Flame effect killing bulbs in fire

lizzyb1812

Hi

I've searched the forum a bit but can't find the answer to my problem.

I have an electric fire that looks like a woodburner in a non working fireplace recess. A few months ago the candle bulbs that provide the light to make the flame effect went. I bought more and fitted them but those blew as well.

I'd like to restore the flame effect, even though I don't use the fan heater in the fire much. There is an option to just have the flame effect with no heat. The heater does still work so the problem seems to be some sort of shorting one re the bulbs/holders.

The fire's guarantee has expired.

Has anyone successfully and safely cured this problem?

The fire is a Dimplex Tango (TNG20R). The info provided with the fire shows how to change the bulbs but nothing about bulbs blowing regularly

Thanks for reading

Lizzy

muckybutt

What kind of lamp does the fire take ?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I see it says to replace with a 60W E14 SES Clear candle lamp.

Did you get the cheapo £ shop ones, they're not very good some times, maybe you're reluctant to buy the good ones incase they just blow as well.

27col

It is probably just chance that the new lamps failed. I would fit at least one more new bulb before giving up. A short circuit in a lamp-holder should not blow the bulb, all that a short circuit would be to prevent the bulb from lighting up as both contacts would be at the same voltage. Do you know that the lamps have actually blown, have you tested them elsewhere.

ormus

theres certainly a lot of cheapo bulbs on the market, now we import em all from china.
or nearly so.

david39

I am assuming this is an old-style filament bulb, not one of the newer long-life ones.

A tip I learned when I worked in an electrical shop many years ago was about filament bulbs fitted into items where the bulb lay on its side, rather than vertically as in a normal dropcord light or an upright table lamp.

Before fitting, you need to be able to see the actual filament - if the bulb is frosted glass or an opaque coloured glass, you can sometimes see the filament by looking up the gap in the frosting of the glass near the base end of the bulb where the glass may be clearer..

The filament will be supported by a strips that make it look like a horse shoe shape ( two-thirds of a circle with one third missing. ).

You need to put the bulb into the holder so that the filament hangs towards the floor, rather than forming an arch upwards.

By doing this, there is less strain on the filament when it heats up and cools down and the bulb will last considerably longer. I've tried this out over many years and found it works.

Of course, if the bulb is vertically positioned or it is a non-filament bulb, this does not apply.

lizzyb1812

Thanks for all your replies

My replacements are 60w SES/E14 small screw cap from B&Q, cost £2-98 for 4 last December (kept receipt in box in case they were wrong sort

I agree that it could have just been chance that the new ones blew so soon after installation

Thanks for the tip re the filament - they are clear so I can see what you mean about hanging down - the bulb holders are at about a 40 degree from horizontal so this could be a possible solution.

I'll report back later if I have success - if not I'll just leave it, it's not worth paying an electrician/appliance repair person to look at it.

Lizzy

olias

I have a similar fire (can't remember which model) and my bulbs are always blowing. It's annoying enough to have to buy new ones, but to replace them is ridiculous, I have to:

open the door
remove the coals (which are real coals and therefore dirty)
unscrew 3 screws holding on the 'basket'
unscrew a further 3 screws holding on the fake fire 'bed'
access the bulbs
replace the bulbs
screw the 3 screws back to re-attach the fake fire 'bed'
screw the 3 screws back to re-attach the 'basket'
replace and artfully arrange the coals
close the door

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Who on earth designed the thing I have no idea!

Olias

[Deleted User]

Hi,

aye but it looks nice when it's glowing, magine the work with a real coal fire every morning, the cleaning oot, the stoor, the getting it kindled, then if it didnae catch first time raking it oot again an setting it, an goan for the shovel up the front o the hearth wi a news paper over it to gie it a bit o drawft, jings, happy days.

lizzyb1812

Just want to say that your advice means I now have a lovely "fire" effect without blowing bulbs and having to have the fire on.

7 screws to take off the back panel - used only 3 to reattach as this holds the panel in place perfectly. Fitted new bulbs with filaments hanging down. As the bulbs are the screw in type I had to put them in very loosely to get that position. Wasn't sure the bulbs would light if so loose but they do.

Give yourselves a pat on the back - a few days in and no blown bulbs

Thanks a lot

Lizzy