbs
There are some light fixtures that are intended to be used with specific light bulbs. When you measure a bulb’s wattage, you can determine how much electricity it can safely draw from an electrical outlet or another power source.
Light bulbs with higher wattage ratings will likely be overstressed, and as a result, can overheat or in some cases even explode. Ensure that the socket’s fixture rating is appropriate for your needs before purchasing it. In case you are still unsure, choose the option that has the lowest possible wattage rating.
Power Rush Issue
A sudden increase in power is one of the most common causes of light bulbs exploding. As a result of a change on an electrical circuit, a power surge causes the amount of electricity available to increase or decrease suddenly.
Bulb voltages are too drastic for light bulbs to handle and they end up blowing up as a result. If you would like to replace broken light bulbs with those that don’t break so easily, you can easily avoid this situation by contacting your preferred electrician or electrical repair technician.
Your Hands Are Oily
As it turns out, wearing gloves is important when handling light bulbs. Aside from making your hands less dirty and preventing you from leaving oils on the bulb which can potentially cause it to explode, wearing gloves can also prevent you from getting burned while changing a light bulb because it’s always hot.
Not only that but breaking bulbs are dangerous especially if they break inside the trash can or if there’s water lying around nearby.
FAQs
Does it harm a light bulb socket if it’s left empty?
It is not safe to leave light bulb sockets empty for too long for several reasons – mainly because of the risk of them being dangerous and posing a hazard.
Not only could there be a high enough voltage to cause serious electrocution injury, but also there could be debris inside of it that can get ignited, causing an almost-as-unlikely fire.
Is it possible for a light fitting to cause a fire?
The other common cause of electrical fires is when the wrong lights are installed. A lot of people make the mistake of using bright lights in fixtures that can only handle light bulbs that are not as bright.
If a person installs a bright light bulb in a fixture for regular-use lamps, then this puts them at risk of having an electrical fire break out.
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