Plasma arc failure of mains filament bulbs

[N_Cook]

Occassionaly just at the point of failure of the filament, an arc will
strike between the inlet conductors and so try and draw thousands of amps
from the mains. So knocking out triacs , fuses etc. Are there ways of
reducing this chance? orientation of the bulb? make of bulb?

 

[Adrian Tuddenham]

Occassionaly just at the point of failure of the filament, an arc will
strike between the inlet conductors and so try and draw thousands of amps
from the mains. So knocking out triacs , fuses etc. Are there ways of
reducing this chance? orientation of the bulb? make of bulb?

Philips lamps used to have fuses built into the stem to prevent an
internal arc from blowing any external fuses. The problem was that they
cost a penny or two more, so none of the retailers in my area would
stock them.

Before buyig a bulb, it should be possible to see through the neck
whether it contains just plain wires or a pair of tubular glass fuses.