Beyond my ability to answer how.

These are photos my niece sent me today. The bulb was in a light lamp in her living room on a table in a corner with no windows near by. The lamp WAS NOT turned on when the bulb exploded out into the shade and the pieces dropped to the table.

There were no storms in the area and everything was normal weather wise.

I asked if she had tried plugging in something else to the receptacle to check to see if it still worked and she said the was no problem with the power at the receptacle.

Any idea how a bulb has holes blown out with no sign of power to it?

I suggested she show the pictures to someone she knows in the Physics Dept at the University she attends.

You may see this subject on other sites as it seems to defy reality and I would love to have a real answer.

Wow, that's crazy. Maybe some weird pressure differential and/or manufacturer defect. Is that an LED bulb or conventional?

It was a standard incandescent bulb.

Temperature change would be my guess.
Who made that bulb?

Did she admit to working her operatic skills?

I guess the bulbs contain a vacuum, so I'd expect an implosion rather than an explosion. Wow, so strange.

who holds the bulb on the photo?

The bulb had not been on for 12-14 hours. It is a GE bulb.

She is holding the bulb. Thumb fetish? Just kidding :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chorus

Did she admit to working her operatic skills?

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No one in this family can sing. :exciting:

Who you going to call...…… Ghost Busters

I believe that if a bulb has been exposed without use for 12 years
it is wise to power it up slowly with a variac. Haha

Is her house haunted? Any other electrical issues going on in the house? TVs turning on or off on their own? Lights suddenly flickering?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chorus

I believe that if a bulb has been exposed without use for 12 years
it is wise to power it up slowly with a variac. Haha

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The bulb had been used 12-14 hours prior.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mep

Is her house haunted? Any other electrical issues going on in the house? TVs turning on or off on their own? Lights suddenly flickering?

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We had that conversation early on. She said she has not seen any other examples that would lead her to think that.
No other electrical issues in the house. It had new wiring and panel 6 years ago.

If it doesn’t happen again, it was a fluke. If things like that continue to happen, there is an issue. Hopefully it’s the former.

Was there any kind of soda or fizzy beverage near the bulb?
Possible that a few drops came in contact with the glass while it was hot.

Just a guess ...



.

Thanks, but for the 3rd time the bulb had not been lit for 12-14 hours previously.

I'll take any guess though.:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brad225

Thanks, but for the 3rd time the bulb had not been lit for 12-14 hours previously.

I'll take any guess though.:)

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It doesn't matter how new or old the bulb was. Light bulbs that have filaments normally die when the filament opens and when that happens they don't normally explode. As I said before, if it never happens again, it was just a fluke. If it continues to happen, call an electrician. If the electrician can't find anything wrong and bulbs continue to explode, call Dead Files.

I read this Interesting article. And the one that keeps coming up on electrical and electrical supply sites is the first one.


So what actually causes light bulbs to explode? Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why this frightening phenomenon happens.

Lack of Insulation at the Base of the Bulb
Sometimes, light bulb manufacturers don’t use enough insulation in the light bulb base. A lack of insulation at the base of a light bulb will cause the metal base to melt. When the base melts, the gas stored in the bulb can leak out. The leaking gas causes a pressure imbalance which can result in the light bulb exploding.

Loose Connection in the Socket
A loose connection between the bulb and the socket can also be a reason for a bulb exploding. A loose connection causes the electricity to jump across the contact rather than flowing through it. This can lead to the fitting becoming overheated, which can cause the bulb to blow or explode. The solution here is simple: tighten light bulbs in their sockets until they are snug.

Mismatched Bulb Wattage
You may not know that light fixtures are designed to operate with light bulbs with certain wattage ratings. If a bulb exceeds its fixture’s wattage limit, then the fixture can overheat, putting the bulb at risk of exploding. The recommended light bulb wattage for your light fixture should be printed on the label on the side of the socket. If it’s not there, you may want to contact the manufacturer or just use the lowest possible wattage light bulb in the fixture.

Oil From Your Hands
When you touch a bulb with your hands, you probably don’t consider that the oil from your skin could cause a light bulb to explode. Halogen bulbs are particularly sensitive to skin oils. When a halogen bulb is switched on, the oil you leave on the surface heats up and creates a hot spot. As the oil continues to heat up, cracks can start to appear, which can then lead to gas leaking out of the bulb

The information is interesting and I appreciate all of the suggestions. All of them, including spirits and poltergeists are possible.

The thing that is most puzzling is the bulb was not on and hadn't been for 12+ hours.

Oh well, it will never be known what really happened.