Don't Be Left In The Dark: Why Did Your New Outdoor Light Bulb Just Explode?
With the shorter days and longer nights of winter rapidly approaching, it is wise you have installed new outdoor lighting around the front of your home. However, when a new light bulb explodes or the internal filament breaks, that is a good indication something has gone wrong. There are two places you need to check before you try to flick the switch on your outdoor lights a second time.
Wrong Voltage
In Australia, household circuits run around 230 volts. However, for safety reasons your outdoor light might be wired to run at a lower voltage than the standard household runs at. One reason this is done is in case the wiring of the light gets damaged by birds, animals or weather. The lower the voltage running through the exposed wires, the less damage it can cause to both living things and your home.
However, if you did not realize this was a lower voltage light when you wired it into your home's circuitry, there are now too many volts running through the light and that is causing the light bulb to blow.
Check the voltage level of the light on the box it came in. If it does show a voltage level lower than 230, speak to your electrician about how you can reduce the voltage running into it using a transformer. Your electrician can provide expert advice on what type of transformer to buy and can make sure the voltage levels are correct before you turn the light back on with a new light bulb.
Light Bulb Quality
Another reason why your light bulb exploded could be traced back to the quality of the product you purchased. If it is a low-quality light bulb, a temperature shock can cause the glass to shatter. For example, if the light bulb was running for an hour it would get hot, but if cold rain started to come down hit the light, the cheap glass would then rapidly cool and shatter.
When buying a replacement bulb, make sure you purchase a known brand that has a good reputation. If you are not sure which bulb best suits your outdoor light fixture, get advice from your electrician. They can take a look at where you have installed the lights and base their advice on the location and the amount of light you need.
Since it won't be long before you start arriving home every day after the sun has gone down, make sure you have working outdoor lights to give you the confidence to walk from your car to the front door while being able to see everything going on around you. Don't be afraid to talk to your electrician now so your light bulbs are up to the task ahead.