Dying Sockets-NEED HELP FAST

[thelightingmancan]

Hey, we have light that all have EHD light sockets, and almost ten of them have failed in the past few months. Most of the fixtures are old anyways, but we don't really have time to replace them for our next show, and need the lights. It is not an electrical problem, we had that checked, and it shouldn't be a heat problem, the building is air conditioned. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[icewolf08]

Ummm, go buy some new lamps and lamps bases and you should be fine.

What fixtures are you using these lamps in?

[Les]

Sorry to say it, but the only solution is to replace the sockets in the ten lights that have failed. Then put brand new lamps in them. Do not put the old lamps in lights with new sockets or other instruments with still working sockets, because the pins are likely to have been damaged by arcing. Which will in turn ruin any lamp base you put them back into. For around $20-25. a piece you can get these from any theatre supplier. I believe you are looking for a TP22 socket, which is a common part. Others can tell you more as far as replacement cost and details go. Good luck!

[thelightingmancan]

Bummer, well, guess we will have to replace them.

[TimMiller]

you can try cleaning up the sockets and the old lamps (i wouldnt try this with new lamps or sockets) A wire brush works wonders. ALso a little scraper tool (you can find scrapers,looks like a dentist scraper) at many electronics stores to clean up the lamp socket. It may get you through a show. Also getting a can of deox will help out.

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by TimMiller

you can try cleaning up the sockets and the old lamps (i wouldnt try this with new lamps or sockets) A wire brush works wonders. ALso a little scraper tool (you can find scrapers,looks like a dentist scraper) at many electronics stores to clean up the lamp socket. It may get you through a show. Also getting a can of deox will help out.

I wouldn't suggest trying to clean the sockets on account of the fact that cleaning will remove material and then you will have less contact between the lamp base and the pins. This will just lead to another cycle of arcing and burning up the pins and bases. It is better to replace the parts because you will get much more longevity out of them. It would also be faster to replace them rather than to clean them, so it is more worth your time and money to just buy new, they aren't terribly expensive, and they are very easy to replace.

[ship]

Originally Posted by TimMiller

you can try cleaning up the sockets and the old lamps (i wouldnt try this with new lamps or sockets) A wire brush works wonders. ALso a little scraper tool (you can find scrapers,looks like a dentist scraper) at many electronics stores to clean up the lamp socket. It may get you through a show. Also getting a can of deox will help out.

While origionally disagreeing with the post also, still to get you thru a show its a valid point - even if self defeating and a waste of time in for the price of the replacement lamp one could re-wire the socket also for the same amount of time it would take you to clean this type of socket. Also not mentioned is after you clean it would be to treat it.

Lots of past discussions on cleaning lamp sockets/bases in the past. Overall view is a TP-22 style socket, not able to clean sufficiently or worth the time. In getting you thru a show and if absolutely necessary, copper based deoxident and or electronics cleaner with lubricant McMaster #7437k15 should help some but probably not sufficiently to save the day for more than a few shows. This assuming a re-surfaced lamp socket that I am not convinced is possible with a G-9.5 lamp socket or the pins. Both in need of service call once trashed.

As above with all other recommendations, and get someone qualified to supervise this change of lamp socket with you while doing it or send it to a professional shop for doing. Many other things to look at while changing a lamp socket.

On the other hand for some medium pre-focus (P-22s), and bi-pins of G-22 or larger in both lamp base to the lamp and fixture lamp socket, it is possible to resurface sufficiently in many cases. A question of more material to work with and easier to get to. Your Fresnels for instance, possible to resurface and they might be fine a few more years in optimum conditions. Short of doing it correct however... best to replace even still all lamps and sockets effected.

[thelightingmancan]

would putting contact paste on the pins help, if you are careful and don't create a short? I'll try cleaning them, but I won't get to be in the space untill Wednesday, so I have several days to figure something out.

[TimMiller]

I made this post based upon i dont know how much time you have to get parts in. I have done some crazy things at shows just to get through the show and of course everything gets marked at the end of the show that needs to be repaired. But sometimes esp when out on the road the show must go on.