Floor Lamp Problem

[ladyalex]

Hi

Need help here.

We have a floor lamp, father and child style with an uplighter and a reading lamp. Everything working well until the uplighter conked out. No problem , thought I, just change the bulb as I have done before. Got R7S 118mm bulb and out it in....no light. Meanwhile the reading light is still working.
Tried another bulb in case it was duff. Still no go.
Got the tester out and tested the bulb....definitely has a circuit.
Bought another lamp. Exactly the same design. With great difficulty assembled it and put the bulbs in. Success.....for 1 night. Then the uplighter bulb went out. Checked the bulb and it had a circuit. Nevertheless tried another bulb...still no go. Reading light absolutely fine.
With great trepidation tested the bulb socket with the power on...showed a circuit.
Anybody got any clue as to what the dickens is going on here.
We have had the original lamp for at least 5 years and have changed the bulbs previously without incident.
Thanks

ladyalex
:-))

[gl556tr]

looks like you're floored.

[The Builder]

I guess these are the linear halogen bulbs LadyA?

I used to get this with site lights (building sites) until I went over to LEDs years ago.

Usually down to a poor connection at either end of the bulb. They can be an absolute pain to seat properly. I shouldn't recommend this, but, in desperation, I used to switch it on and twiddle the bulb around until it worked.
It didn't always, the contact ends in the lamp are spring-loaded. The connections were always going wrong.

I guess your old lamp's connections have worn out, and the new one's are just poorly made.

If no luck with twiddling, then I'm afraid it's time to upgrade. I honestly can't think of anything else, I'm afraid.

[ladyalex]

Thanks, The Builder.
I will try to pluck up courage to twiddle with the power on, but it took me all my time to put the tester on the terminals with it on......
I'll let you know how I get on, or if courage fails me.


Thanks for answering, gl556tr. What a wag you are.

[ladyalex]

Sorry, Builder, should have said that yes, they are linear halogen bulbs.

Could I get LED bulbs to fit? Is that what you meant by upgrade ? Or do you mean upgrade the whole lamps?
:-))

[TonyV]

only guessing, but without a meter not easy to say, is it possible that you have a broken wire, that is causing a short circuit?

[The Builder]

Ideally, replace the whole lamp with an LED model.
Yes, LED direct replacements are available easily. Around 10 or 12 pounds roughly, but they last for years and consume about a tenth of the power.

The trouble with that is that you are still stuck with the same old connections. So maybe the same old problems.

[The Builder]

Tony... I don't suspect any circuit problems. That side of it seems to be Ok. (There IS power.)

I think you may be right about a broken wire though. Those awful old halogens mostly produce a huge amount of heat.
That heat has possibly charred the wires leading to the connectors.

[ladyalex]

Thanks, Builder. I wondered if the connection would still be an issue.
I haven't tried the twiddling yet, but I am growing bolder by the minute......

Thanks TonyV....don't think there is a broken wire as we tested the sockets with the power on and it showed a circuit, so the bulbs should work if they are making contact.

Sigh.....why can't things just blinking well work?

Thanks again
:-))

[The Builder]

Go for it, LA.

Do come back and let us know :o)

[ladyalex]

Sorry, Builder, just saw ypur last post.
We have only had the new lamp for one day, so the light was on for at most 5 hours before it gave up the ghost.
Should we take it back for a refund , do you think ?

:-))

[The Builder]

Yes, definitely. It can't do any harm. Those things can be really flaky.
It can be rather trial and error as to whether you have a sound one.

[ladyalex]

We've gotthe old one dismantled and repacked so are returning it tomorrow.
Giving up on the old one.....I did do the twiddling on both of them but sadly, to no effect.

Looking at other floor lamps now ......without those fittings.

Thanks for the help.

:-))

[ladyalex]

I of course meant we're returning the new one.

See what twiddling with live electricity is doing to me ?

(And we had to get the washing machine repair man in today as well.....fortunately he managed to fix it at a very reasonable cost.....what next ?.....shouldn't have askd that!

[ladyalex]

Just to update.....got a refund for the new lamp no bother.
And we are now the proud possessors of a new LED uplighter that came with the bulb pre-installed and claims tomlast for 50000 hours...we think that should see us out.
So, thanks for all the advice folks!

:-))

[Mamyalynne]

Let there be light x

[ladyalex]

Finally !