"Hi all, I have about 30
Strand 6" Fresnelites that I have been replacing bases on more frequently than I think necessary. The problem appears to be arcing with carbon
build up between the bottom of the lamp
base and the spring loaded
connector in the
base. I have tried different brands of
porcelain bases (currently getting them from Grainger) and I have even been re-wiring them with high temp wiring. I am now wondering if there is a problem with the distance between the lamp bases and the spring loaded
base connector. Has anyone had any experience or luck repairing these things. It is not in the budget to just buy new fixtures. Thanks."
Had a CamLoc to 6x L21-30R AC
Distro come back today with a melt down on the black CamLock from
panel mount melted into it's plastic shell,
thru the outer
jacket of the 2/0 SC. Scorched buss bar linking the CamLoc feed
thru and it's
nut's/lock washers turned green with corrosion. No... Doesn't have to be weather to turn something green and corroded. All other nuts from 2/0
wire to the CamLoc were tight, but the one in question while not loose, came loose somewhat easily. Question came up from one of my assistants.... "Did our supplier of this
distro screw up again in forgetting to tighten a lug
nut on the CamLoc?" While a very high
profile AC
distro company... my department somehow always seems to wind up with their mistakes - frequently. This corroded lug did seem to loosen easier than others, but perhaps that expansion/contraction and corrosion was a factor in this. Had a thought, in that all the other lugs were tight and there was melting of the plastic around the
inlet CamLoc, what if it was not this
Distro that caused the problem but the cable feeding it? Nobody turned in for repair that cable and the cable dpt. is searching for that missing cable. (Hmm
tracking of gear and serial numbers is useful.) Until I see the
feeder cable that plugged into this
distro - which would have heat damage also anyway and need replacement, the cause of the problem cannot be determined for sure. But I think the cable failed for now.
Why I say this above is that it's related to your problem, if you put a bad lamp into a perfectly good
socket, it makes for a perfectly bad
socket. If you than put a perfectly good lamp into a bad
socket, it becomes a bad lamp. If you than put that lamp into another
socket.... You see the problem.
Grainger sells P-28s lamp sockets? What's it's part number, very curious in another source. What brand do they sell?
Punch list:
-What wattage of lamp are you using?
-Selcon fixtures are too new to be having spring problems.
-Are you also going
thru lamps left and right or just re-installing as above post disease (sounds familiar in initial term used.)?
-I note you are re-wiring with high temp. wiring - what spcific
wire and
gauge of it are you using? Why is the need for re-wiring is it also melting down? (Photos.)
-What type of
crimp terminals are you using given most P-28s lamp sockets mostly no longer allow the
terminal screws removabable so as to use high temperature ring terminals and lock washers? Are you using perhaps cut for a slot high temperature ring - now fork terminals, standard fork terminals or shoving bare stranded
wire under the screw terminals?
-Can you take a photo of these connections and the crimpers and terminals used if any?
-Screws on the lamp
socket sometimes loosen especially if touring by way bouncing about in a truck around the world or expansion/contraction from heat. Fine stranded heat
wire can
settle inside a
crimp termial if not crimped properly with presser or the correct tool, this much less if installed directly under a
terminal screw. Such even slightly loose screws can cause a bad lamp
socket but doubt your situation.
-Photos of the bad lamp sockets in where arching heat discolored
etc. and replaced wiring is helpful.