Lightbulbs

[happy_Alex]

Below are two lightbulb types. One has the bayonet cap attachment type found in the UK and the other the screw thread found on the continent. Which is most practical?

On the face of it the bayonet cap is easier to fix, you just push and turn, and hey presto! it's in. But just think for a minute, one has to hold the socket while you push making two hands necessary to complete the job, whereas screwing a bulb in can be done single handed - in my experience.

But there is another side to the coin, as there always is. I have found that hanging screw capped light bulbs can slowly, possibly by the force of gravity, work themselves loose. This has two possible ramifications. Firstly one has to re-tighten the lightbulb. Secondly, if the cap between the contact of the bulb and the live terminal becomes sufficient, the current could arc when the lightbulb is switched on. This combined with a gas-leak or other combustable vapour could result in a lethal explosion.

 

[nonconformist]

Well, it's not which is better, it's which is more common.

 

[ummmm........]

I don't understand why you need two hands for the bayonet type. Maybe a diagram or photo of the socket would be helpful.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I've never had a problem with screw variant getting loose.

 

[Sophie 378]

If it's on a hanging lead, then you need two hands: one to push the lightbulb in against the spring-loaded electrodes, and one to hold the socket. If it's straight on the ceiling, then one hand is fine. I prefer bayonet caps; they're much faster to fix. Though this may be becuase they're commoner so I have more practice at fixing them ....

 

[Yuri2356]

Secondly, if the cap between the contact of the bulb and the live terminal becomes sufficient, the current could arc when the lightbulb is switched on. This combined with a gas-leak or other combustable vapour could result in a lethal explosion.

Odly, I've had this happen with the desk lamp right next to me some time last year. The bulb slowly worked its way loose over time, and then one day when I clicked it on... *Pop* A flash of purple light and the bulb way laying on the desk, thuroughly burnt. Was quite the experience...

 

[happy_Alex]

So there you are! and you all thought i was taking the piss...

 

[Sophie 378]

For ummmm........ - Image of bayonet cap socket (long live Google Images):

The cut-out bits are where you push the little prongs on the bulb into the socket. You have to exert a fair amount of force - about equal to picking up a pint of milk (half litre) in bad cases - to get it in far enough to rotate the prongs into the stops so that the bulb won't fall out. If you don't rotate the prongs into the stops, the bulb will just fall out. So if the socket is not fixed, you do need two hands: just pushing the bulb at a hanging socket results in twizzling and frustration.

 

[funxus]

I'm pretty indifferent, it's not like it's an annoying difference, like having different plugs and voltage in different countries...

 

[ummmm........]

I haven't seen a lot of hanging sockets in recent memory, so that wouldn't be an issue I don't think. But the way you describe pushing the bulb in with force makes me worry that I might break the bulb and then cut my hand on the remnant . . .

 

[Sophie 378]

I always worry about that; I usually hold the bulb in a cloth for putting the new one in. Then, it won't cut me if it breaks (hopefully), AND it won't burn me if the light is switched on but I didn't know because the bulb is broken!

 

[Speedo]

Methinks I'll keep the screw-in kind.

 

[GenMarshall]

I would keep the screw in lightbulb.

 

[Lozzy_Ozzy]

I prefer the screw in kind.

Simpler.

 

[Mise]

I've heard that certain lightbulbs take more people to screw in depending on which country you're from. This could be why.

 

[Jawz II]

I've never had a problem with screw variant getting loose.

yeah, if that happened to me, id call the ghostbusters, or that excorcist guy, then id call hollywood to sell them the movie rights.

 

[Timko]

I've heard that certain lightbulbs take more people to screw in depending on which country you're from. This could be why.

And different professions too. I'm sure I remember hearing that a lot of lawyers are required to do this.

 

[Gelion]

Screw in is better......

 

[thetrooper]

I guess people prefer to screw rather than just attach.

CFC OT Topics never cease to amaze me.

 

[Birdjaguar]

For standard lightbulbs, I've never seen the bayonet type before. And if it's really dark, scewin' probably better.