Electricians? What's up with my two-way switch?

cnjvh

K I got a two way switch controlling the lights in my hallway (3 separate fixtures). The switches work fine, but it seems that once a single light burns out, the rest of the lights in all the fixtures burn out within the next few days. I suppose one could say that since I'm replacing them all at the same time they should all burn out around the same time, but I don't quite buy that. Any electricians here? Is this normal (like maybe once one bulb blows they are all dropping extra voltage in the circuit)? Guess that only applies to series circuits though

Dennis Gardner

Who would think that 3 lights of the same kind, from the same manufacturing batch, on the same electrical circuit, replaced at the same time to have relatively similar life spans?:rolleyes:

cnjvh

Relatively similar? Sure - I'll buy that. But given the long life span of a bulb, isn't having them all go out within two days of each other a little weird?

Dennis Gardner

I've got a 4 bulb and a 6 bulb bathroom fixture that seems to always do the same thing. It has gotten to the point that when I notice a bulb out, I go ahead and change it even though 1 or 2 bulbs doesn't really affect the output of so many lights in those fixtures. Going to a higher quality bulb also helped in the rotation of them.

thehaens@cox.net

cnjvh wrote:

Is this normal (like maybe once one bulb blows they are all dropping extra voltage in the circuit)? Guess that only applies to series circuits though

I like you analogy, and it may be related to your problem. If the bulbs were run in series on your circuit, and one blew then they would all go out, much like some christmas lights. So I would suppose that if the circuit is in parallel, and you look at your bulb as a resistive load, then your resistance decreases then the current through the fixture is increasing as your voltage remains a constant.......

Anyway...

Just keep some extra bulbs handy in the cabinet and replace as needed..

Scott

cnjvh

Alrighty then...I'll consider this normal (at least until my house is reduced to red hot glowing embers).

Thanks all :-)

amulford

cnjvh wrote:

(at least until my house is reduced to red hot glowing embers).

Well at least then you won't need the light bulbs, for a little while anyway...;)

cnjvh

amulford wrote:

Well at least then you won't need the light bulbs, for a little while anyway...;)

:eek:

No, just weiners and marshmallows.

Guess I should look into those LED light bulb thingys anyway...

mrbigbluelight

cnjvh wrote:

Alrighty then...I'll consider this normal (at least until my house is reduced to red hot glowing embers).

Thanks all :-)

If we're wrong, let us know after you establish internet service in your new house. Or homeless shelter. Which ever comes first.

:rolleyes: