Melting Neutral Wire Connection- 2k Fresnels

Two thoughts-
14 ga at 120v and a 2000w bulb will draw more amps on a start up power surge will likely more amps than the wire will handle. A 20 amp should have 12 ga.

Other thought-
Some electrics have a shared neutral vs seperate one back to panel/rack can over load it.
A load meter may help here to find out what the draw is on start up.
 
No in the first case as a problem in history of even 14ga high temp wire feeding 2Kw fixtures.
Perhaps hot/neutral reverse in wiring as a source in where damage done but not the problem.
 
Two thoughts-
14 ga at 120v and a 2000w bulb will draw more amps on a start up power surge will likely more amps than the wire will handle. A 20 amp should have 12 ga.

Other thought-
Some electrics have a shared neutral vs seperate one back to panel/rack can over load it.
A load meter may help here to find out what the draw is on start up.

We had exactly that problem in our theatre pre-remodel. It didn't affect the prefocus or bi-pin base lamps, but the 500W FCLs in our worklights were constantly fusing to, or burning out the contact on the neutral end. They ended up running 10ga neutrals for each 3 12ga hot wires, and that seemed to solve the problem for the year between the fix and gutting the building for the remodel. I assumed it had to be a combination of the undersized neutrals and the spring contacts for the FCLs in the worklights.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back