Lamps blowing on timer switch

katejo

Myser wrote: »

I have found that cheaper ASDA GU10 bulbs tend to have a shorter lifespan than branded bulbs of the same type.

May be worth trying a branded halogen/CFL (if the timer states that you can use them).

Is it this product:

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10151&catalogId=1500001201&langId=110&searchTerms=Plug+in+timer&x=0&y=0&authToken=

Does it say TG77 on the product label or in the manual?

I can only find TS-EE20 on the instruction leaflet, nothing on the actual unit.

Myser

I can't seem to match the TS-EE20 with any similar timers. Does it look like this one:

http://217.155.210.129/timer/

The only explanation I can think of is that either the time switch is generating a small spike during switching as mentioned above or you may have had a power surge on your mains supply. Did both lamps fail together?

Are both lamps connected to the same timer or separate timers?

katejo

Myser wrote: »

I can't seem to match the TS-EE20 with any similar timers. Does it look like this one:

http://217.155.210.129/timer/

The only explanation I can think of is that either the time switch is generating a small spike during switching as mentioned above or you may have had a power surge on your mains supply. Did both lamps fail together?

Are both lamps connected to the same timer or separate timers?

I also found the web page in your link but my unit is not identical. The layout of the buttons is different. My lamps all failed at different times and were not connected to the same unit or sockets . First time I assumed that the lamp was faulty. Each lamp worked fine for 2-3 months and then died. The problem appeared to be triggered when the timer switched the light off . The next day it failed to come on and a bulb change made no difference . I had 1 timer in the bedroom and one downstairs .

Myser

Does it look more like this:

http://www.wilko.com/electrical-accessories/wilko-electronic-timeswitch-24h7day/invt/0155321

You would normally see current spikes when switching an inductive load? As you've said your lamps are definitely filament - they will mostly be resistive and this shouldn't cause a current spike.

The only other thing is possibly the lamps were fitted with cheap non British Standard fuses during manufacture? Did the fuses that you purchased have a British Standard kitmark on them or BS number?

Have you taken the timers back to Homebase and explained the situation? Perhaps they had a bad batch?

Rockingit

Without getting bogged down in the world of techy talk, a timer will not cause a downstream fuse to blow.

I think what may be happening is that you've innocently ended up with a combination of a timer switch with a 'noisy' electrical collapse in the circuitry when switching off which is upsetting the poor quality internal ballasts in cheap cfl's (which may feasibly then cause their upstream fuse to blow).

The simple solution, though not the green one, is to simply replace the lamps(bulbs) for old tungsten halogen ones as they really don't care what goes on around them!

And, yes, you can still get them - most electrical wholesalers have them on the shelves known as 'rough service'.

lstar337

Rockingit wrote: »

The simple solution, though not the green one, is to simply replace the lamps(bulbs) for old tungsten halogen ones as they really don't care what goes on around them!

And, yes, you can still get them - most electrical wholesalers have them on the shelves known as 'rough service'.

I think we have established that the OP is already using halogen bulbs.

katejo

Rockingit wrote: »

Without getting bogged down in the world of techy talk, a timer will not cause a downstream fuse to blow.

I think what may be happening is that you've innocently ended up with a combination of a timer switch with a 'noisy' electrical collapse in the circuitry when switching off which is upsetting the poor quality internal ballasts in cheap cfl's (which may feasibly then cause their upstream fuse to blow).

The simple solution, though not the green one, is to simply replace the lamps(bulbs) for old tungsten halogen ones as they really don't care what goes on around them!

And, yes, you can still get them - most electrical wholesalers have them on the shelves known as 'rough service'.

By this do you mean the old 100 watt, 60, 40 watt etc. which were supposed to be have been withdrawn from sale or something else? I did see some of these in a shop last week.

No I haven't yet tried any halogen bulbs. The filament ones which I had from Homebase and all blew are the only type tried so far. I tried to buy some but was confused about what was suitable!

katejo

Myser wrote: »

Does it look more like this:

http://www.wilko.com/electrical-accessories/wilko-electronic-timeswitch-24h7day/invt/0155321

You would normally see current spikes when switching an inductive load? As you've said your lamps are definitely filament - they will mostly be resistive and this shouldn't cause a current spike.

The only other thing is possibly the lamps were fitted with cheap non British Standard fuses during manufacture? Did the fuses that you purchased have a British Standard kitmark on them or BS number?

Have you taken the timers back to Homebase and explained the situation? Perhaps they had a bad batch?

Yes the Wilko one is more similar. I haven't tried taking the timer units back. Haven't kept the receipt for them.

katejo

Myser wrote: »

The only other thing is possibly the lamps were fitted with cheap non British Standard fuses during manufacture? Did the fuses that you purchased have a British Standard kitmark on them or BS number?

QUOTE]

The fuses which I removed from the lamps were BS just the same as the new ones which I put in.

lstar337

katejo wrote: »

By this do you mean the old 100 watt, 60, 40 watt etc. which were supposed to be have been withdrawn from sale or something else? I did see some of these in a shop last week.

No I haven't yet tried any halogen bulbs. The filament ones which I had from Homebase and all blew are the only type tried so far. I tried to buy some but was confused about what was suitable!

Check the pics posted earlier.

Filament (withdrawn from sale) - Have just a thin wire inside.

Halogen (filament replacement) - Look like a little bulb inside a bigger bulb.

CFL (low energy replacement) - Usually look like a coiled white tube.

LED (even lower energy replacement) - Many different styles.

Click the links to see a bunch of pictures of each type. That way we can narrow it down once and for all.:D